Currency exchange while traveling: why do some still carry wads of cash? (page 8 of 28)

The money changers must have loved you when they saw you arrive with your euros.

For me, it came out about the same. Even if the exchange rate was a bit less favorable, my bank fees were zero (instead of 2.5% + a fixed amount per transaction). The main downside was the difficulty of finding a money changer (bank or otherwise).

You're the grasshopper when it comes to banking. The ant for everything else.

I do the opposite.

You're carefree when it comes to banking.

I choose my bank for reasons other than travel currency exchange. The other benefits it provides more than cover these minor inconveniences!

I’m also carefree about not having any store or supermarket loyalty cards, etc... I only have two cards: my Visa Premier (which is 50% reimbursed) and my *carte vitale* (which stays at home), and that’s already a lot!

Do as you please.

If the Swiss now have to open accounts in France, the world’s gone topsy-turvy! 😄

The end of the world, yeah 🙂

Just back from Spain, and I’d recommend—just this once—withdrawing a few euros in France for small expenses you’d need to pay in cash over there. Not that there’s much, really.

Even though Spain is in the eurozone, local ATMs charge fees. Anywhere from just under two euros to nearly five.

A way for Spanish banks to recover after the rough times they’ve been through...

A really interesting link for anyone who doesn’t *have* to spend under-the-table money or who isn’t allergic to banks and modern payment methods:

https://www.tourdumondiste.com/argent-carte-visa-master-card-tour-du-monde

(Link found by member spoon 78—thanks!)

A very interesting link ...

This link is great, thanks!

Hi,

It took me about two minutes to read the first big blunder... "Just pay for your transport with your Max card to be insured for the first three months of your trip (even if credit card insurance does have some drawbacks compared to 'real' travel insurance)." When someone’s this off-base about such a fundamental, there’s little chance they’ve got the rest figured out.

Michel

A very interesting link for those who don’t need to offload undeclared income or aren’t allergic to banks and modern payment methods:

By the way, you didn’t share your personal solution with us...

My solution to what?

You mean my way of exchanging money?

Adapting to the country with a preference for card payments and withdrawals from ATMs. An online bank account to reduce fees.

The topic is currency exchange, not travel insurance.

The comparison helps open up new possibilities. Of course, you should look into it based on your situation, as with everything.

Do you buy blindly?

My way of exchanging money, you mean?

Adapting to the country with a preference for card payments and withdrawals from ATMs. An online bank account to reduce fees.

Yeah, what’s the amount (percentage) of your ATM withdrawal fees? (outside the Eurozone)

One note: ATMs also depend on the banks in the country where you’re withdrawing. I noticed that in South Africa, fees could be higher at some banks. Do you pay attention to that, or are you carefree in those cases?

The topic is currency exchange, not travel insurance.

I usually gauge a site's credibility based on the areas I know I can assess.

Do you buy blindly, then?

I’m not nitpicky, but I’ve learned from life experiences—in Turkey and especially in Georgia—just how counterproductive that tendency can be.

Michel

What’s the fee percentage for your ATM withdrawals outside the Eurozone?

Zero.

ATMs also depend on the banks in the country where you’re withdrawing.

Yep. So I always withdraw the maximum each time and compare banks on the first withdrawal (usually, there are several ATMs in the same spot...).

For 18 days in South Africa, about 2-3 withdrawals. Not enough to break the bank or change my habits (way more cost-effective than exchanging currency anyway).

I usually gauge a site's credibility by the topics I know I can assess.

I never take a site at face value. It's a source of information to verify, a starting point.

Same goes for real life.

This site is pleasant to read, but it's mostly sponsored...

It took me less than 3 minutes to spot the first blunder... Fortuneo must not be paying them much... 😇

This is apparently a community-driven site. You can send a message to the author so they can fix the error (and Tatra too, while they're at it).

VF is also sponsored. All free ones are.

(For Fortuneo, that matches what I use it for. What’s the error?)

It seems to be a community-driven site.

VF is also sponsored.

(For Fortuneo, it matches what I use it for. What’s the mistake?)

You’re telling me—I had no idea! There was a big controversy a while back about this site and its sponsor for insurance: Chapka... So I’ve been cautious... But there are also some interesting things I’ll check out. The tip to avoid those 220 baht fees on every withdrawal in Thailand... So thanks anyway for the link—this tip wasn’t there before.

Fortuneo just made its Gold Mastercard completely free this month... No more fees, except for those infamous ATM charges. The only thing left to improve for Fortuneo to be a great travel deal is lifting the limits, which are too restrictive.

Has anyone on this forum ever traveled with just one suitcase, even a carry-on, full of cash? If so, that’s interesting. If not, that could put an end to the topic 😉