15

All money ( not just US) must be in near perfect condition--no rips or tears or shops/hotels won't take it. Worst place to get money is in airports as they will give you lots of torn bills.

Also, in some places, e.g. Ecuador, a lot of places won't accept US $100 bills--too many counterfets out there.
Get a real Money belt--leather with zipper--and put 20 or 30 $50 US bills in it. And if you are a male and carrying the normal $300 or $00 Bimbo money hidden in your wallet, you should be OK when the ATMs fail for a week or so.

16

#9, "Amazes me to see young people use an ATM to get $20."

Why? I'm not young and I do that all the time. As long as there's no ATM fee, why take more than you need?

Should have said...young male people...... See women get $20 out all of the time as they sometimes expect some guy(me) to pay when they conveniently run out of money.

17

The last time I was in Mexico (2011) my traveling companion had brought only travelers' checks and found them nearly impossible to cash. She tried several banks and currency exchange offices to no avail.

Of course I continued to loan her money from my ATM account, but she wanted her own money!

Finally on day four we found a currency exchange office that would do it, for a fee of course.

Being budget travelers, we don't have access to "top hotels" which might cash them.

In all my years of traveling all over the world, I have had trouble with my ATM card only once. It was confiscated by a machine in Wales in error.

I now have two accounts at two different credit unions (a pox on US banks with their ridiculous fees!) with two different ATM cards. If something should happen to one, I have the other. Both charge only $1.00 for a foreign ATM withdrawl.

I think traveler's checks are on the way out..... but then that's only my opinion. Backing onesself up with an extra account, and extra ATM card, and/or credit cards may be the way to go these days.

18

"I now have two accounts at two different credit unions (a pox on US banks with their ridiculous fees!) with two different ATM cards. If something should happen to one, I have the other. Both charge only $1.00 for a foreign ATM withdrawl. "

Some banks will not only not charge a ATM fee, but they will refund you any charges from local ATMs. Like in Thailand where they charge $5 to use many of the local ATMs. First Republic and Chuck Schwab are two that come to mind.

19

Well, what a surpirse! I will have to check into this. I hope one does not have to have a certain massive balance in one's account for this to kick in, like refunds of ATM fees..... If so, I'm out of luck!

20

Wouldn't you know it, neither bank is anywhere near where I live. I'll continue to research. Thanks for this info, Squidstrips.

21

I only travel with cash and a credit card to fall back on. If I see I am getting short in cash towards the end of my trip, I will use my credit card where it is accepted. I have never run out of cash yet.

22

The other extreme--Went to Wyoming for two weeks with my buddy Mike--He brought one credit card and a rifle. He did OK as he is the same size as me and borrowed clothes from me.