How and what money to take to Thailand. What currency to take to Thailand and abroad - dollars or rubles

Your money. What money to take, currency exchange.

I will continue to share my experience of traveling to other countries. This article will begin a series of master classes from Vinsky regarding safety while traveling and on vacation. Everything on my site is written based on my own experience, but does not pretend to be encyclopedic. If you have questions, ask. It is better if in your comments you suggest a new topic that interests you. This is why comments on this site are created. For stream of consciousness, advertising and emoticons, there are social networks.

I'll start with the following: CASH. What cash should you take with you on vacation?

a) In our country, the majority of the population has three types of currencies:

• Russian rubles
• U.S. dollars

The question of which of these currencies to take with you on a trip or vacation depends on where you are going.
For example, in CU countries such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, you can take Russian rubles.
If you are traveling to Europe, then it is logical to take euros with you, but leaving dollars only for visiting the USA is not correct: traditionally the Western Hemisphere gravitates towards the dollar, and some of them, for example Ecuador or Panama, simply use them in circulation because they do not have their own national currency.

EURO in Europe. Advice: do not take 500 euro bills with you. They will very often break you off by saying that there is no change. This may be so, but in addition to this, Europeans are very afraid of counterfeits, and for them, holding out a 500 euro bill when paying for a glass of water is a reason to suspect you of trying to sell them a counterfeit. Take as many small coutures as possible: 20, 50 euros, and the denomination of 100 has a high degree of trust.

DOLLARS. Dollars in the USA: accepts any dollar bills: dirty, old, washed and painted. And in some countries they will flatly refuse to accept 100 dollar bills older than 2006: in many African countries (Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya...), and not even on the very exotic island of Bali or the Philippines for mass tourism, bills older than 2006 will be exchanged for you in the worst possible way rate than new banknotes. I note that this does not apply to dirty and washed banknotes - they look specifically at the year of issue of the banknote. Also in Indonesia, dollar bills of certain series used to be poorly exchanged. The latest news from Indonesia regarding money can be read at

One more detail regarding the exchange of dollars and euros in Southeast Asia: the larger the dollar bill, the better the exchange rate for local money. That is, it is more profitable to take 100 dollar bills with you than twenties and fifty dollars.
In some countries, they will not take dollars from you if they have marks or ink stamps on them. Surprisingly, in these same countries it is common to mark dollar bills with ink stamps (this used to be the case in some Arab countries)

Some summary : If you are traveling to the Western Hemisphere (except Cuba), take dollars. If to Europe - euro. In the rest of the world, you need to look at the situation: if this is the former patrimony of the United States (there were or are bases, a lot of American capital is invested in the country), then dollars are better than euros. If these are former colonies of European countries, the euro is better.

b) Currency exchange. Where is the best place to exchange your dollars or euros for local currency?.

1) before your trip, look at the interbank exchange rate for the dollar or euro of the candy wrappers in which country you are going to. You can take a look.
- For what?
– Then, to at least represent the order of the course. This does not mean that you will be exchanged at the rate shown by the universal money converter. No. But you can understand that for a dollar they should give you thousands, not hundreds.

2) very rarely there will be a good heading at the arrival airport. I would even say that in 95% of cases there will be the worst rate. Therefore, change exactly enough to pay for a taxi and buy a bottle of beer.

3) very rarely, or rather in 98% of cases, the hotel will have a bad exchange rate. Therefore, try not to change money at the hotel. To pay the hotel, use plastic cards. More on this later, in the next chapter.

Where can I change money? There are many options here: from exchangers to exotics.

So:
– official exchangers are indicated by tables with exchange rates. When exchanging, you are given a receipt (in Thailand, for example). Some exchange offices will ask you for a passport (Africa)
– shops selling gold and stones (Sri Lanka). You won’t see currency exchange signs on these shops, but nevertheless, Sri Lanka has the best exchange rate
– private money changers (Laos, Burundi, Ghana, Mongolia, Argentina, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, etc.). Not random people. People sometimes with bags of local money. People are sent to them by recommendation. It is best to ask taxi drivers about them.
– banks (Australia) It’s very dreary, but there’s no other way. Or come with a credit card and withdraw money from ATMs
– travel agencies (Brazil) Oddly enough, but here is the best exchange rate

I will write in detail about deception when exchanging money in the next article, but for now remember two things:

• In any exchange office you should immediately ask about the commission when exchanging currency. So you ask: But commission? If they nod yes, change it.
• In any case, count the money given to you. Without leaving the cash register. If you change at a money changer on the street, then do not immediately hand over your sweaty hundred, but take what you are entitled to and count it. Only then give your money. There are scrappers in many countries. Especially in Bali. Their behavior is as follows: they count the money in front of your eyes, then break the stack and quietly take out 20% of the bills. Therefore, only after counting with your own hands can you give them your labor money. Don't want it that way? This means this is not your exchange option, which means they will try to deceive you.

2 . Credit cards. Plastic bank cards

In the modern world, there are several options not to carry cash with you. Plastic bank cards are one of the options and the most convenient option. If you are traveling to a civilized country, then plastic is the best way to pay for purchases and services. For example, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia... by the way, taking a credit card with you to Australia is a way to save money, since the non-cash exchange rate is better and even when withdrawing cash from an ATM, where the bank charges you a percentage, you will be more profitable in the end How to change cash dollars in an Australian bank.

There are subtleties here:

1) the ATM must service international cards. This will be indicated by MasterCard/Visa stickers on its panel.
2) it is advisable to use ATMs of well-known, large banks
3) the ATM should be located in a good location: in or near a bank, in a large shopping center, at an airport (often the airport has a limited cash withdrawal limit), on a busy street, in a tourist place. Please note that you can get in if you use an ATM installed in the gateway: readers are installed on the ATM that accepts a card without a chip, and if you are refused to issue money, you risk losing some amount from your account in an hour - the attackers read the information from your card and detected your PIN. code. The rest is a matter of technique. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you enable SMS notifications about all transactions on your card. In this case, you have the opportunity to quickly block the card.

That's all. To be continued tomorrow: Why I don’t use travel checks, and answers to other questions you have - write

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What kind of money to take to Thailand is always a concern for vacationers, especially those who decided to go to this country for the first time. Before leaving, carefully approach solving this problem and think about how and where you will change money in Thailand, whether you will take cash or a bank card and many other little things.

Cash in Thailand

Most often, travelers carry with them a thick wallet with cash bills that they plan to spend during the trip. This option is not the most suitable, only because in Thai hotels and banks there is nothing suitable for storing money, except for safes in the room and lockers at the reception. There are cases that even when storing currency in the room safe, it disappeared. Not all hotel employees in Thailand are honest and conscientious.

It is better to take some cash, leave the rest on the card and withdraw it as needed.

Which currency is more convenient?

What to take to Thailand: dollars or euros is not so important, but whether to take rubles to Thailand worries the majority of Russian vacationers.

It will be better if you exchange Russian money for traditional dollars or euros, in which case it will take much less time. Regarding the exchange rate of money, 50 and 100 dollar bills have a higher exchange rate, so it is more profitable to change them than small ones.

Upon arrival, you can exchange some money at the airport so that you have Thai baht at your disposal for travel and other small items until you get to the exchange office with a favorable rate. This option is more suitable for independent travelers.

Most often, money exchange in Thailand takes place in banks. If you don’t have time to get to the bank to avoid being deceived and exchange funds profitably, do it at specialized points marked Exchange. It is not worth changing money at a hotel or guesthouse, as the exchange rate leaves much to be desired.

How to bring money to Thailand

Once you have decided what kind of money to take to Thailand (dollar bills or euros), you should think about how to transport them. You can carry money in the form of cash, but there are safer ways.

The most universal option is traveler's checks. Thomas Cook and American Express checks can be easily exchanged for Thai baht at any banking institution, be it the bank itself or a branch. They charge a commission of about 30 baht per check, but their exchange rate is much higher. When you buy such checks from a Russian bank, you will also be charged a small commission, which varies depending on the bank’s tariffs. Before buying checks, read the rules on how to transfer money to Thailand.

If traveler's checks exceed $10,000, you must declare the details, otherwise there are no import restrictions.

Bank cards

Russian tourists can use VISA and Mastercard debit and credit cards in Thailand without any problems. But it is better to check with your bank representative in advance whether it is possible to use their card in this country. When making ATM withdrawals upon arrival, it is better to calculate the costs in advance and cash out a large amount to avoid paying a fee of at least 150 baht each time.

Also in Thailand you can pay by card without any problems - this applies to large stores. Of course, it is unlikely that the owner of a small store will provide the opportunity to pay by card, but paying for purchases with a card in shopping centers or chain grocery stores is no problem.

Shopping in Thailand

As for that, you decide for yourself. Firstly, this is personal, and secondly, the amount of money depends on the resort you are going to and the holiday season. Pattaya is considered the cheapest resort in Thailand – when it comes to beach holidays. Here you can relax both on a budget and on a grand scale - whatever you want. The farther you go from mass gatherings of tourists, deeper into the country, the cheaper it is.

In general, on average, regardless of the resort, if you don’t deprive yourself too much, but also don’t go to great lengths, 1,500-2,000 baht per person per day will be enough, subject to breakfast at the hotel.

When counting on a certain amount, put part of it on the card, and take part with you in the form of large bills, preferably euros or dollars.

Shopping

Shopping is considered the main entertainment in the country. Therefore, you shouldn’t buy in advance and take a lot of things with you, but taking a couple of empty suitcases won’t hurt. And then, you can buy a suitcase in Thailand at a ridiculous price.

Shopping centers in Thailand are considered one of the best in all of Asia, because the richest assortment and high quality make goods a tasty morsel for shopaholics from all over the world.

The most interesting thing while shopping will be visiting the night and floating markets, where you can not only make good purchases, bargain and treat yourself to new things, but also try local delicacies, chat with Thais and just have fun.

Budget shopping

What money to take to Thailand 2016 and how much is entirely up to you. The main thing is to correctly calculate the budget (some vacation in Thailand for a few dollars a day). If you want to buy more and spend less, you just need to visit the "outlet town" called Premium Outlet in Phuket or Outlet Mall in Pattaya. Large resort cities allow tourists to purchase branded items at incredibly low prices with a discount of 30 to 70%.

Despite the fact that prices are very low and can “fit” any wallet, Thailand is not considered one of the cheapest countries. In shopping centers you can expect low prices on goods such as fruits, flowers, etc. Especially those tourists who visit markets for foreigners overpay. As a rule, there are no signs with prices and it is different for each buyer, which is why many overpay 2 or even three times more than the market value.

Where is the best place to “shop”

The most profitable places for this are the already mentioned markets. There are a great many of them in every city and resort village. Prices are lower towards the end of the market, so don’t rush to buy everything just after entering the “tent city”.

Look around, get used to the surroundings, choose. Also, local markets allow things that may cause indignation in the shopping center. You can safely bargain and earn a discount of up to 50% at an already low price.

What to buy

Thailand is a country of contrasts, so each place has its own traditions. However, there are things that unite the state and make it whole. Elephants, in all their manifestations, and Thai cosmetics are things that you should definitely buy in Thailand. Such gifts for loved ones and small trinkets for yourself will long remind you of a fabulous trip to the Land of Smiles and will warm you with the warmth of Thailand throughout the year.

Advice for those who plan to pay with a card in Thailand - be sure to call the bank and warn them that during a certain period you will be in Thailand and pay for various goods and services with a card. Otherwise, the card may be blocked after the first transaction, regardless of the amount. If you are lazy and do not call, the bank may block the card in order to prevent fraud.

When traveling abroad on holiday, the question often arises: what kind of money is best to take with you? Cash, checks or credit cards? Read practical advice from Masha and Pasha in this article.

Rule 1. There are currently only two currencies in the world that can be exchanged more or less freely and at a normal rate in almost any country. These are US dollars and Euros. It is clear that if you are traveling to European countries, it is better to take euros with you, in which case the exchange rate will be as favorable as possible. If you are traveling to American or African countries (with the exception of Cuba), then it is better to take US dollars. The exchange rate for them will be better in many Asian countries. Russian rubles, in principle, can be freely exchanged in neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, the Baltic states), but that’s all. In some countries, for example, Turkey or Poland, they can also be exchanged, but the rate will not be very favorable.

Rule 2. Try not to take worn-out or old banknotes or bills with ink marks on them when traveling. They may not be accepted from you. In many third world countries (Asia and Africa), US dollars older than 2006 are also treated poorly. They may either not be taken at all or taken at a less favorable rate.

Rule 3. You should not take very large bills, for example 500 euros. If you try to pay with them in a store or restaurant, they will look at you with suspicion. The ideal option is 100 euro or dollar bills. They are the most trusted. Naturally, you should also have smaller bills with you in case you do not need to change a large amount at once, or you need to give a tip. But you shouldn’t take a lot of small money. This is extra space in your wallet, and exchangers don’t really like it if, for example, you want to give them a bunch of tens or twenties.

Rule 4. Change money at banks or exchange offices in the city center. At the airport and hotel the exchange rate will be very unfavorable. If you change at an exchanger, ask if there is a commission for the exchange and how much money you will receive in your hands, for example, when exchanging 100 dollars. Do not change money in your hands, from a money changer, there is a high probability that you can be deceived (unnoticedly pull out several bills from a stack during exchange, etc.).

Rule 5. MashaPasha advises: in addition to cash, be sure to take plastic bank cards with you. In the USA, Canada, EU, Australia, a card is the best option for paying for goods and services. Naturally, your card must be Visa or MasterCard class. Before your trip, it is advisable to check with your bank whether payments abroad are open for you (sometimes the bank even needs to be informed of the name of the country you are traveling to, this is done for security reasons). It is better to withdraw money from cards at ATMs located in banks, large shopping centers, and airports. Do not use cards in dubious places, there are scammers everywhere. Before your trip, it is better to connect the SMS service to your card to inform you about all payments. This way you will know how much money was taken from you and whether they want to deceive you in this store (cafe). The card is convenient because it does not take up much space, it can be easily blocked if lost, and additional money can be transferred to it if necessary.

So, main conclusion site— take with you on the road both a bank card and cash (in dollars or euros). Cards are convenient, but you can’t always pay with them, so cash should always be on hand.

As for traveler's checks, then their popularity has now fallen greatly. Their only advantage is that only the owner can cash a check, so stealing traveler's checks is pointless. But cashing them out is quite difficult (this procedure can only be completed at a bank); for cashing out you will be charged a fairly large commission (up to 5%). Therefore, now traveler's checks are being replaced by bank cards everywhere (if you want to increase security, you can ask your bank about the SMS confirmation service for all financial transactions carried out using your card, this also makes the theft of such a card pointless).

Fabulous Prague is a beautiful and colorful city. The capital of the Czech Republic has always attracted and continues to attract our fellow citizens. Why? Only those who haven’t arrived yet know this. For someone who has visited, this is easily explained.

A rich cultural program with historical sightseeing, beer tasting and excellent food - all this is inexpensive compared to other European capitals.

In the event that you already and or are planning to receive it in the near future, you can act. Come to Prague for at least five days to have time to see, feel and understand the main thing, or even better, seven.

Czech money

The issue of money and currency exchange is always one of the main ones for tourists. In the Czech Republic, the Czech crown is used, fully convertible since 1991. Despite the fact that the country has entered the Schengen area, the Czechs are in no hurry to switch to the euro. After all, they have their own wonderful money - Czech crowns. One crown is equal to one hundred hellers, although hellers, like our kopecks, are no longer used. As of 2017, banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 crowns. In addition to paper money, you can find coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 crowns.

The rate is quite stable.

Paper money in Prague

At any banks, exchange offices, hotels, a traveler can exchange cash and traveler's checks. Exchange in Prague has its own subtleties. The exchange rate at hotels is not very favorable, so it is better to change currency at banks or street exchange offices.

When exchanging, ask if the point you choose charges a commission. It is rarely indicated on the sign, so find out how many crowns they will give you for 100 euros, dollars or rubles, compare with the reading on the exchanger’s board, and everything will fall into place.

When changing currency in the last days before departure, save the document. It may be useful to you at customs if you want to reverse exchange the remaining crowns. Avoid street money changers and currency dealers. They got their hands on deceiving hapless tourists. Cases of issuing Hungarian forints, Bulgarian levs, and Croatian kunas as crowns have become more frequent, but at a much lower rate.

Useful information for those who have to change currency in Prague: and three basic rules for safe exchange. Map of the city with marked exchange offices. Save, write down or remember!

Tourists are interested in what is changing best in Prague. The prevailing opinion that Europe is better off with the euro does not work in Prague. Any currency here is exchanged equally, so do not lose money by exchanging dollars or rubles for euros in Russia.

The only advantage of the euro is the ability to pay with this currency in large stores. The payment rate is posted on the information board or cash register. The change will be returned to you in crowns. Coins and €500 notes are not generally accepted. Payment in euros is only possible if your purchase costs more than half the nominal value. This means that you will not be able to pay in European currency for a bottle of water (≈ 25 CZK or about euros).

Electronic money in Prague

There is no need to pound the cobblestone streets of Prague in search of a better rate. It is better to pay with an American Express, VISA, Master Cards and devote all your time to studying the unique old houses that stretch along the narrow streets, rather than exchange rates.

All large stores, super and hypermarkets, shopping centers accept bank cards. Funds are debited from them at a cross-rate that is favorable to the tourist. It can be more pleasant than currency exchange, so shopping in Prague using cards is profitable -. It will accept cards for payment not only in stores, but also in any restaurant, large cafe or pub.

If you do need cash, you can withdraw it from a 24-hour ATM, and there are a lot of them in Prague. Your bank will charge a fee for withdrawing money. In Prague, it is equal to a fixed amount for using an ATM, to which is added a percentage of the amount withdrawn. Don't waste your time on trifles so you don't have to pay twice.

Return Tax Free in the Czech Republic

If you see a Tax Free sign on a store, remember: if you are a non-EU citizen and make a purchase of 2,000 CZK or more (approximately 80 euros), you can return VAT. The main thing is, don’t forget to take a paragon check, and then fill out the Tax Free return form at the border and contact the Tax Free cash Refund point. The quantity of goods exported cannot exceed your personal need, and the goods themselves must be intended only for personal use. VAT is not refunded for food, alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, etc.

Ways to save

Beautiful Prague today is experiencing a real invasion of tourists from different countries. In order to enjoy the capital’s beauties, get a vivid idea of ​​the richness of Prague’s history and culture, the peculiarities of the national cuisine, buy numerous souvenirs, and enjoy cheap shopping, you should first calculate the costs so as not to deny yourself anything and not feel awkward.

In Prague you can save money starting with your hotel room. By staying a little further from the center, you get a huge plus for the family tourist budget, without experiencing any inconvenience, thanks to Prague’s developed transport system. Private apartments are the cheapest.

Compliance with safety measures can be considered an important point of savings. Never take large amounts of cash with you. Having a card makes it easier to stay on top of your money. With a card, you will not become the prey of criminals, you will not spend money on nonsense that street vendors skillfully persuade you to take. It’s better to buy a Czech pomegranate - you can see how beautiful it is and read about it.

Never put all your cash in your wallet. Put the minimum amount in there and keep the rest of the money in a closed inner pocket. Do not leave your wallet, purse, or purse on the table of a cafe or bar. Do not hesitate to clarify the amount to be paid and ask to indicate it on the calculator if you do not know the language, so as not to overpay.

The main attractions of Prague are visited for free. Great savings can be found on admission tickets. On average, entrance to museums, galleries, etc. costs from 80 to 150 CZK, however, there are also expensive objects. Reduce ticket prices with museum cards and discounts. Study the offers in advance: many museums accept visitors for free once a month.

You can also reduce your food costs if you have lunch and dinner in restaurants remote from the center. The boar's knee food there is sometimes even tastier, because “our own people” go there, and they serve the same great beer as in the city center, and the prices are always lower. You can also save on mobile communications by using the services of an Internet cafe or Wi-Fi Free in hotels.

Come to Prague during sales periods. It is not difficult to find out about them in advance. Don't rush to central nightclubs or brand boutiques. While walking along the streets of Prague, look into the shops where you will see magical discount numbers on the windows. Moving away from the center, you will be surprised to find that all the services and entertainment there are no worse, and the prices are much lower.

How much money to take to Prague for a week

According to statistics, when going to Prague for a week, the average Russian tourist can safely take with him funds on average at the rate of 1500-1800 CZK per day per person, excluding accommodation, since it is usually paid in advance. This amount will allow you to visit attractions, travel on municipal transport using a single card, eat well and, of course, treat yourself to delicious Czech beer. If you plan your route correctly in advance, the amount of expenses will be lower.

If you decide to go on a couple of excursions during this time, or even take a peek at neighboring Germany, buy yourself shoes and something else, bring souvenirs to your family - then take a thousand euros - they’ll be enough for a week and 200 more back home bring it. The latest information, by the way, has been verified several times.

What to buy in Prague stores?

A thrifty tourist who knows the value of money is sure to bring from Prague not only impressions, but also a whole suitcase of goods and souvenirs. Many of them, of course, require serious investments, but this is a separate expense item. Traditionally, commemorative beer mugs and wicker and wooden handicrafts and puppets are brought from Prague. Alcoholic drinks include Slivovitz and Fernet.

Buy the famous Czech garnet in gold or silver as a gift for your beloved women, and pipes or hats for your beloved men. Beware of visiting toy stores with children! They will definitely not allow you to meet the average amount!

In Prague, no one is left without souvenirs. They will remind you for a long time about the wonderful days of relaxation in this little Paris, never ceasing to attract you back. Sooner or later you will succumb to this magical pull and once again see the ancient and at the same time young city - luxurious Prague!

I decided to collect here my experience of traveling to different countries.

All my notes on this site are information verified from personal experience, but do not claim to be encyclopedic. I would venture to suggest that this material may be useful to those who are planning a trip to a country where they have never been before.

Let's start with perhaps the most popular topic: CASH.

What cash should you take with you on a trip?

Which currency to take with you on a trip naturally depends on where you are going.

Rubles

You can take Russian rubles with you to the countries of the Customs Union - Belarus, Kazakhstan. In many other countries - both in the CIS (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, etc.) and in Europe (for example, the Czech Republic) rubles are also accepted for exchange at exchange offices.

The question is that today the ruble exchange rate, alas, is unstable, which means that if you take only rubles on a trip, you will not be able to accurately calculate the required amount. This means you need to be on the safe side - either take rubles with a reserve, or take with you a “backup” plastic card, from which, if necessary, you can withdraw cash. Rubles are also accepted for exchange in Poland, the Baltic states, Turkey, and have also been seen in France, Finland and other countries. And in Egypt, recently, there is no need to exchange at all - rubles are accepted simply as a means of payment (but, it seems to me, the cunning Arabs will accept rubles for payment at a rather “predatory” rate, and therefore it is still more profitable to bring, as before, dollars.

Euro

If you are traveling to Europe, then it is logical to take euros with you. Even if the country you are traveling to has a different currency (examples: Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Great Britain). Although, before traveling to the UK, for example, we bought British pounds in St. Petersburg without any problems and at a favorable rate.

1. Do not take 500 euro notes with you. In Europe, payments via plastic cards (credit or debit) are highly developed, so often in European establishments either there will be no change from 500, or they will begin to suspect you of trying to “sell” a counterfeit bill.
2. Take as many small bills as possible: 10, 20, 50 euros, even the denomination of 100 has a higher degree of trust compared to 500.
3. As a last resort, if you bought euros at the last moment before departure, and there were only 500 in the bank (rarely, but it happens), then when leaving, look at Duty-Free, buy yourself some nice change, and at the same time change a large bill .

U.S. dollars

Naturally, if you are traveling to the USA, take dollars with you, but the “radius of application” of the American currency is much wider; in practice, it is not limited to the States alone. Many countries in the Western Hemisphere have a very favorable attitude towards the dollar. For example, in the shops of the Dominican Republic we accepted dollars as payment for purchases (I must say, at a very decent, not “predatory” rate), change, however, was given in pesos. And some countries in Latin America and Africa generally use American dollars in circulation, since they do not have their own national currencies (British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, Panama, El Salvador, etc.)

In the United States itself, dollar bills are accepted in any:

• torn;
• dirty;
• old;
• painted.

But in some other countries they will flatly refuse to accept 100 dollar bills older than 2006, and in many African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, etc.), and in many countries of Southeast Asia, which have long ceased to be suitable for Russian tourists exotic (for example, the Philippines, or the Indonesian island of Bali), banknotes older than 2006 will be exchanged at a worse rate than new banknotes. Moreover, the role here is not played by the physical condition of the bills (torn, old), but rather by the year of issue.

Another feature of exchanging dollars and euros in Southeast Asian countries:

The larger the bill, the better the exchange rate for local money. That is, it is more profitable to take 100 dollar (100 euro) bills with you there than twenties and fifty kopecks.

In some countries, particularly in the Middle East, you will almost certainly not be able to exchange notes that have marks or ink stamps on them.

Conclusion:

• When traveling to the Western Hemisphere (except Cuba, although the situation there is now gradually changing) - take dollars.
• To Europe - euro.
• In the rest of the world you have to look at the situation.

(Wikipedia will help you!): if this is a territory of US influence (there were or still are military bases, a lot of American capital has been invested in the country), then dollars are better than euros. If these are former colonies or overseas territories of European countries, the euro is better. (Attention, when traveling to many countries that are overseas territories of Great Britain, paradoxically, it is better, if possible, to carry not pounds sterling or even euros, but US dollars: Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, etc.) .

Currency exchange. Where is the best place to exchange dollars or euros for local currency?

1. Before your trip, look at the interbank exchange rate of the currency of the country where you are traveling to the dollar or euro. You can look, for example, . This is necessary in order to approximately determine the order of the course. This does not mean at all that at the currency exchange office they will exchange money for you at the rate shown by the universal currency converter. But you can understand that for a dollar they should give you thousands, not hundreds, and estimate the approximate amount.
2. It is very rare that there is a good exchange rate at the arrival airport. I would even say that in 95% of cases there will be the worst rate. Therefore, change at the airport just enough to pay for the trip to the hotel and buy a bottle of water.
3. Very often the hotel will have a bad currency exchange rate. Therefore, try not to change money at the hotel. And to pay with the hotel itself, I advise you to use plastic cards.

So where can you change money? There are many options: from banks and exchange offices to exotics.

Here are the main options:

• official exchange offices: indicated by signs “Currency exchange” or “Money exchange” and a board with exchange rates. When exchanging, you are given a check or receipt. Some exchange offices will ask you for your passport.
• shops selling gold and stones (Sri Lanka). On these benches you will not find the inscription “currency exchange”, but, nevertheless, in Ceylon this is where the best exchange rate is.
• private money changers (Laos, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Argentina, Venezuela, etc.). Not random people. People are sent to them by recommendation. It is best to ask taxi drivers about them.
• banks. In some countries this is the only way (Australia and some other “civilized” countries). Or withdraw money from your card at ATMs.
• travel agencies (Brazil). Oddly enough, this is the best exchange rate.

Of course, when exchanging money in almost any country in the world, fraud is possible. To minimize its likelihood:

1. In any exchange office, you should immediately, before all manipulations begin, ask about the commission for currency exchange. So ask: But commission? If you get an affirmative answer, you can change.
2. Always immediately count the money given to you. Without leaving the cash register. If you change at a money changer on the street, do not immediately hand over your banknotes, but take what you are entitled to and carefully count it. Only after this can you let go of your money. In many countries there are "breakers" (in particular in Bali, although this has not been seen in other parts of Indonesia). Their behavior is as follows: they count the money in front of your eyes, then they break the stack and quietly take out about 20% of the bills. Therefore, only after counting with your own hands can you give them your “hard-earned” money. Do they disagree? This means that this is not your exchange option, which means they will try to deceive you.

Credit cards. Plastic bank cards

There are many options in the world not to carry cash at all or to carry only the bare minimum.

Plastic bank cards are one of these options, the most convenient. If you are traveling to a highly developed country, then a card is the best way to pay for purchases and services. For example, the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia. By the way, when traveling to Australia, a credit card is also a way to save money, since the exchange rate in the payment system (Visa, Mastercard) is better than in a bank. And it's so much better that even if you withdraw cash from an ATM (for which your bank will likely charge you interest), you'll end up being better off than exchanging cash in dollars at an Australian bank.

However, there are some “subtleties” here too:

• The ATM must accept international cards. This is evidenced by the MasterCard/Visa logos on the ATM panel.
• It is advisable to use ATMs only from well-known, large banks.
• The ATM should be located in a normal, trustworthy location: in a bank or near a bank, in a large shopping center, at an airport (keep in mind that airports often have a cash withdrawal limit), on a busy street, in a tourist area.

Please note that you can become a victim of criminals by using an ATM installed somewhere in a “gateway”: fraudsters install readers on an ATM that accepts cards without a chip, you are refused to issue money, and after a while you risk losing some amount from your account: the attackers read the information from your card and detected your PIN code, and used this information for their own criminal purposes. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you activate SMS notifications about all transactions on your card. In this case, you will have the opportunity, if something happens, to quickly block the card.

And it is for this reason – to be on the safe side in an emergency – that I strongly recommend taking with you on your trip not one, but at least two cards with a sufficient credit limit.

Never try to withdraw cash from an ATM in a hurry. In some countries, scammers manage to insert a film into the cash dispensing opening, which prevents the full dispensing of cash. The ATM issues a receipt, but the bills themselves are not visible. If you are in a country whose language you do not know (for example, in Indonesia or the Philippines), a nearby “well-wishing” accomplice of the scammers “translates” to you: the receipt supposedly says that you were denied the cash. You leave because you are late for the train/plane/etc. And at this time the criminals carefully, using tweezers, take out the cash given to you from the ATM. This is a real incident that happened to one of my friends. After that, all appeals to the bank led to nothing: the money was issued, the SMS notification was sent, there were no complaints against the bank...

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