My First Time... - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Canadian Dude** · 06-02-2003, 04:57 PM

The first time I went to Europe, I exchanged most of my Canadian money for American money at home, then when I got to London, I exchanged it into pounds....man that was the DUMBEST thing I have ever done, I got dinged twince and was charged a service fee on the exchange...the only excuse I have was "It was my first time"

For those of you who are exchanging money for a foreign currency, call your bank at home ( This works in North America anyway) and get them to get you the money you need, you should get a better rate.

OR

Use reliable bank machines to withdrawl $$$$ banks have better rate the exchange counters and most of the time there should not be a "service fee"

OR

VISA and I am sure other credit cards get a "prefered exchange rate" so that could be passed on to you, but call your credit card company to confirm

OR

Visit your bank manager at home and ask their advise on how you can get the best bang for your buck when buying money abroad

Just some tips

(ALTHOUGH I WILL FEEL BAD IF I AM WRONG ON ANY OF THESE $$$ TIPS, I CAN NOT REFUND ANY $$$$ THAT YOU MAY LOOSE, NOR IS TRAVEL PUNK LIABLE FOR MY DUMB ASS IDEAS)

**travelpunk** · 06-03-2003, 03:34 AM

hahaha...

good stuff, C-Dude!

That´s the beauty of the net, we can learn from others mistakes and get tips at the click of the mouse!
I think that´s a good idea about going to your bank manager and getting advice.
I wish I did that before spending a year in Madrid! All I know is that I got docked about $4-$6 at a time because they were "non wells fargo" machines and they slapped international conversion fees as well! It sucked as I made about 20-30 withdrawls in my time there (lost track)! What a jip

!

I found out later that I could have opened an account in Madrid and wired money for about $30 or $50. Can´t remember which one, but I could´ve saved a bunch.

Also, I bit the bullet and used my visa a bit, too. Fees, fees, fees....I should have majored in finance....awww heck, whatyagonnado

?!

**voyd** · 06-03-2003, 07:03 AM

Before you leave, you might want to call your credit card company to check what your max ATM withdrawal limit per use is, and make sure it's something reasonably sufficient like $100.

**travelpunk** · 06-04-2003, 02:20 AM

also, added to that, you should bring your ATM cards with 4 digit PIN numbers as opposed the the 5 digit PIN numbers. For FYI

**voyd** · 06-04-2003, 05:39 AM

Good point, make sure you actually know your pin # too!

08-10-2003, 02:12 AM

hi,
i'm actually doing some research for my boyfriend who is going away later this year to japan and europe (he's posted on here before)

anyways, we were talking about atms... and i wanted to know whether there are many atms in japan & europe that accept australian bank cards? i havent actually paid much attention to atm's here in australia but im sure most only accept aussie cards (some limiting to certain states as well).

i know at my uni there are one that accept international cards..but they're the only ones i see around...

would he have much trouble getting money out if he needs any?
would it be wiser to use a credit card as opposed to the savings (bank) card?

**Canadian Dude** · 08-10-2003, 02:21 PM

Hey tef, you posted so much today that I really think you should be a member!!! sign up!!

I have emailed some Australia finacial institutions on your questions, as soon as I get some word back on the ATM question I will post it :-) B)

**Canadian Dude** · 08-10-2003, 04:41 PM

I di a little research and I came up with this site that has some info on Australian Banks Cards Overs Seas

I do not know what bank you deal with, but it should be very similar to this one. If your contact the customer service rep for your bank, they will be able to give you the play by play on how to use your card, and what precations to take B)

TUI · 08-12-2003, 07:32 PM

WOW! TP where did you find CD? He is for sure a keeper. If you find a couple more peeps like him we can just sit back and travel...worry free! :D

**Diorama** · 08-14-2003, 05:30 PM

yeah cd is the man. we're a great combo. He writes a lot and researchs stuff , while i do the opposite and type very little though i still like to throw in the odd lewd comment to keep things shakin up. we're a dynamic duo.

**llemus7** · 08-15-2003, 07:43 AM

one tip about banks people, especially to you TP since you bank at wells. I bank at wells my-self. one way to get the charges back.

example: say you withdraw $60 dollars and you call your bank immediately and tell them that the machine only spit out $40. The bank will add $20 dollars to your account in a few days. They don't do any research because the bank is allowed to give $25 dollars away to a customer. The other $5 dollars you get by going into the branch and if you wait in line more than 5 minutes, you tell them to add $5 to your account. B) No questions asked. Now you have taken care of those fees that they have been charging you. You can only do this once every 3 months.

**travelpunk** · 08-15-2003, 03:38 PM

CD may, indeed, be the real TravelPUNK! I'm just the guy paying for the web-hosting

:D

!
I am greatly indebted to the crew on this board(you all know who you are

).
When TravelPUNK enters the "Big boys" league, and it will some day, the crew will surely not be forgotten B) . Thats a promise.

ooooooooooo......good tip, llemus! Thank$ B) !

butternut punkin · 08-21-2003, 03:40 AM

hi to Tef, I am also from Aus and I used both visa and savings card in Japan, Ireland, England and Scotland with no problems. Get your bf to look for cirrus logo and he should not have a problem. Check to see what the fees are with his bank I know westpac has some banks they are buddies with Barklays etc and they are free to use. Hope that helps.

TUI · 09-06-2003, 11:41 AM

llemus that was a good tip however Wells Fargo no longer does this on the spot! I work in the customer service department at hq here in Reno and I recently learned we have changed the rules on such claims. Its true that that was the case in the past, however it seems to have become a commonly used practice so WF no longer pays the difference without an investigation. (just a thought)

rexo54 · 09-11-2003, 05:28 PM

hey guys and girls, this will be my first post on what i consider THE BETS TRAVEL SITE FOR YOUNG PPL. i know that sounds like a kiss up statement but i've been looking all over the net. well im going to europe this spring\summer and was wondering what you guys thought about my budget, room (hostle or hotel) 40usd a night , food 25usd perday. for all my sight seeing i plan to sppend about 400usd in a month then theres the pub clubs and others that i plan about 350usd for. well with out being too long winded im looking at taking 4500usd (rail and plain is already paid for) soo what do you think?

again i just want to thank you all for you wisdom and advise you have really helped this would be novice travalerget a good prospective on his trip and plannings

thanx

rex

TUI · 09-11-2003, 06:21 PM

Well more money is always better, but I have to admit that I could probably last 4 or 5 months on a budget like that in Europe. I guess it depends on what kind of bed, beer, and food but thats a ton of money.

**Canadian Dude** · 09-14-2003, 05:36 AM

I don't know exactly where your going, but that makes a bit of a difference in the cost of things. I would say your cash 4500$ US is a good amount for the month, 40$ US a night for hostels, that will get you a private room for sure every night. 25$US for food in a day, you will for sure not be going hungry, you might even get to go to an actual resturant!!! Your sight seeing $$ looks good but that could chnage up or down depending on what exactly you come across, you can not plan for EVERYTHING you come across

My only concern is your party budget? I do not know how big a party person you are, but I think if you are going out every night or even every other night you will be spending more than 350$, the rerason I say that is when you meet people in hostels or where ever, the best place to go and chill is a pub or a club, beers/food/addmission/tips/buying others drinks, you know regular social stuff. I think you will go over on that one, your budget is good and you can afford ito do it, so why not.

The Euro is pretty dam close to the American Dollar.

Now if your going to be in the UK, that will change things quite a bit, the Britsh Pound is more expencive that the USD, so you money will not nearly as far as in EU countries.