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Hi,

I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised I
take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the SR
rupee).

Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local currency?

Thanks,
steve

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"steve" <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote in message
news:9xv%d.458$Ap1.367@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
> Hi,
>
> I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised I
> take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the
> SR rupee).
>
> Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local
> currency?

Your agent means you cannot purchase rupees outside of Sri Lanka and you are
not allowed to take rupees out of the country.

You'll need to change money when you get there... get some exchanged at the
airport on arrival. If you have a Mastercard/Visa you can use ATMs to
withdraw rupees as well.

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Use ATM's.

Taking large sums of cash (USD, GBP, EUR or whatever) is asking for
trouble - in any country except possibly - Japan. Travellers Cheques are
time wasting and outdated.

ATM's are common and reliable in Sri Lanka.



"steve" <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote in message
news:9xv%d.458$Ap1.367@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
> Hi,
>
> I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised I
> take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the
> SR rupee).
>
> Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local
> currency?
>
> Thanks,
> steve
>

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steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
> I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised I
> take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the SR
> rupee).
>
> Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local currency?

I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy local
currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always more
expensive than buying it once you arrive.

Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least Colombo
airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist areas.
They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can also
readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 35 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Malaysia, Israel, Palestine, Austria, Thailand

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steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
> I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised I
> take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the SR
> rupee).
>
> Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local currency?

I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy local
currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always more
expensive than buying it once you arrive.

Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least Colombo
airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist areas.
They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can also
readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos from 35 countries on 5 continents: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Malaysia, Israel, Palestine, Austria, Thailand

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"Kevin Hendrikssen" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:423e8c89$0$26170$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> "steve" <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote in message
> news:9xv%d.458$Ap1.367@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised
I
> > take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the
> > SR rupee).
> >
> > Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local
> > currency?
>
> Your agent means you cannot purchase rupees outside of Sri Lanka and you
are
> not allowed to take rupees out of the country.
>
> You'll need to change money when you get there... get some exchanged at
the
> airport on arrival. If you have a Mastercard/Visa you can use ATMs to
> withdraw rupees as well.
>

Never use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it's life or death
emergency. Credit cards treat cash withdrawals as cash advance, charging
interests the moment to take cash out. Use ATM (bank) cards instead.

>

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"Kevin Hendrikssen" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:423e8c89$0$26170$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...
> "steve" <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote in message
> news:9xv%d.458$Ap1.367@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am due to travel to Sri Lanka shortly, and my travel agent has advised
I
> > take US dollars and US travellers cheques instead of local currency (the
> > SR rupee).
> >
> > Can anyone advise if this is true - do I really not need any local
> > currency?
>
> Your agent means you cannot purchase rupees outside of Sri Lanka and you
are
> not allowed to take rupees out of the country.
>
> You'll need to change money when you get there... get some exchanged at
the
> airport on arrival. If you have a Mastercard/Visa you can use ATMs to
> withdraw rupees as well.
>

Never use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it's life or death
emergency. Credit cards treat cash withdrawals as cash advance, charging
interests the moment to take cash out. Use ATM (bank) cards instead.

>

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PeterL wrote:

> Never use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it's life or death
> emergency. Credit cards treat cash withdrawals as cash advance, charging
> interests the moment to take cash out. Use ATM (bank) cards instead.


....not if you maintain a positive balance on your card... up until
recently, cash withdrawls made against my visa card were free (since
they never involved a negative balance), unlike those charged to my
debit card... my bank has now instituted charges to siphon profit for
themselves from each use, a sad but understandable development... it's
still cheaper to use my visa card whilst traveling, just not as much
cheaper as it used to be...


michael

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"michael" <noname@mungo.com> wrote in message
news:423F6F2F.8010305@mungo.com...
> PeterL wrote:
>
>> Never use your credit card to withdraw cash unless it's life or death
>> emergency. Credit cards treat cash withdrawals as cash advance, charging
>> interests the moment to take cash out. Use ATM (bank) cards instead.
>
> ...not if you maintain a positive balance on your card... up until
> recently, cash withdrawls made against my visa card were free (since they
> never involved a negative balance), unlike those charged to my debit
> card... my bank has now instituted charges to siphon profit for themselves
> from each use, a sad but understandable development... it's still cheaper
> to use my visa card whilst traveling, just not as much cheaper as it used
> to be...

Good advice... I really should have said that in my post as that's exactly
what I did. Both my credit cards were well in credit before I left, just for
this purpose (I took two cards just in case an ATM accepted one and not the
other)..

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Miguel Cruz wrote:
> steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
>
> I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy
local
> currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always
more
> expensive than buying it once you arrive.
>
> Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least
Colombo
> airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist
areas.
> They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can
also
> readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.
>

I was in Colombo last June and changed USD at the airport. The rate
seemed fine -100 or so rupees to the dollar I think (but I'm not a
backpacker obsessed with the second decimal place) - and the forex
counter was still open at 2am when the plane from Singapore arrived. As
for departing with rupees, nobody seems to care if you have a small
number of notes but a wad of cash might attract attention.

Cheers,

George W. Russell
Bangalore (ex-Hanoi)
grusl at yahoo dot com

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Miguel Cruz wrote:
> steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
>
> I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy
local
> currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always
more
> expensive than buying it once you arrive.
>
> Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least
Colombo
> airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist
areas.
> They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can
also
> readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.
>

I was in Colombo last June and changed USD at the airport. The rate
seemed fine -100 or so rupees to the dollar I think (but I'm not a
backpacker obsessed with the second decimal place) - and the forex
counter was still open at 2am when the plane from Singapore arrived. As
for departing with rupees, nobody seems to care if you have a small
number of notes but a wad of cash might attract attention.

Cheers,

George W. Russell
Bangalore (ex-Hanoi)
grusl at yahoo dot com

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Taking large sums of cash (USD, GBP, EUR or whatever) is asking for
trouble - in any country except possibly - Japan. Travellers Cheques are
time wasting and outdated.


What about travelling in Myanmar, where hard cash is the only option, and no
stupid answers like "you should not travel to Myanmar"

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Taking large sums of cash (USD, GBP, EUR or whatever) is asking for
trouble - in any country except possibly - Japan. Travellers Cheques are
time wasting and outdated.


What about travelling in Myanmar, where hard cash is the only option, and no
stupid answers like "you should not travel to Myanmar"

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Indeed! I have been to Myanmar - and saw an ATM in the lobby of the Yuzana
Hotel in Yangon - but it accepted only local cards (was actually installed
for the use of shoppers (all well heeled) in the adjoining supermarket - and
was rarely used!

I also managed to change AUD for kyat (for a reasonable price at a money
changer in Taunngyii - to my surprise) there - but USD was the preferred
currency.

Myanmar is hardly typical tho' is it?? And the question was for Sri Lanka!




"Sleeping Dog !!!" <beerhound@wanadoo.nl> wrote in message
news:423fd7ac$0$31965$dbd4d001@news.wanadoo.nl...
> Taking large sums of cash (USD, GBP, EUR or whatever) is asking for
> trouble - in any country except possibly - Japan. Travellers Cheques are
> time wasting and outdated.
>
>
> What about travelling in Myanmar, where hard cash is the only option, and
> no stupid answers like "you should not travel to Myanmar"
>

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Ok I will agree with you "And the question was for Sri Lanka!" so why did
you write

"Taking large sums of cash (USD, GBP, EUR or whatever) is asking for
trouble - in any country except possibly - Japan"

this takes the original subject wider, and it's your words, that's why I
includes Myanmar

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I have just met a friend coming from Sri lanka..
a former director of a hotel in Sighirya

he told me the euro and the us dollar are cheaper now. as there is a flood
of international help and currencies.

but there is no problem using ATM machines. they are everywhere almost..
even if some of them are only for local cards.

whenever I had problems. I got help from Banks' employees.

to give you an idea of prices..
a good meal will cost uou about 500 rupees..
a taxi for a day ( I used a small bus with air conditioning to move in Sri
lanka )
was about 3000 rupees per day all included.

a very very good meal in hotels. buffet style ( you will never be able to
eat as much as they prepare ) will be about 600 rupees.
an elephant ride will cost you between 25 and 15 dollars. depending on how
good you are to bargain.
if you do not like an elephant ride. there are wild elephant
everywhere. expecilly in the night..
they have officially the right of way.

the only problem. if you want to call it so.. in Sri lanka are monkeys.

they are almost everywhere. and they steal everyhting they can lay their
paws upon.
from food to cameras to towels left by swimming pools.

so. wherever you are. just make you there are no monkeys around that may
steal yr breakfast or your personal belongings.

please not that the main monuments are run by the Government. and they
require us dollars 25 as an entrance ticket.. whatever it is in US dollars.
plus add a guide .. if you like..
that will be another couple of dollars.

a good hotel 4 stars will cost you about 50 dollars a day
( Booking in internet will be cheaper than walking in.. )

I stayed in Taj Hotel near the airport. and they picked me up free of
charge.

(Taj will be pronounced TAK.. )

they also have a hotel in Colombo.
<george.w.russell@gmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:1111477661.398015.325730@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> Miguel Cruz wrote:
> > steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
> >
> > I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy
> local
> > currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always
> more
> > expensive than buying it once you arrive.
> >
> > Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least
> Colombo
> > airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist
> areas.
> > They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can
> also
> > readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.
> >
>
> I was in Colombo last June and changed USD at the airport. The rate
> seemed fine -100 or so rupees to the dollar I think (but I'm not a
> backpacker obsessed with the second decimal place) - and the forex
> counter was still open at 2am when the plane from Singapore arrived. As
> for departing with rupees, nobody seems to care if you have a small
> number of notes but a wad of cash might attract attention.
>
> Cheers,
>
> George W. Russell
> Bangalore (ex-Hanoi)
> grusl at yahoo dot com
>
>

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I have just met a friend coming from Sri lanka..
a former director of a hotel in Sighirya

he told me the euro and the us dollar are cheaper now. as there is a flood
of international help and currencies.

but there is no problem using ATM machines. they are everywhere almost..
even if some of them are only for local cards.

whenever I had problems. I got help from Banks' employees.

to give you an idea of prices..
a good meal will cost uou about 500 rupees..
a taxi for a day ( I used a small bus with air conditioning to move in Sri
lanka )
was about 3000 rupees per day all included.

a very very good meal in hotels. buffet style ( you will never be able to
eat as much as they prepare ) will be about 600 rupees.
an elephant ride will cost you between 25 and 15 dollars. depending on how
good you are to bargain.
if you do not like an elephant ride. there are wild elephant
everywhere. expecilly in the night..
they have officially the right of way.

the only problem. if you want to call it so.. in Sri lanka are monkeys.

they are almost everywhere. and they steal everyhting they can lay their
paws upon.
from food to cameras to towels left by swimming pools.

so. wherever you are. just make you there are no monkeys around that may
steal yr breakfast or your personal belongings.

please not that the main monuments are run by the Government. and they
require us dollars 25 as an entrance ticket.. whatever it is in US dollars.
plus add a guide .. if you like..
that will be another couple of dollars.

a good hotel 4 stars will cost you about 50 dollars a day
( Booking in internet will be cheaper than walking in.. )

I stayed in Taj Hotel near the airport. and they picked me up free of
charge.

(Taj will be pronounced TAK.. )

they also have a hotel in Colombo.
<george.w.russell@gmail.com> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:1111477661.398015.325730@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> Miguel Cruz wrote:
> > steve <steve@nospamtoday.com.org> wrote:
> >
> > I've never in my life visited anywhere where it made sense to buy
> local
> > currency in advance. It's often time-consuming and basically always
> more
> > expensive than buying it once you arrive.
> >
> > Sri Lanka is no exception. There are ATMs at the airport (at least
> Colombo
> > airport; I haven't used any others) and in major cities and tourist
> areas.
> > They are the cheapest and most efficient way to get cash. You can
> also
> > readily exchange US$ cash, or, if it is 1957, travelers checks.
> >
>
> I was in Colombo last June and changed USD at the airport. The rate
> seemed fine -100 or so rupees to the dollar I think (but I'm not a
> backpacker obsessed with the second decimal place) - and the forex
> counter was still open at 2am when the plane from Singapore arrived. As
> for departing with rupees, nobody seems to care if you have a small
> number of notes but a wad of cash might attract attention.
>
> Cheers,
>
> George W. Russell
> Bangalore (ex-Hanoi)
> grusl at yahoo dot com
>
>

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