Exchange rates and saving money

[wrtiii]

You might take a look at this thread. My experience was that using the ATM was slightly cheaper. Around $10. US difference for my entire trip, though, so not a big deal either way.

http://negril.com/forum/showthread.php/15716-ATM-Fees

People talk all the time about exchange rates, but the fact is that you are never going to do better than the interbank rate plus a modest fee. Whether the fee is reflected in an exchange rate with a bit of a spread from the interbank rate (as cambios all do) or whether you see the fee as a direct charge, it's in there somewhere.

Personally, I avoid using a credit card when I travel because I got tired of the reissue that occurs when I get home and someone is still trying to make charges to my account.

And I also am uncomfortable asking for a discount when the financial balance is so much in my favor. But we've been around and around on that topic many times.

[Captain Oil]

Personally, I avoid using a credit card when I travel because I got tired of the reissue that occurs when I get home and someone is still trying to make charges to my account.

Very easy to eliminate this issue completely. A simple call to your credit card BEFORE you leave on your trip. Tell them what days you will be in a foreign location and to not accept any foreign charges after your date of departure.

[booger]

Very easy to eliminate this issue completely. A simple call to your credit card BEFORE you leave on your trip. Tell them what days you will be in a foreign location and to not accept any foreign charges after you date of departure.

Yep

[wrtiii]

Very easy to eliminate this issue completely. A simple call to your credit card BEFORE you leave on your trip. Tell them what days you will be in a foreign location and to not accept any foreign charges after your date of departure.

No, really, that doesn't work. If someone is trying to run charges against your card using your card number, the company will terminate that number and reissue. They know it's a fraudulent transaction, they block it, they still cancel and reissue. Had this happen this spring. I absolutely always call and tell the card company my dates, and I only take one card with me when I travel, and it's one I don't use except when I'm traveling. And I still end up with the security dept. calling me to tell me that they think there are fraudulent transactions being entered and they're reissuing.

[captaind]

Being schizophrenic helps a lot

The Jamaican and the American in my head have many a discussion about money

Cap!