When I started traveling for the first time, it was always a hassle to go to my bank for a month or so before leaving and get a packet of cash transferred to the local currency for my destination. The alternative was to convert a few hundred dollars into the "foreign exchange" kiosks at the airport. I came to know that it was not only dangerous to carry large blocks of money, it was also unnecessary.
Along the way I discovered that Las Vegas did not have a lock on the Armed Bandits!
Scam artists
I can not stress too much that the world is ready, ready and able to fool you. Many money tricks. Some are there in plain sight.
Let's first talk about "uncommon tricks".
You travel through a park near the Louvre in Paris, for example, when someone comes to you with a broken English sigh and a host of local criticism. He / she needs a dollar for "something" and he / she is willing to give you a great exchange rate to get it. You bite. Money changes. They are leaving. I opened the package and surprise !!! It's a pile of newsprint with a real bill on top and bottom.
I caught you!
K-O-mat
The second "forensic fraud" is waiting for you: it is an independent ATM. You might even say "friendly bank - O-Matt". Believe me, friends, it's something else. The hidden drawings that Darling will draw will make Bonnie and Clyde proud! Do not do it !!!
Currency exchange
And third, it is more than just a scam more than a scam, in my book, is the places of "foreign exchange." These are legitimate acts, but since they are businesses, they have to charge for their services. Although they say "no commission", they are still withdrawing money from your pocket.
Bank ATM
My suggestion? Go to the bank ATM. It will cost you about 3% to take money from the bank ATMs. The good news is that the ATM operates at the current official exchange rate, and because it is a bank, its fees are regulated. Check with your home bank to find out which bank code to look for. In my case, my bank is a member of Interbank, so I use an ATM that displays the Interbank code. I know that the fees are fixed and fair and that the exchange rate is the best I can get.
How to find banks
Before I travel, use Google Maps to look at the city I'm referring to. I locate a hotel, then use Google's "bank" filter to locate all the banks near my hotel and make a list of them. On the day of my arrival, ask the clerk where the nearest bank is located. If it matches one of my list, we're out of the bank!
Other considerations
I found that no matter where I travel, I can always buy a taxi from the airport to my dollar hotel. So I carry a minimum of dollars. (I will need a few dollars when we return to the United States to pay for taxis and other means of transport).
