Foreign Currency

Understand Foreign Currency Prior to Departure

Part of the travelling experience is coming to terms with different currencies. In the lead up to your trip, keep an eye on the exchange rates, so that you become familiar with the different costs and how much you expect to pay once on the ground.

It’s generally advisable to have some local currency with you prior to arriving at your destination - especially if you're arriving late at night. Foreign currency can be exchanged at your bank or dedicated exchange outlets. When travelling, it’s also a good idea to carry some easily convertible currency such as American Dollars or Euro. In the event of an emergency, this spare cash can come in handy.

With today’s banking system, modern ATM cards with international symbols such as visa, MasterCard or cirrus maestro can be used to withdraw cash from thousands of automated machines around the world. This is generally a safe and effective method of obtaining local currency on your holiday. Before leaving though, always tell your bank that you’re travelling so that their fraud department doesn’t lodge a case unnecessarily and block the use of your card.

Airport arrival and departure tax is a common aspect of today’s travel. Most arrival taxes are included with your airline ticket. However some departure taxes are not. So it’s best to be aware if you need local currency before leaving the unrestricted airport areas.