Money Exchange + Flight ticket cost QUESTIONS

Fare would vary on when you're wanting to fly, how far ahead you book and fare type.

@johnney how would you exchange the money? Go to the bank? Go to currency exchange?

Put your money in the bank and use an ATM card. Best to carry at least two in case you lose one or there are problems with it. Also carry a bit of cash -- USD -- for emergency use.

Maybe your bank will charge a fee for overseas ATM use, but the convenience of being able to get funds 24/7 and not having to deal over-the-counter with banks and bankers' hours should outweigh this.

@889 absolute legend man, exactly what i was looking for.
may i ask, why USD but? Im from Australia so wouldnt AUD work?

Doesn't have to be USD, simply that you can be pretty sure changing USD won't be a problem.\

I should have mentioned that Japan is a bit different when it comes to ATMs, and not all ATMs work with all foreign cards. There have been some other threads here on this. I also forgot that ATMs in Japan don't generally operate 24/7, unlike just about everywhere else in the developed and undeveloped world.

Still a good idea to use ATMs for cash in Japan, but it won't be as convenient as travelling in India or Egypt, say.

I dont see the necessity of carrying US$s instead of AU. After all, its not as though Australian currency is not one of the major ones. Never do a three way exchange unless you really have to.

OP, you don't need US$ in S Korea as AU$ will be fine and yes, #2 was right exchange rate would be better in Korea.

I am from OZ and traveled to S Korea late Oct last year, brought with me a mix of US$ and AU$ notes and changed all my money at those money exchangers in/around Seoul's popular tourist attractions and got better rates compared to major banks really.

You only need US$ if you also intend to go to Japan, as the Japanese don't seem to favor other currencies except US$, e.g, the inter bank rates for US$/JPY was ~ 98Y and ~ 93Y for AU$/JPY last Nov, when I went to a major bank (Mizuho) in Tokyo and asked about the rates for my US$ and AU$ notes, what I could get was, 95Y/US$ and only 84Y/AU$. So, US$ is king in Japan compared to other foreign currencies.