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I have not purchased traveler's checks, even for international travel, in
years. I use my credit card for most bills. When I need cash I get local
currency from ATMs. Is this a practical option in South Africa and
Zimbabwe?

The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
unfavorable exchange rate.

I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.

In the USA, there is a fee (usually between $1 and $3) for using an ATM.
That charge is imposed by the owner of the ATM. It is in addition to any
fee the customer's bank may charge. What fees, if any, do the owners of ATMs
in SA charge?

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In article <Wf9Yd.54286$r55.10960@attbi_s52>, Odysseus <x@x.x> wrote:

> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
> unfavorable exchange rate.
>
> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
> Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.
>
My experience, one week in Harare last August: we could buy nothing
with VISA credit cards. We searched very hard, with the help of
resident families there, to find a place to cash an American Express
travelers check. We finally were able to cash a $100 check. . no more.
It is essential to bring euros or dollars to change to Zimbabwe money.
Of course, when you leave you cannot change back. It is a truly
unbelievable situation there.

Travel agents listed a wide assortment of tours. When we asked to book
one, it turns out the only tour actually available is Vic Falls. They
might take VISA for that. . . we didn't try it.

Harare major chain hotels (at least one we talked to) may cash some
traveler's checks or use credit cards, but only for their guests. We
were staying with friends.

Collect more recent advice on Zimbabwe or you may get into a serious
financial bind there. I hope someone posts recent news that Mugabe has
gotten the economy working again, but what we saw was badly broken.
---Ken

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Odysseus wrote:

> I have not purchased traveler's checks, even for international travel, in
> years. I use my credit card for most bills. When I need cash I get local
> currency from ATMs. Is this a practical option in South Africa and
> Zimbabwe?
>

It will be impossible in Zimbabwe.
Speaking of South Africa, you can indeed get rand
using a debit card linked to your bank account.

> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
> unfavorable exchange rate.

Unless the laws have changed recently, Zimbabwe has a tier of exchange rates.
The one for credit card use is - to say the least - unfavorable.
If you will be spending much time there in activities and lodging you have
not prepaid through a travel agent, you will find it all very confusing and
unpleasant, I expect.
Anyone who expects to just show up and have a nice, normal travel experience
is in for some surprises. None good.
Whatever you read in a guidebook would have been true the day the author
wrote it, and possibly still is. And quite possibly, is not.

> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs.
>
> In the USA, there is a fee (usually between $1 and $3) for using an ATM.
> That charge is imposed by the owner of the ATM. It is in addition to any
> fee the customer's bank may charge. What fees, if any, do the owners of ATMs
> in SA charge?

What difference could it possibly make? If that's your intention anyway,
just do it. I have done it on occasion and when I checked the bank
statement after returning home, I didn't see any way to determine what
fee might have been charged. I just checked to see what dollar amount
came out of my account, compared it to the amount of rand I got that
day, and decided that it was OK. A fair deal.

Incidentally, in the US, Visa has just increased to 3% the additional fee for
all transactions made in other countries.

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In article <4231B47F.29A108E2@africasafari.com>, Dave Patterson
<dave@africasafari.com> wrote:
>
> Incidentally, in the US, Visa has just increased to 3% the additional fee for
> all transactions made in other countries.
>
Thanks for this info. It isn't a deal breaker but traveler's are
happiest with the fewest UNEXPECTED charges. This info undoubtedly came
with our recent bills, but with all the legalize it was easy to miss.
At least I missed it. ---Ken

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For SA you can easily use ATM's, credit c ards, and/or cash for almost
everything. (petrol can only be paid by cash).

In Zimbabwe, you can effectively only use cash. US Dollars most popular,
followed by GB Pounds and Euros. Many people will change Rands for you too.

The Zim economy is a complete balls-up currently :-(

Marc
"Odysseus" <x@x.x> wrote in message news:Wf9Yd.54286$r55.10960@attbi_s52...
>I have not purchased traveler's checks, even for international travel, in
> years. I use my credit card for most bills. When I need cash I get local
> currency from ATMs. Is this a practical option in South Africa and
> Zimbabwe?
>
> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
> unfavorable exchange rate.
>
> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
> Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.
>
> In the USA, there is a fee (usually between $1 and $3) for using an ATM.
> That charge is imposed by the owner of the ATM. It is in addition to any
> fee the customer's bank may charge. What fees, if any, do the owners of
> ATMs
> in SA charge?
>

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Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll have to bring enough cash with me
for my needs in Zimbabwe. I suppose I can get a money belt to carry it.

I haven't carried large amounts of cash with me, except in casinos, in ages.



>For SA you can easily use ATM's, credit c ards, and/or cash for almost
>everything. (petrol can only be paid by cash).
>
>In Zimbabwe, you can effectively only use cash. US Dollars most popular,
>followed by GB Pounds and Euros. Many people will change Rands for you too.
>
>The Zim economy is a complete balls-up currently :-(
>
>Marc
>"Odysseus" <x@x.x> wrote in message news:Wf9Yd.54286$r55.10960@attbi_s52...
>>I have not purchased traveler's checks, even for international travel, in
>> years. I use my credit card for most bills. When I need cash I get local
>> currency from ATMs. Is this a practical option in South Africa and
>> Zimbabwe?
>>
>> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
>> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
>> unfavorable exchange rate.
>>
>> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
>> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
>> Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.
>>
>> In the USA, there is a fee (usually between $1 and $3) for using an ATM.
>> That charge is imposed by the owner of the ATM. It is in addition to any
>> fee the customer's bank may charge. What fees, if any, do the owners of
>> ATMs
>> in SA charge?
>>
>
>

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Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll have to bring enough cash with me
for my needs in Zimbabwe. I suppose I can get a money belt to carry it.

I haven't carried large amounts of cash with me, except in casinos, in ages.



>For SA you can easily use ATM's, credit c ards, and/or cash for almost
>everything. (petrol can only be paid by cash).
>
>In Zimbabwe, you can effectively only use cash. US Dollars most popular,
>followed by GB Pounds and Euros. Many people will change Rands for you too.
>
>The Zim economy is a complete balls-up currently :-(
>
>Marc
>"Odysseus" <x@x.x> wrote in message news:Wf9Yd.54286$r55.10960@attbi_s52...
>>I have not purchased traveler's checks, even for international travel, in
>> years. I use my credit card for most bills. When I need cash I get local
>> currency from ATMs. Is this a practical option in South Africa and
>> Zimbabwe?
>>
>> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
>> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
>> unfavorable exchange rate.
>>
>> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
>> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
>> Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.
>>
>> In the USA, there is a fee (usually between $1 and $3) for using an ATM.
>> That charge is imposed by the owner of the ATM. It is in addition to any
>> fee the customer's bank may charge. What fees, if any, do the owners of
>> ATMs
>> in SA charge?
>>
>
>

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In article <Aw4%d.4291$fn3.3417@attbi_s01>, Odysseus <x@x.x> wrote:

> Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll have to bring enough cash with me
> for my needs in Zimbabwe. I suppose I can get a money belt to carry it.
>
> I haven't carried large amounts of cash with me, except in casinos, in ages.
>
Excellent decision. I wouldn't travel without a money belt. It is
inconvenient, but increased security for your cash, passport,
inoculation record, and traveler's check and bank card serial numbers
is worth it. It's a jolt when anything is stolen or lost, but without
these you can be seriously stuck. Your embassy in a foreign country
will probably do a lot less to help you than you may be counting on.
---Ken

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In article <Aw4%d.4291$fn3.3417@attbi_s01>, Odysseus <x@x.x> wrote:

> Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll have to bring enough cash with me
> for my needs in Zimbabwe. I suppose I can get a money belt to carry it.
>
> I haven't carried large amounts of cash with me, except in casinos, in ages.
>
Excellent decision. I wouldn't travel without a money belt. It is
inconvenient, but increased security for your cash, passport,
inoculation record, and traveler's check and bank card serial numbers
is worth it. It's a jolt when anything is stolen or lost, but without
these you can be seriously stuck. Your embassy in a foreign country
will probably do a lot less to help you than you may be counting on.
---Ken

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Hello,

Are you planning to visit Zimbabwe as a tourist? I'm looking at going
to Southern Africa for three weeks and spending some time there. The
guide books all say don't backpack as does the UK foreign office
website, but if you went by them you'd end up in Skegness... Anyway,
I'd be interested to hear from a fellow backpacker if indeed you are
one.

Thanks,
Matt

P.S. I'm also going to take cash. I fly into Jo'burg where I will try
and get some information on the latest cash exchange rate in Zimbabwe.
With inflation so high it seems to change every month!

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Hello,

Are you planning to visit Zimbabwe as a tourist? I'm looking at going
to Southern Africa for three weeks and spending some time there. The
guide books all say don't backpack as does the UK foreign office
website, but if you went by them you'd end up in Skegness... Anyway,
I'd be interested to hear from a fellow backpacker if indeed you are
one.

Thanks,
Matt

P.S. I'm also going to take cash. I fly into Jo'burg where I will try
and get some information on the latest cash exchange rate in Zimbabwe.
With inflation so high it seems to change every month!

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