What do you use as money on a backpacking holiday?

DomTom

i'm going to S.E. Asia, thailand cambodia vietnam, and i was wondering what i should use to pay for things with. i have a fairfx anywhere card on which i loaded £500... what should i use a second card/monies? other than cash (only want to carry about 200$ at any one time)

MrTomato

shells and feathers

KonkyWonky

Magic Beans?

Mr_Lahey

I write this from Changi airport, Singapore having just travelled from HCMC through Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand/Malaysia and Singapore before heading to Indonesia in a few hours.
I also did a very similar trip last year and each time i have taken the following:

Fairfx anywhere
Maestro debit card
Barclaycard (for emergencies)
Also always have kept $100USD stashed

I tend to change my currency before leaving the country, you get awesome rates in SE Asia literally comparable to XE. So if say in Vietnam you have 500,000VND left, simply change it to USD before hitting Cambodia.
The currencies are as follows:

Vietnam - Vietnamese Dong, there are many ATM's and currency exchanges. Never pay for anything in USD, always insist on VND, better still find somewhere that is priced in VND. Particularly hotels, otherwise they will jizz you on the exchange, it was about 18,000 to the dollar a few weeks back.

Cambodia - US Dollars and Cambodian Riel. Generally though 99% of what you pay for will b in USD and Riels simply make up the difference. There is no US coins so you use Reil for the say 20 cents. ATMs all give out USD and charge about $4USD per withdrawal. Currency exchanges are again everywhere.

Thailand - Thai Baht, its at a fairly good rate at the moment but again, jut get it once in the country or from the country you are leaving. Thailand is like any modern country and is full of ATM's and Currency exchanges. Be careful before visiting some of the islands as many do not have ATM's. If you are sticking to the usual tourist ones you will be fine.

Have a great trip, we are smack bang in the middle of the Monsoon season here and its rained only 4 times in 6 weeks so far - And 2 of those were in India

diable

$'s








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