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Thread ID: 84281 2007-10-31 06:12:00 Taking money overseas when travelling somebody (208) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
606813 2007-10-31 06:12:00 I'll be traveling overseas in a couple of months on a business trip, and need to take a small quantity of money with me (for food/accommodation etc.). As this is my first time overseas, I am not too sure what the best option is for taking money with me.

What do PF1ers recommend? I was considering simply making a cash withdrawal using my credit card when I get to the destination country, to avoid carrying cash (and then worrying about getting it changed etc).
somebody (208)
606814 2007-10-31 06:28:00 If you have a credit card with a PIN number, put your credit card in credit and you can use it like a cashflow card. winmacguy (3367)
606815 2007-10-31 06:41:00 Agreed. Credit card is the safest option. The major credit cards are accepted all over the world.

Where are you going?
Greven (91)
606816 2007-10-31 06:45:00 Depends on what country and how your traveling.
I've only been to oz and since its to visit family i just take cash which i exchange before i go at a local bank not the airport banks.
If going to a country by yourself then probably as winmacguy says.
lazydog (148)
606817 2007-10-31 06:53:00 Your standard Bank ATM card will also work in the o/seas ATMs so long as they are part of a group like Cirrus or Plus. PaulD (232)
606818 2007-10-31 06:59:00 Cheers guys - as far as I know my bank is part of the "Plus" group, though I think using Visa would be safer.

If my understanding is correct, then if I put money into my credit card so that it's in positive figures (as WMG suggests), then when I withdraw that cash overseas I won't be charged interest?
somebody (208)
606819 2007-10-31 07:06:00 You will be charged a fee for withdrawing money from an overseas terminal, so check your banks fees carefully. This just means it is more economical to withdrawal larger sums at each time rather than small amounts.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket though, because it only takes a wayward ATM to eat your card one weekend or for you to lose your card to cause financial havoc.
Jen (38)
606820 2007-10-31 07:07:00 I would pay for food and accommodation directly with Visa and take cash for incidentals. If it is a business trip Visa slips are useful reciepts for claiming expenses/tax deductions. tutaenui (1724)
606821 2007-10-31 07:13:00 Still don't know where you're going, or for how long.....

My :2cents:

Credit Card
Travellers Cheques
Cash

C/C can be your main source, T/Cheques as back-up if you lose your C/C, and a little cash for small purchases such as bars and bribes.

If you were planning to take say NZ$1000, suggest

NZ$100 cash
NZ$300 T/C
rest on the C/C.

Converted to destination currency of course.

The Travellers Cheques can be stuffed in a safe at your hotel and forgotten about till you either lose the rest, or you leave.
allblack (6574)
606822 2007-10-31 07:18:00 My daughter is in the UK at the moment. To give an idea of fees I checked her bank account - she has been using her cash flow card on her tertiary account in ATM machines.

Details follow:

GBP 200.00
ASDA OADBYat 0.3722* $537.29 09 October
OffshoreServiceMargins**$5.91 09 OctoberVISA DEBIT
Overseas ATMFee$5.00
Mercury (1316)
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