What's your prediction on the Australian Dollar?

[JohnK]

Cash can be over rated. I use cards where the exchange rate is the best.

Then you obviously don't visit Thailand that often. Cash is king. Some people don't even have bank accounts which is why 7Eleven is popular for paying bills.

I love cash. I know how much I've got and how much I can spend.

 

[cove]

JohnK I don't do humidity so Thailand is great for me to fly over without stopping.
We would always have a bit of cash in pounds, dollars or euros depending on where we are travelling.
I don't like melting so you wouldn't find me in say Darwin in the rainy season as I would go troppo.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't want to apply for anymore cards, being retired, and not having any debt at all, it's all just a pain in the bum. Even when I said 'yes' to their offer of an increase to my amex limit, I was then told I had to supply stuff from my accountant. I always (unless I forget) pay all my cards off in full each month, it's justa another hassle I can do without.

In Portugal recently I had to pay for our tour in cash, I hadn't brought enough cash with me and I could only withdraw 300 euro in one transaction, I therefore paid a 'fee' each time, it was was annoying.

This is where Citibank's debit card is great. No fees, and a rate which is pretty close to the official mid-market rate. As it's a debit card, pretty easy process.

I haven't found a currency exchange shop that can match the like of Citibank (and other fee free cards). I have a place in MEL that comes pretty cose... about a 1c difference in buying cash from the mid-market rate. But that's pretty rare.

But there can be problems. My Citi card was compromised half way through a trip. Citi will replace the card, and as a temporary measure they offered to lift the hold for me to go to an ATM and withdraw my max daily limit. A second card (28 degrees) provided all the other non-cash transactions I needed in the meantime.

 

[Flashback]

I always find it useful to have a MC and Visa option, too. Peru was a good example where a lot of places just don't take MC.

 

[Cynicor]

I always find it useful to have a MC and Visa option, too. Peru was a good example where a lot of places just don't take MC.

Good to know! I mostly have some of each but as cards change I will consider my staple stable of cards

 

[marki]

I do wonder how the currency gurus are dealing with their 60 cent prediction on the $AUD.

Head in the sand looking for the lost crystal ball or to much CRISTAL as in champagne

As a traveller I like our dollar stronger like my coffee

 

[marki]

So do I buy euro today, or wait until next week?

I predict the European Union is cracking and in the end euro will be history. Hello currency from before the euro.

 

[Happy Trails]

Then you obviously don't visit Thailand that often. Cash is king. Some people don't even have bank accounts which is why 7Eleven is popular for paying bills.

I love cash. I know how much I've got and how much I can spend.

It's perhaps not common knowledge, and rarely enforced, but to enter Thailand on a tourist visa you're required to have 20,000THB (or equivalent convertible currency) in cash.
And 10,000THB on visa exempt entries.

 

[drsmithy]

2) Can be a better purchasing rate for cash. As just one example there are two different rates for buying fuel in the US. Cash rate is often 10% cheaper than the rate for any card (including debit cards).

Where in the US ?

I worked for a US company for nearly six years and spent two of those living in Scottsdale - I've never even heard of this happening, nor have any of my American friends ever suggested paying cash to get a lower price (and given the yanks' obsession with the price of gas...).

 

[AV8]

Where in the US ?..............

SFO to LA at most petrol stations along State Route 101 etc

 

[Cynicor]

It's perhaps not common knowledge, and rarely enforced, but to enter Thailand on a tourist visa you're required to have 20,000THB (or equivalent convertible currency) in cash.
And 10,000THB on visa exempt entries.

Really? Wonder if a debit card with that much on counts as cash?

I don't the last time I had that much cash outside of Japan.

 

[JohnK]

It's perhaps not common knowledge, and rarely enforced, but to enter Thailand on a tourist visa you're required to have 20,000THB (or equivalent convertible currency) in cash.
And 10,000THB on visa exempt entries.

I didn't know about that rule. Has it ever been enforced?

 

[I love to travel]

There was a recent article about it being enforced on an adhoc basis

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Thailand tourist visa: Country cracks down on begpackers as visitors asked to show 20,000 baht before entering country - The Independent

Reports have emerged that tourists are being asked to show they have 20,000 baht (£455) in cash before they’re allowed entry into Thailand.

Immigration officials at some border checkpoints are being more stringent when it comes to letting in those with a history of tourist visa entries, reports the Asia News Network. Educational (ED) visa holders are also facing extra scrutiny.

The move is thought to be an attempt to keep out those who are not genuine tourists and may be working in Thailand illegally. It could also help put a stop to “begpacking” – the practice of Western backpackers begging for money to fund their travels around Asia.

It has been reported that immigration officials at Padang Besar were pulling tourist visa holders aside on Friday 14 July, taking anyone who could not show they had 20,000 baht in cash away for questioning.

 

[drron]

JohnK I don't do humidity so Thailand is great for me to fly over without stopping.
We would always have a bit of cash in pounds, dollars or euros depending on where we are travelling.
I don't like melting so you wouldn't find me in say Darwin in the rainy season as I would go troppo.

Then go at Christmas time.Lower temps and humidity.
PS-Thailand,not Darwin!

 

[JohnK]

There was a recent article about it being enforced on an adhoc basis

Ah yes backpackers who linger on and on.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Where in the US ?

I worked for a US company for nearly six years and spent two of those living in Scottsdale - I've never even heard of this happening, nor have any of my American friends ever suggested paying cash to get a lower price (and given the yanks' obsession with the price of gas...).

confirmed by my friend in the US... *some* states indeed have petrol stations where you get a discount for cash.

 

[TheRealTMA]

confirmed by my friend in the US... *some* states indeed have petrol stations where you get a discount for cash.

I've been to many service stations in the US where there's differentials for payment with card and cash. Can't quite remember where this was - California, Oregon or Washington state.

 

[drron]

Once in an isolated part of upstate New York I went inside the gas station with my CC to prepay.The LOL looked at me and said-"you must be from the big city.Here we fill first and then pay cash."

 

[marki]

looks like the $ has found resistance