Cash or Card? Countries where you still need cash.

[RealtimeY]

I didn't realise people had issues with passkeys as it was all quite seamless to set up on iPhone - though I wouldn't mandate it and I don't think ubank is mandating it. I would also imagine that if I lost access to my phone completely I'd have more pressing concerns than not being able to log into internet banking.

 

[SYD]

I didn't realise people had issues with passkeys as it was all quite seamless to set up on iPhone - though I wouldn't mandate it and I don't think ubank is mandating it. I would also imagine that if I lost access to my phone completely I'd have more pressing concerns than not being able to log into internet banking.

Sorry, staying OT but a good reason to have more than one account. Just look at CBA customers recently.

All eggs in one basket has downsides!

 

[Chicken]

I didn't realise people had issues with passkeys as it was all quite seamless to set up on iPhone - though I wouldn't mandate it and I don't think ubank is mandating it

Ubank is enforcing it, without giving prior notice. Just read that Whirlpool thread. People are angry.

 

[Lynda2475]

ING saver account has a requirement to increase the Saver balance but you can still move money in an out. Yes, it’s taken the shine off ING.

Definitely not shiny, ING is way too much mucking about unless they are your everyday bank. It may have been worth hurdles when they rebates ATM fees, but not now, I closed my ING account before ever using it to travel due to the poor chnages.

Post automatically merged: Oct 23, 2024

All eggs in one basket has downsides!

Agree!

I always travel with debit cards from 3-4 different banks and 3 different credit cards - backups for the backups. Keep them in different places.

 

[mel-world]

A couple of points from past posts and my recently competed trip to Asia:

1. I well remember Travellers Cheques from the early 70s (although they were called Travelers Checks, if bought from AMEX). I can particularly remember one day, in Italy I seem to remember, where I was so nervous counter signing a whole lot of small denomination cheques that my signature was all over the place and I had to sign some again on the back just to try to prove I was who I said I was - even with my passport as evidence. Maybe I just looked 'shady' back then.
2. Needed cash in Japan, but mainly in small establishments in remote towns. PASMO, or a similar IC card, universally acceptable everywhere else.
3. Used HKD to top-up my old Octopus card in Hong Kong. I could not seem to be able to download and activate the 'Octopus for Tourists' card with a foreign debit card (Wise or NAB, or even with my Latitude Credit card) so used cash to top up the physical card. Even need cash on a couple of private busses until I found out that two people could use the same Octopus card - but sometimes had to wait a few seconds before the second person could use it - or go thru seperate barriers.
4. No cash needed in Singapore, although I always carry a little, just in case, as the cab drivers still prefer cash.
5. I'll post a comment on the WISE page as I used this card for the first time - and loved it.

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes but all of those things can be paid for with a card; cash isnt the only option.

Okay - Yeah on my Amex or St George card with 3% fee

Plus we tip about 1000FJ at each resort in the communal tip box

Plus a few tips for the staff who know us well

 

[Lynda2475]

Okay - Yeah on my Amex or St George card with 3% fee

No fee on a Macquarie(or many other) debit cards

Plus we tip about 1000FJ at each resort in the communal tip box

That is extremely generous of you. I couldn't possibly justify a tip of size for anything.

 

[atomik]

I had the same experience in Laos in 2019. Cash was needed everywhere except my hotel and restaurants that specialised in serving tourists. Needed cash for convenience store, tuk tuk driver, entry fees, food stalls, local restaurants, most shops - pretty much everywhere. As kip was a controlled currency at that time (maybe still is), there were limited places to get it and I under-allowed when I got my initial supply at the airport and had to use the hotel for a float - at the usual poor hotel exchange rate, but it wasn't sheep stations (should have put this part in the travel mistakes thread!). At the end of my trip, I had a bit left over - about AUD100 by my reckoning, even after I had left tips all round. When I went to convert it on leaving the fees etc were so steep that (from memory) I was going to get back something like $27. So I declined, and looked for someone to give it to. Found an Aussie couple about my age or a bit older in the coffee shop and we got chatting. They were heading up to Luang Prabang for a Vietnam veterans reunion, so I gave it to them and said buy some beers. They were very grateful. Plus I warned them to spend or gift it all before leaving Laos.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, going for our first time in March 2025.
Even though it's a week-long package deal, no doubt we'll need some cash, any thoughts on what's a good amount to get?
Cheers

 

[Seat0B]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, going for our first time in March 2025.
Even though it's a week-long package deal, no doubt we'll need some cash, any thoughts on what's a good amount to get?
Cheers

Ooh that’s a hard question- depends how you like to spend! And my experience is now 5 years ago. That said, things were very affordable. So a couple of hundred AUD would buy a lot of bottled water, snacks from markets, or convenience stores, tuk tuk rides, beers if needing to pay cash, and nice tips for local people.
Perhaps @Mattg could add from his recent trip?
And I only visited Vientiane on a work trip so things may be different elsewhere. I’ll check my records and see if I can find the details of an awesome local mainly female artisan souvenir place that I would highly recommend for unique items that make you feel good for buying them.

 

[kpc]

What's the story for Fiji now? Going in 2 weeks...is card widely accepted or will I need some some cash (?alot) ? Do I just withdraw cash from ATM at airport or bring Aussie $ to change there? Thanks in advance

 

[Lynda2475]

What's the story for Fiji now? Going in 2 weeks...is card widely accepted

Yes - Visa & Mastercard more commonly than Amex but best to use debit card.

or will I need some some cash (?alot) ?

I didn't need any, but if staying in Denaru and wanting to take the Bula Bus community bus between hotel and marina you may need a very small amount if you want to pay the driver direct (although they prefer you pre-buy ticket).

All the resorts will sell you a Bulla Bus ticket for $8 unlimited rides per day or $24 unlimited for 4 days and let you pay by card.

Do I just withdraw cash from ATM at airport or bring Aussie $ to change there? Thanks in advance

Either there are ample ATMs (Westpac and local banks) at the exit of NAD airport as well as currency exchnage.

 

[Seat0B]

@atomik the souvenir collective I was talking about is called Tai Baan if you will be in Vientiane.

 

[lovestotravel]

What's the story for Fiji now? Going in 2 weeks...is card widely accepted or will I need some some cash (?alot) ? Do I just withdraw cash from ATM at airport or bring Aussie $ to change there? Thanks in advance

Yes some cash if you are going souvenir shopping or want to tip. but card is very widely accepted

3% to 5% credit card surcharge is common and then whatever fees and rates your credit card charges.

Changing cash at the airport was $1.44FJD about a week ago

 

[Lynda2475]

I didnt pay any card surcharge at the big souvenir store at Denaru Marina as I used a fee free debit card, and made sure to reject the offer of dynamic currency conversion and pay in FJD. Rate was within 0.002 of the spot rate.

All the restaurants at the resorts and the marina happily accept cards and will allow you to split the bill between diners if needed.

Noting it is not customary to tip in Fiji, restaurants do not expect it.

 

[Duffa]

Definitely not shiny, ING is way too much mucking about unless they are your everyday bank. It may have been worth hurdles when they rebates ATM fees, but not now, I closed my ING account before ever using it to travel due to the poor chnages.

Post automatically merged: Oct 23, 2024

Agree!

I always travel with debit cards from 3-4 different banks and 3 different credit cards - backups for the backups. Keep them in different places.

For me.
Plat amex
2 visa cards
2 debit cards
Only used MQ this trip. Accepted everywhere that took cards. Exchange at ATM was 0.4% off the XE spot rate. Not bad.

 

[dajop]

Been in Switzerland now for 2.5 months. Definitely needed cash. Twice. Once for a hair cut at a Turkish barber shop and another for a coke at a bar at the top of the mountain on a 4 hr hike.

 

[Chicken]

Once for a hair cut at a Turkish barber shop

Fair enough, kinda expected.

and another for a coke at a bar at the top of the mountain on a 4 hr hike.

Seriously?! And was that can of Coke like AUD$15 ?

 

[dajop]

Seriously?! And was that can of Coke like AUD$15 ?

Only $10. and not just a can a 600 ml bottle. Weak/non existent mobile signal so that’s why they didn’t take card I presume. Learnt my lesson always carry some sugary drink as well as water if you going to increase your altitude by 1km during the walk.

 

[atomik]

@atomik the souvenir collective I was talking about is called Tai Baan if you will be in Vientiane.

Thanks we'll try to check it out! We're doing a few nights each Vientiane, Vang Veng and Luang Prabang. Curious and excited for this leg of the trip!

 

[SYD]

NZ remains the land of the long time cashless society. However, my first time back in AKL since the big C and I’m seeing a LOT of 2% card fees about. Very naughty for a place that pretty much everyone uses card!

I don’t recall seeing that touring around the South Island 2 yrs ago.