South Africa - travel money

juels

Hi there,

My Mum is heading to South Africa (Johannesburg) in a couple of weeks for 20 days and is not sure the best way to take spending money for her trip.

I wasn't sure if you can use ATM's over there?

is it safe to use your VISA/Mastercard for purchases?

and are you better to take dollar, pound or rand travels cheques?

Also would anyone know of a good International phone card that I could phone her from my uk landline/mobile to her mobile while in South Africa.

Any tips would be much appreciated!

Many thanks,

Juels. 8)

VickyA_2

We're also going to South Africa for 2 weeks - visiting friends and then a bit of touring. By all accounts (my boyfriend has been before and I work with a South African, so I've been quizzing him) ATMs are all over the place. The only thing is safety around various areas, but like all places, keep vigilant - like you would do any where! They suggest taking rand with you, but I think there's a limit of rand that you can take out of the country. Like anywhere in this country, don't be at risk by taking too much cash around with you anywhere.

As for mastercard/visa - they're both part of the international language of money! They're as safe as any other form of money overseas. However, make sure that your mother informs her credit card company that she is going to SA - otherwise when she makes purchases, they may well "stop" her card. I inform my credit card company when I go away and I've not had a problem in the past.