Help please, travelling to Brazil and South Africa

husbandtravelling

Hi, my husband is travelling with work to Brazil and South Africa. We have not been abroad much and haven't got a clue what the best way is to spend money over there.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Woodyrocks

You want to know how to spend money

alyth

I'd suggesting taking a small amount of SA and Brazilian currency so he can get a coffee or something if he's travelling about, but the chances are if he's travelling with work he won't be going off the beaten track too much, so a credit card will be fine and as he'll be with work I guess he'll be staying in decent hotels, so will be able to claim expenses back! My partner travels with work constantly all over the world and rarely takes currency to the countries he goes to, although he does have a stash of dollars and euros he takes in case he gets delayed at an airport and needs a drink or something to eat.

crocodileteeth

We holidayed in Brazil (Natal) last year & took travellers cheques with us. However we couldn't get anyone to cash them as they were from Barclays Bank (visa) and not American Express. We had to find cash machines that would accept our cards. We found a few in a large shopping mall but this was a taxi ride away.

And also when we got home we lost money on the travellers cheques because of the exchange.

husbandtravelling

would not have known that about the travellers cheques

insurgente

when I was in Brazil they swapped my travellers cheques fine.... but then might've been american express ones from the post office. the only worrying thing was when they came out to 666 in Brazilian Reais.

have you thought about getting a nationwide account? Free withdrawls.... Back when I was in Brazil I just used a cash machine every week and made it last. I think it's Bradesco machines that take Visa cards and Banco do Brasil take Switch.... then they have more familiar banks like HSBC etc

http://www.visaeurope.com/personal/findacashmachine/main.jsp
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/cardholderservices/atmlocations/index.html

just be wary about walking around with loads of cash/cards on you