Money

Information supplied by House of Travel for GrownUps

Give plenty of advance thought to money. You don’t want to carry around more cash than you need for immediate purposes.

Travellers Cheques and internationally accepted credit cards (which can be replaced overseas if lost) are your best bet.

- Check out Travelex New Zealand for current exchange rates & work out conversions with ease.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are really handy as you don′t have to carry large amounts of cash around with you (you can take out just enough for each day) or spend your precious vacation time changing travelers cheques.

The exchange rates will really lean in your favour if you use your cards - they are generally much better than those in commercial banks and at a bureau de change. This is because the card companies change large amounts of currency at wholesale rates from the major banks.

Perhaps most importantly, you are protected from unauthorised use should your card become lost or stolen, if you report it missing as soon as you realize.

Please be aware that oversea transactions will result in charges to your visa account.

For locations of ATM’s which accept visas, check out ATM Locator.

Cashpoint Cards

When overseas, you can use your Cashpoint Card to pay by EFTPOS or use an ATM if your card carries a "PLUS" or “Cirrus” logo. You’ll find them in hundreds of thousands of locations.

Travellers Cheques

Traveler′s cheques are of most use to a traveler staying in a city rather than a rural environment, as it can be difficult to find a place to cash them.

It is very important to make a copy of the identification numbers of all your cheques, crossing them off the list as they are cashed. Keep this list, along with the receipt for the cheques, in a different place to the cheques themselves - you don′t want to lose the information about the cheques as well, should they become lost or stolen!

If your cheques are stolen or you lose them - they can usually be replaced in 24 hours. The person who bought the cheques must call to ask for the refund - so for the exchange to be this quick you really should buy the cheques yourself.

Cash

Most currencies are available through your local bank or outlets such as Travelex New Zealand. If you can′t obtain the currency of the country you are travelling to, take an internationally accepted currency with you, like US Dollars or British Pounds Sterling.

Carry at least enough cash for transport from the airport, refreshments, and a small amount for luggage trolley hire and arrival tax, which are charged at some airports.

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