Tips To Change Currency Abroad If Traveling From Australia

Australians may find themselves looking to go on holiday from time to time, and when that time comes again, the issue of currency exchange will no doubt come into play. Not so much the booking, but rather the exchange rates and issues that can come up with paying for things when across the world. Whether you’re planning on a long stay, or just a quick trip to the United States or even Europe, there are several tips that you should consider when dealing with finances in today’s modern world.

Focus On Connected Bank ATM Machines

If you’re going to go the route of having a debit card with you, make sure that before you leave you look for banks that are in association with international banks. Your local bank in Australia may not have representation in other countries. However, there are some networks that are connected and will not charge you a large fee for pulling money out abroad. There is a profit to be made by banks if you make purchases outright with your card, so be careful where and when you decide to pay with this method.

Prepaid Cards (Debit/Credit)

Perhaps one option that you may want to continue is to preload currency cards that you can take with you abroad. These can be loaded with as much currency as you’d like, with the currency of the location you’ll travel to, or with your home currency which you can withdraw at a bank ATM or exchange services desk at the airport. Pre-booked options can come in a variety of options, but traditionally they do not have a high cost to use or load.

Cash Is King

Here’s the thing, despite the ease of use of prepaid and ATM debit cards in general, you’ll find that cash will always rule the world. If you’re going to visit far off destinations, then exchange your Australian currency at the airport, before you get to the new location you’re going to be at. You can also look around your city to figure out what exchange outlets there may be. Larger cities like Sydney, for example, will have low cost options for currency exchange, so a little digging can go a long way.

Use Small Notes

At the end of the day, exchanging currency is a good thing when traveling abroad from Australia. However, in regards to safety, make sure that you stick to smaller bills and notes for any country you’re visiting. If you’re going to the United States, make sure that you don’t carry too much with you, and stick to currency less no greater than $20. If you’re going to Europe, keep in mind that the Euro is used in a great deal of the countries, and coins are prevalent.

It’s easy to get lost in the issue of currency, but if you take a little time ahead of your journey, you’ll no doubt be able to venture forward with relative ease. Just remember to look into currency exchanges well ahead of the date of your trip.

from
http://www.changecurrency.org/change-currency/tips-to-change-currency-abroad-if-traveling-from-australia/