Home Page | About Weeno.com | FAQ | Search Articles | Submit an Article |



How to Avoid the Currency Crunch when Traveling Abroad

by Rick Atlas
Article Rating = 3.40 (20 votes)


Rate This Article
Current Rating = 3.40

Click here to jump to a random Weeno article.
Category: Travel


When traveling to a foreign country, converting currency can be quite a hastling and often financially strapping proposition. A number of options are available:

1. Purchase the foreign currency before you leave the US. Unfortunately, US banks charge a prememium for such conversions and therefore don't present you with the market rate. Also, if the rate changes (as it may in volatile markets)in the few days between purchase and usage of the funds, your purchasing power is decreased. In addition, if you are pick pocketed, all your money for an entire trip is gone.

2. Purchase Travelers Checks before you leave the US. Good for security purposes, but banks take an even greater premium on converting checks to currency than currency to currency. Even black marketers (those who will convert on the street) will give less for travelers checks than dollars, that is if you can [find] black marketers.

3. ATM Withdrawals. Good for security purposes, but unless you have an account with the local ATM bank you will be charged a withdrawal fee. These tend to be significantly greater overseas than they are in the US. Also banks take a conversion premium off the top.

4. Visa/ Mastercard Credit. The best option. Contact your Visa/Mastercard rep. Send a check to credit your account the amount of money you wish to spend on your trip. Withdraw freely from any ATM machine. Visa/ Mastercard withdrawals don't carry ATM fees, you get the true currency conversion rate, and your not charged insane interest rates for cash advance because your account is pre-credited.


About the author...

Submitted By
Rick Atlas
Description
Man
Web Page
not available


Other Articles in this Category
  • How to Use your Watch as a Compass and Related Info by ahunter
  • Where to See the Next Total Solar Eclipse by magun
  • Air Travel: How to Save Time in the Car Rental Line by Robert Miller
  • How to Pack - Part 1: The Luggage by Erica Ginsberg
  • How to Avoid Paying for Rental Car Insurance by Ravi Iyer
  • How to Enjoy Oktoberfest by Ravi Iyer
  • Tips for Highway Tolls by Arnold Kim
  • How to Stay COOL in a Car Without Air-Conditioning by Sherry

    Other Sites

  • Storkin.com - Baby and Pregnancy Tips and Discussion
  • Health Articles

  • Menopause Symptoms
  • HIV/AIDS Symptoms
  • West Nile Symptoms
  • Diabetes Symptoms
  • Pregnancy Symptoms

    Tech Sites

  • Dell DJ Hacks
  • Read other Articles - click here.


    Comments from other Readers
    Comments Disabled


    home | about | faq | search | users | submit!

    Copyright (c) 1999-2005 Normalkid, LLC, All Rights Reserved.
    Use of this site acknowledges acceptance of the Disclaimer
    Feedback Welcome! Email feedback@weeno.com