Hi all, When traveling do you tend to take cash with you or just put $$ in your bank account and access via debit card? Seems that it would be pricier to do it via the debit card but my friend is saying that will be cheaper. Seems like it might be safer to only have a bit of $$ on my person at a given time. Going for 3 weeks to Taiwan and Thailand. don't have a visa card just my visa debit card from TD Bank (never used the visa part of that as I think of it as just a deb… See more

Always take a visa as a plan b in your passport. I always take some cash and the rest I take out in 4 day increments. Only takes you getting robbed once with all your money lost to make that mistake only once

Check on the withdrawal rate with your bank. RBC charges $5/withdrawal plus exchange fees. I take out money once a week at ATMs. Don't change money with Currency Changers. They may say it's free but they add in fees with the exchange rate. Cash is usually used in Thailand except at hotels and some tourist attractions. I stop at the Atm before I leave Bangkok airport.

Cash and a credit card.

If you switch temporarily for your trip to TD All Inclusive plan ($29.95 monthly fee, waived if you have a min $5k monthly balance) your ATM transactions oversees are 'free' of charge, unless the specific machine/bank charges a fee. So far travelling Asia and Europe I've only encountered one ATM that charged its own fee.
Also the 'Visa' portion of your debit card is not recognized in many Asian countries. Take an actual credit card with you if you plan to make point of sale purchases on credit card. I usually take a bit of local currency with me and then withdraw as needed once there.
You can through your TD online account order different foreign currencies as well and takes up to a week to deliver to your local branch. For the amounts I withdrew it wasn't worth making a trip to vbce as I live out in Langley/Surrey area and when in Vancouver I'm never where the vbce offices are, and never in Richmond. The actual exchange rates I was charged when I withdrew Cash through ATM was not excessive either.
Used my TD debut in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Europe without issues.

Jesse pretty much nailed it. NEVER travel with only one method of obtaining money (ie. have a bank card AND a credit card - 2 separate cards!). Get your money out of an ATM about once per week, hence getting best exchange rate and not being charged (by your home bank) too often for withdrawls. This is better for safety reasons too.

I prefer pesos. Once in a while USD. Never CAD though.

Have usd cause it's excepted everywhere. Have that stashed somewhere hidden in case you do get robbed. I put this in my bra. Have local monies on hand in your pocket to use.
When your in the destination country most currency exchange place have different rates so shop around. Never get it at the airport. From my experience. We were in Bali once during their New Years and no bank machine was open for 4 days. We happened to have travellers cheques and was able to get cash from that.
Make sure you have your passport and cards photo copied and stashed in your luggage somewhere.
In Thailand when you're on buses and they put your luggage below they almost always go through your bag while you're in transit to your destination. So don't keep valuables in there

Take some cash but rely on your debit. The chip in your card got rid of 95% of fraud with debit cards. Talk to your bank to see if you can get set up on an international plan or if there is a 'sister' bank overseas that won't charge you extra fees. Change money in Canada.

Haha, my wife just posted before me. Hi Hun!

Oh my.bad winged jump suit, you never know when you get the urge to take a flying leap off the balcony.

Keep in mind that Thailand is a big place but pretty poor in some places - small cafe's & shops prefer cash and it's not always convenient to find a ATM machine - US dollars are easy to exchange most places. I've got stuck before now with no access to ATM so make sure you have another way of paying. Ie - visa or cash. I don't like carrying lots of money either so as someone else suggested I always took enough out for the week because it does cost you every time you take money out. Just be careful anyway when you are paying and don't show all of your money.

Check withdrawal rates with your bank. Definately bring some cash and your debit card. ATMs are available at the airports. I find the exchange rates at the country's airports have the best rates. US dollars are easier to exchange as well.

Sorry but I really get annoyed when people recommend US dollars when travelling. Unless you are travelling to the states you should be using the currency of the country that you are in. Has anyone purchased US dollars lately? the exchange rate is about 1.28 ...

I suggest click and collect with ice currency exchange if you can. No commission if you order 24 hours in advance
. I personally carry quite a bit of cash as ATM withdrawals can add up. TD visa debit is $5 per withdrawal and then the exchange rate.

Do not take US dollars. Every time you change currency (ie. Can $ to US $, then US $ to currency of country you're in) you LOSE money. This is one of the bank's main ways of MAKING money.You will always get the best exchange rates from ATM's, genuine banks (NOT at the airport) and credit cards.

Order some cash from your bank (the currency of the country you will be travelling to) before you go on your trip. It can take a few days so order it in advance. If you need more then use an ATM but try to take as much as you feel comfortable carrying with you.

I travel on business overseas and take a lot of cash on Canadian dollars. I carry most in my money belt and have enough for the day in a small purse. I leave the bulk in a safety box in the hotel. If you take US dollars you're paying exchange twice. If i do take euros or usd I buy through j&m in vancouver. I'm in the USA right now and got our US cash for 25% exchange rather than the banks 28%. I agree there often isn't atms accessible for foreigners. I agree credit card, debit card and cash. Thinking positive also helps! I've been to thailand 5 times and never had a problem!

Thanks all. I have ordered some $$, one of the people in our party has a visa and we will take $$ out from the ATM only a couple more times to get us through. I will go to td bank tomorrow to see if I can get service charges waived at all by signing up for thier all inclusive plan. thanks again!

Hi Bonnie, is that J&M Coin at Main and Broadway ?

Citibank ATMs in Thailand didn't charge a fee last time I was there, and that was the only one left, and most were 180baht $6 / withdrawal. Used the all-inclusive TD account with min. Balance for free. No need to get a crappy exchange rate here, just take some Canuck bucks and get a better rate there (and most money changers there are decent if u use a little common sense) until u find an ATM

Exchange from cash for sure especially if you are travelling with only one debit card. I have had issues with withdrawing money with TD overseas

Personally, I would get a visa card.....in fact, two....one each from dif banks.....you might even carry a master card. Cover yourself....you may be glad you did. Asian countries operate differently. I had a situation in China where an airline would not accept visa......who would have thunk it?

I usually travel with 2 days worth of the local currency, my debit card, visa, and MasterCard all from different banks/networks. Keep photocopies and some emergency local currency (and maybe USD) in a separate hidden spot.

When I went to Thailand a few years ago, I did research and found a lot of online resources that said the exchange booths at the airport in Thailand has the best rates and to not exchange until I get there. For TW I'd just go to vbce, their rates are pretty decent in my memory.
It's Asia, I'd bring cash. I normally only spend cash rather than credit to avoid exchange fees but keep the money in at least two places so if I lose one stash I have the other one(s).
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/.../Thailand:Banks.And.Money.html
TRIPADVISOR.CA
Thailand: Banks & Money - tripadvisor

when you land in thailand change the money there. you will always get a better rate in the country. Don't rely on the debit card as it charges 5$ each time you use it that and you wont find many machines to access once ur out of the main cities.

ATMs are very convenient but they cost a lot! Not only does the ATM's bank charge you, probably $5, but your own bank takes a cut as well, which you won't know until you see your statement. Plus which the foreign exchange rate they charge you will be exorbitant. And those machines are so often fraudulent, cloning your card. I take a lot of cash with me when I travel, already changed in Vancouver at vbce. I also carry a $US BMO Visa linked to my $US checking account, so there's no exchange charged (in places that take US$). And I carry an Amazon.ca Rewards Visa card for other currencies because it charges NO foreign transaction fee, which almost every other credit card charges on TOP of the exchange rate. Plus a debit card for those times you really need an ATM.

My understanding is that your debit visa works as a visa outside of Canada. I agree to get another credit card if you can to have as a back up. Take some money out here and then once a week or so when you get there. I almost always use credit when traveling. Much safer.

travellers cheques , but pay a fee on cashing , check before your trip to see which ones are accepted in the countries your going too, and also cash but if no credit cards that is what i always do , yes there is a fee to cash , but much safer than cash and replaceable if you keep track of cheques cashed and seperated from your cheques so that they arent stolen too ,

Some USD for emergency all vendors will take it or change.You have to have a credit card and a debit to access ATM all over Asia.... Speaking as a 7 times working in Asia good luck and enjoy take risks.... Lol

They hate amex in Asia ...some places want to charge you a % surcharge for using credit cards you can refuse and get discounted back... All kinds of stuff you learn along the way always try and barter and question at high end .I never do with low end vendors who are just scratching a living.

Amex has very high fees and that's why a lot of small businesses don't accept Amex or will charge you a surcharge to use it.

convert to local currency here, do a bit at the airport on arrival, but generally better rates in town. Just do some quick research.

Td debit visa is best for rates also the canada post credit card is great as backup and works every where too (it takes 2 weeks to get permanent card in mail) and the rate is very good. Good to have a few different cards to take with you

ATMs in Thailand charge around $5. It's bullshit. Your visa debit card will work as a visa as well. I recommend limiting withdrawals and using the visa debit for retail and restaurant purchases. Most places accept Visa cards. Just not the markets...

Also it makes zero difference if u convert in Thailand vs canada. When u take money from a bank machine, you get your own bank's exchange rate and it will always be better than anywhere else. Avoid currency exchange places. Banks always give the best rates. Always.

We traveled to Thailand a couple years ago. The best exchange rate was an airport and after we exchanged in the Bank not ATMs. ATM takes $5 for transaction.
Check www.travelfish.org.
TRAVELFISH.ORG
Travelfish: The independent travel guide for Southeast Asia.

Banks in BKK doesn't gives you the best rates. If you go to Super Rich opposite Central World. I'm sure you'll get the better rates there. Also even at the money exchange booth in some sky train stations you'll get better rates than the banks. Check also: https://www.facebook.com/ValueplusCurrencyExchange?ref=hl I believe they also have a brunch at the airport.

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