Trvl overseas

[Lookn4help]

My wife and I are finally going to do some traveling out of the country and I would like to know if someone can tell me what is the best procedure for exchanging money.
Should we trade here then go or go then exchange?
Going to England and Aruba to begin.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Mags]

My wife and I are finally going to do some traveling out of the country and I would like to know if someone can tell me what is the best procedure for exchanging money.
Should we trade here then go or go then exchange?
Going to England and Aruba to begin.
Thanks for any help.

I usually just hit a bank when I get there. But I carry very little cash when traveling - always found it best to use charge cards.

Even with those, be careful. Some cards charge an exchange fee, some have small fees, and some have none. Definitely check into this before traveling and use the card with the lowest fees.

Also, call your charge card company(s) and let them know what countries you'll be in on which dates. Otherwise, you run the risk of having your charge card declined, as they will think it is fraud.

 

[Skulnik]

Clark Smart tips for hassle-free travel abroad


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ClarkHoward.com and The Clark Howard Show offer more money-saving advice on travel.


I've been getting so many calls from people who are planning overseas trips later this year, and I want to make sure you're not getting ripped off when you get where you're going. Below are some of the best pieces of advice I can give you.
?Before you leave the United States, call your credit card companies and ATM companies and let them know where you'll be traveling. Because of international crime rings, you may find your card(s) shut down if you don't alert the issuers. You can sometimes just go directly to your issuer's website and fill out a form to alert them about your foreign travel if you prefer not to call.
?Ask your lender about their foreign currency fee. Capital One has no foreign currency fee on its credit cards, but other credit card issuers charge up to 5%! With ATMs, you also need to know if your bank will charge junk fees. If they do, those fees can be as much as $10 for each withdrawal. Ask if there are any partner banks overseas that might offer ATMs where that fee will be waived.
?Money belts are highly advisable in many international cities. Pick-pocketing can happen anywhere. I also suggest you make photocopies of your passport before you go. Leave some copies at home and take others with you to leave in your hotel room. Be sure to carry your original passport on your person at all times. Replacing a lost or stolen passport when you have a copy of it is so much easer than if you have no copies whatsoever to show.
?Never use your regular cell outside the United States. The charges can be ugly, especially for data. It's not unusual for people to get thousands of dollars in data charges just to check email overseas. Internet cafes offer a good alternative. I take a laptop with me when I travel and use free wifi.
?I also travel the globe with MagicJack to make and receive free calls to the United States. Google also has a video chat service that's free. Finally, never pick up a phone in a hotel room and call back home?unless you goal is to be poor in life!


http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clarkhoward/travel/clark-smart-tips-hassle-free-travel-abroad/ndSc/

 

[kickserv]

I have been all over the world, I am not saying I am an expert on currency exchange but here are some quick tips.......

1) Try to stay away from the "exchange kiosks" at airports. Yes, some do give good rates but their fees can be really high.

2) If exchanging money at an "airport kiosk" always change the money AT the location you are visiting. Meaning if you were in Canada and traveling to say Australia, exchange the money in Australia, you almost always will get a better rate.

3) Contact your bank, they may give you a decent rate on English Pounds. If you give them 3 days notice they should have the English Pounds ready for you to pick up, but check the rate they are giving you first, and make sure they do not screw you with some "transaction fee".

4) Sometimes the best rate you can get is exchanging money at a casino. Casinos around the world usually have a great rate on currency exchange. For obvious reasons they want you with a wad of cash standing in their casino. Since you are going to Aruba, I bet you get a good rate on currency at one of the casinos there.

5) I usually use my debit card to get the locally currency, but before you do this, make sure you have at least one of the following on your debit card.......

If you have both, you are good to go throughout the world, if you have one, you should be ok, if you have none, then your debit card will be pretty much useless.

The way to avoid fees (don't have to pay an ATM fee) when using your debit card is to ask for "cashback". For example if I was in England I'd find a grocery store and buy 5 pound worth of food, then I ask for "cashback". Of course this doesn't always work, but some stores in England may give ya "150 pounds "cashback". You would pay zero fees and get the International banking rate on the currency exchange.

But as I said, that option doesn't always work.

If using an ATM throughout the world make sure you use one that is affiliated with a country's bank. The fees will be much lower. If you use some ATM that is sitting in a local bar the fees will kill ya. Also note that many ATM's throughout the world do not have the letters on the keypad. If your pin is "letters" make sure you know the "numbers".

Best place to find currency conversion.........

http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html


Oh and if using a credit card out of the country, make sure you know the fees, credit card companies will screw you big time if you do not pay attention.



Have fun:SIB

 

[Lookn4help]

Trvl

Trvl

Thanks for the info