questions

do i only change a small amount of money at zia airport...arrive at 5 pm..or will rate be better at bank. in dhaka the next day......Can i pick up some taka in kuala lumpur.....is flagging down a taxi away from airport taxi stand safe...thanks for advice.....lone runner..i would like to know what the name of hotel u stayed at in coxs bazarre.

As the difference is not so big you can exchange small amount at the airport. FYI, present exchange rate is 1 USD = 69.7 Taka

Yes just change up a small amount at the airport, they are renowned for the lowest exchange rates :-)

Hey joe570 !

So you in BD ! Great ! Make sure you meet Mahmud, he is the TT Ambassador...

For your questions : Change around 100 USD in the airport, you should get around Taka 6900 (as per my last visit there) for you will need taka to pay taxi and hotel and food / water. Then you can change in Bashundara Complex there is a money changer under the staircase.

As for the taxi, exit the terminal building and take the left exit gate pass through the guards ignoring the touts and walk till you see the round-about. Its not far only a few minutes walk. There are taxis and babytaxis waiting around there. If you lucky enough you can pay around 200 taka but I paid 350 ... The touts can tend to follow you and even bargain (asking maybe for comission) from the taxi driver, dont hesitate to hush them away !

As for the Cox Bazar hotel, Mahmud will advise you where to go and where not to go ...

LR

Hiyas, you can change some money at the airport, but there are 24hour guarded ATM's all over Bangladesh, just pack your ATM card. Good luck contacting Mahmud, I sent him 3 emails prior to my 1 month travels through Bangladesh, but he didn't reply at all...

gecktrek its weird ! Mahmud reply every email i sent him. You sure you have his correct address ?

LR

Hi gecktrek, sorry to hear such complain. I try my best to reply each & every e-mail as soon as I read. Can you check again my e-mail I.D? FYI, almost every 5 mnts I check my email & it is quite impossible to miss 3 e-mails of you.

Please check & let me know if you need any kind of assistance.

mahmud

Edited by: mahmud

What is weird, is as a result of our emails not being replied to, we called Mahmud whilst we were in Dhaka for advice on what to see/tours of the city etc. & he said he would call back, but he never did call back...

At lastr you are telling that I replied your mail! Anyway, can u give ur e-mail I.D to check my mail box.

Other hand, I am sorry..............if it happens.

I think its the first ever complain (if this is a complain as Mahmud is offering his help and assistance free as far as I know !) that i read on TT concerning Mahmud ! And on the other hand I think that if Mahmud really did not call you back there must be a good reason !

Anyway ! Merry Xmas gecktrek and everyone !

LR