CURRENCY EXCHANGE PERTH!
Hi,
Not sure about Japan but in the last 2 years I have been to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to work and for holiday.
I am from Sydney and on my first trip to Thailand in April 2003 I was travelling with a colleague, who had worked all over South East Asia for 4 years previously, and I wanted to exchange some $AUD for Thai Baht at Sydney airport before boarding the plane. He had a quick look at the spread offered, buy and sell, and advised against it. Travelex was offering around 21 Baht to the $AUD. When we arrived in Bangkok and cleared immigration and customs there are two exchange booths and both offered around 24 Baht to the $AUD with no commission. I was glad for the advice given.
I have since been to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia and continue the practice of keeping with me the amount of $AUD I think will need on the trip and exchanging it at these countries. In Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur there are foreign exchange booths before you clear customs and have found these to give you a lower rate then what you get after you clear customs. In most cities you will get good exchange rates but there are some banks/independents that offer very poor rates, try to avoid these and my rule is don't exchange at the first place you see. Hotels generally offer very poor exchange rates. If you are in remote areas as I have been while working in SE Asia and you are in need of money then find a bank otherwise use an ATM to withdraw cash.
I have also used Mastercard and Visa but have found they charge around $4 for using the foreign ATM for each transaction and then a percentage of the amount as well and the rate is not very good so I only use these as a last resort. I have used Amex for purchases overseas and have found their rates to be excellent with no fees.
On my last trip to Thailand (departed 8th June) I noticed that travelex was offering around 26.5 Baht to the $AUD at Sydney airport and when I walked off the plane in Bangkok I got 30.5 Baht to the $AUD. Pretty significant currency fluctuation (around 15% and I have seen it as high as 25%) that Travelex charges on the currency exchange. I have also noticed the James Cook exchanges and they are no better than Travelex.
Not sure about exchange rates at banks in Australia but my last experience with them 15 years ago when I had excess $US was that the rate was poor and also charged a commission.
Sorry to rave on but the best option in my opinion would be to exchange your $AUD at your destination. I will never ever exchange at an Australian airport ever.