What's the best travel money tip for BRAZIL

designerggirl

Hi everyone,
I am going to Brazil in 1.5 weeks and would like to know the best way to take money there. Does it work out cheaper to convert your money before you go or not? Should I take a debit/credit card or not?

Thanks in advance

verntern

I am a regular visitor to Brazil. Firstly I hope you will enjoy the experience of this wonderful country. There is no cheap way to convert your money to the Brazilian real. Forget about taking UK pounds to convert. Most Brazilian banks and exchange bureau are not interested. Buy some Brazilian real before you go. Check out the Money Saving Expert currency picker on this website to find who has the best rates. Don't bring any Brazilian currency back with you! Very difficult and costly to exchange back into pounds. Most definitely take your credit card. Depending on which card you have (again, look at the best cards to use internationally on this website) use your credit card to pay for most purchases. If you have a Nationwide debit card then this is best for a few more weeks to withdraw cash from a Brazilian ATM. Otherwise debit cards have no real advantage. I recommend a pre-paid card that can be used worldwide to withdraw cash. The best ones are listed on the website. I use the 'Escape' pre-paid cash card. It costs £2 to get cash from a Brazilian ATM and the exchange rate is reasonable.
You go in 1.5 weeks? Not a lot of time left to organise currency or new cards. Anyway, have a great time in Brazil.

designerggirl

verntern wrote: »

I am a regular visitor to Brazil. Firstly I hope you will enjoy the experience of this wonderful country. There is no cheap way to convert your money to the Brazilian real. Forget about taking UK pounds to convert. Most Brazilian banks and exchange bureau are not interested. Buy some Brazilian real before you go. Check out the Money Saving Expert currency picker on this website to find who has the best rates. Don't bring any Brazilian currency back with you! Very difficult and costly to exchange back into pounds. Most definitely take your credit card. Depending on which card you have (again, look at the best cards to use internationally on this website) use your credit card to pay for most purchases. If you have a Nationwide debit card then this is best for a few more weeks to withdraw cash from a Brazilian ATM. Otherwise debit cards have no real advantage. I recommend a pre-paid card that can be used worldwide to withdraw cash. The best ones are listed on the website. I use the 'Escape' pre-paid cash card. It costs £2 to get cash from a Brazilian ATM and the exchange rate is reasonable.
You go in 1.5 weeks? Not a lot of time left to organise currency or new cards. Anyway, have a great time in Brazil.

Thank you so much...Verdana
I would appreciate if anyone else has any information. Verdana, so if I dont get to arrange a credit or prepaid card, can I just change all my money here before I go?

Nessie23

designerggirl wrote: »

Thank you so much...Verdana
I would appreciate if anyone else has any information. Verdana, so if I dont get to arrange a credit or prepaid card, can I just change all my money here before I go?

Hi,
Was there a few years ago, lovely country. I used travellers cheques in dollars, but they were very difficult and costly to exchange.
I wouldn't recommend taking lots of cash when travelling abroad for safety.

If you are near London you could apply to open an account with Metrobank, their maestro card that allows you to withdraw money abroad comission free. Metrobank will open the account and give you a card on the spot so timing shouldn't be an issue.

Otherwise try getting getting one of the pre-paid cards listed at MSE's guide http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money?dd

And rememeber take some other card and/or money as backup just in case your main card or source of cash gets blocked/stolen/lost.

Nessie