Travelling to NZ, Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand - money exchange and advice currency

julie6666

Hi we are off travelling for six weeks starting in New Zealand, then to Singapore, through Malaysia into Thailand and flying back from Bangkok. We have a clarity card and cash. Should we take some cash in each currency and sterling travellers cheques with the rest? Any other advice please regarding the travelling in each area? thanks for reading:j

Bob_the_Saver

Take at least 1 pre-paid card that you can top-up quickly on the internet as a back-up. The banks like to block your cards when you are abroad, I think they just do it for the fun of it. I use the Fairfx card and have done so in all the locations you mention.

victor2

We always take some US dollars cash - it can usually be changed quite easily wherever you go. Haven't used travellers cheques for years, don't believe they're any more secure than cash and you can often pay for smaller things directly with US dollars, especially if you take some smaller denominations.
I'd use a small money belt to keep cash and passports in, they can be pretty unobtrusive under a loose shirt. More for Malaysia and Thailand than NZ and Singapore.

victor2

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

The banks like to block your cards when you are abroad, I think they just do it for the fun of it.

We always inform credit card companies of the dates and countries we are visiting, so that they don't block the cards.
One time my OH hadn't when she was abroad by herself. She was delayed in a store as her credit card (on my account) was initially denied. Credit card company called me to check if I was expecting a transaction on the other side of the world. Was tempted to say no, but thought better of it and OK'd it!:D

Bob_the_Saver

victor2 wrote: »

We always inform credit card companies of the dates and countries we are visiting, so that they don't block the cards.
One time my OH hadn't when she was abroad by herself. She was delayed in a store as her credit card (on my account) was initially denied. Credit card company called me to check if I was expecting a transaction on the other side of the world. Was tempted to say no, but thought better of it and OK'd it!:D

Done that, they still block them "for your own protection"