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Had read & searched threads & not gotten a clear picture. To date is it still a bad idea to bring such larger bills ($50's & 100's). How can one break a large bill, moneychanger or bank? Heard able to get cash at ATM's but are all US banks linked in Cambodia? No experience using ATM's abroad. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

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1

No problem with large bills in the tourist spots.
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<hr>How can one break a large bill, moneychanger or bank?<hr></blockquote>
Both.
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<hr>Heard able to get cash at ATM's but are all US banks linked in Cambodia?<hr></blockquote>
You can get USD from the ATMs. I don't understand the second part of your question.
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<hr>No experience using ATM's abroad.<hr></blockquote>
They accept bank cards with the 'maestro' and the 'cirrus' symbol and credit cards from Visa and Mastercard.

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2

Depends where you use the $100 & $50 dollar bills, for sure a motodup or a small raod side refreshment shack will not be able to change them, but hotels, and many bars and restauranst in teh cities can change no problem.

As for ATMs, yes with many you can use international cards, VISA, MasterCArd, Cirrus, Maestro etc.

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3

You will be able to change large notes in the main tourist spots pretty easily but make sure the notes are crisp and in excellent condition as this would be a bigger concern as most places will not accept notes with any tears whatsoever or any notes that are in poor condition.

Siem Reap info

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4

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>are all US banks linked in Cambodia?<hr></blockquote>

All banks worldwide which issue 'plastic', are affiliated with a number of international ATM networks. Common ones are Plus, Maestro, Cirrus, Star................... and the list goes on. Similarly ATM owners (usually Banks) affiliate their machines with the same networks. The result for us travellers is ease of accessing our cash almost anywhere. The advantage for the Banks - the same - accessing our cash (through fees - typically 2% to 3% of the trasnsaction) whenever we use the ATM.

There are cheaper ways of getting foreign cash, but none more convenient and accessible.

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5

The Nationwide Building Society in the UK (which operates as a bank) does not charge to withdraw cash from ATM's also they offer a great exchange rate. So if you are UK based and are planning to travel you could save yourself a lot

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6

Better to break into smaller bills with 'REPUTABLE' (?!?) banks and check the charge regardless... because of fakes. If you get a big demonination fake note its gonna be more hassle than trying to get rid of smaller ones.

We broke a large bill at an exchange place and the subsequent small bills were deemed as fake notes and not accepted by several bars and restaurants along the way. We managed to get rid of them eventually, but was a real pain. So, as well as checking for rips etc, make sure you are very familiar with what a real note looks like and check all your change very carefully. The fakes we were given were very good, only very tiny difference which we didn't notice coz (being British) we are not used to dollars.

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7

Another tip if your using a Nationwide card... Just use the normal flexaccount card for ATMs and not the debit card, if you lose it, no one else can use it the same way that they can use a debit card.... bring the debit card by all means, but keep it well stashed for emergency's......

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8

Had no problem cashing u.s. 50 and 100 bills at my hotels

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