Change currency carefully
Hotels and airports charge high rates for currency conversions. Find a local bank to get a much better rate for your cash or travellers cheques.
Suffering withdrawals
ATM’s are the easiest way to get cash overseas using your bank or debit card. Be warned that fees can be high for international transactions and you may also be charged by the ATM provider. Never use a credit card at an ATM to withdraw cash. You will be charged a fee and a high interest rate that often has no interest-free period.
Frozen cards
Let your credit card company know that you are travelling overseas. Tell them the dates you will be away and the countries you are visiting. This can stop your card from being frozen if they suspect fraud.
Don’t get maxed out
Be wary of hold charges that tour operators or hotels can put on your credit card. A bond charge can sometimes take days or weeks to be reversed. If this is a sizeable amount of money you can inadvertently max your card out.
Change mix
When receiving change after a purchase, ask for a mix of smaller notes. It makes it easier to pay for small items or to use in ticket and vending machines.