llfe@hound.UUCP (L.FENG) (04/18/85)
Well, now that the doller isn't so strong... How does one go about obtaining foreign currency when planning a trip? Or is it better to wait and change money in the visited country? Lynda
ssm@ahuta.UUCP (s.modak) (04/18/85)
> Well, now that the doller isn't so strong... > > How does one go about obtaining foreign currency when planning > a trip? Or is it better to wait and change money in the visited > country? > > Lynda The best thing to do, from an economic point of view, is to buy foreign exchange in the country of destination. Unless things are completely topsy-turvy, you will always get a better rate in that country than you will here. However, it is a good idea to change some money here before going to pay for porters, taxi etc. in case you land there at an unearthly hour and all facilities are closed. Also, the above is a good idea when going to a country with exchange controls. Usually, in such places, a flourishing blackmarket in foreign exchange exists. This is all horribly illegal, but one can get higher rates of exchange if one knows how!
gam@amdahl.UUCP (G A Moffett) (04/21/85)
> How does one go about obtaining foreign currency when planning > a trip? Or is it better to wait and change money in the visited > country? > > Lynda In every major airport there is some form of currency exchange service available. As to where to exchange, I have found it better to exchange money in the target country (ie, buy pounds in the UK, buy francs in France, by dollars in the US), rather than exchanging before you get there. Some hotels in large cities also offer currency exchange but their rates are usually poor. Banks usually offer the best rates of all. -- Gordon A. Moffett ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,sun}!amdahl!gam
kvetter@dartvax.UUCP (Keith Vetter) (04/22/85)
> How does one go about obtaining foreign currency when planning > a trip? Or is it better to wait and change money in the visited > country? > > Lynda The best rates are actually gotten by using American credit cards because they get converted at high volume rates. Keith Vetter Dartmouth College
doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (04/23/85)
A nuisance: currency exchanges won't accept coin. Only bills. Don't
leave a country carrying a significant amount of coin unless you want
them for souvenirs.
--
Doug Pardee -- Terak Corp. -- !{hao,ihnp4,decvax}!noao!terak!douggam@amdahl.UUCP (G A Moffett) (04/25/85)
> > How does one go about obtaining foreign currency when planning > > a trip? Or is it better to wait and change money in the visited > > country? > > The best rates are actually gotten by using American credit cards > because they get converted at high volume rates. > > Keith Vetter > Dartmouth College This is a good point; I forgot about this. I am getting my AE bills from my stay in Paris and the exchange rate AE uses is much better than any bank/exchange I saw in Paris. Of course, for some things you still need cash, like taxis, and not all restaurants take cards, but you are better off using your plastic as much as possible. -- Gordon A. Moffett ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,sun}!amdahl!gam