Travelling with currency
 

Hello everyone,

I'd like to ask everyone what do they do with their money when they do travel. Do you guys have any hints or tips? Are there any limitations I should be aware of?

Thank you all for your input :)

Mostly I spend it. Exchange it for goods and services.


But I believe you're asking about carrying it. I withdraw via an ATM to limit my exposure to lose it or have it stolen from me. There are limits of how much per day you can take out set by the bank and possibly the ATM company and also how much cash you can bring across borders. The US requires cash in excess of 10,000$ be declared.

And if you're carrying $4,700 in cash, the TSA dolts at the checkpoint just may call local LEOs to investigate you - despite having absolutely no reason to do so.

Keep it in your pants. Unless it's a really a lot of money, I think a money belt or neck pouch is your best bet. If a TSO tries to take either from you yell for the police and try to stop them. Do not allow anyone to separate you from your cash at any time. If someone claims that it's necessary get a signed receipt which includes the exact amount of cash, and take a photo of their TSA ID. Although I still wouldn't hand over any cash. When they tell you to put your wallet in the bin just ignore it. I've never set off a metal detector with my wallet. If they choose you for the rapescanner just opt-out and don't let the money belt/pouch leave your sight ever. Also make sure you know exactly how much money is in there with 100% certainty. That way if something does go missing you won't have any doubt. If you had the patdown and they opened your money belt even right in front of you, make sure to do a recount before you leave the checkpoint. Some people have very fast fingers.

IIRC you have to declare if you have more than $10,000 USD which isn't really an issue for most people. When I fly I usually have around $50-100 in cash just to be safe but I normally use either my debit credit card since just about everyone takes plastic now.

The $10K declaration is for traveling internationally. If you're not leaving the United States, I am not aware of any legal limitations on carrying cash.

There are, of course, those imaginary limitations from the fabulists in blue shirts...

Thanks for your input everyone!

I wasn't aware that the limit was so high (more than $5000), I was afraid that they'd try to get on your face if you tried to travel with something like $500 or so.

I can't really rely on plastic because it's an intercontinental flight and, even though companies like VISA and MasterCard claim global coverage, last year my card got suspended the second I tried to use the ATM while in american soil.

On another topic, what about my passport? Last year I had issues with border patrol because I wouldn't leave my passport away from my line of sight, which earned me a trip to the back room to "explain" why I was visiting the US.

I couldn't remember if it was both internationally or both. I only fly maybe twice a year within the US so as I mentioned above I just carry a small amount of "just in case" money. I also do that incase the smurf brigade wants to get nosey. If I was traveling internationally I'd still carry some USD since (along with the Euro) it's pretty much the universal currency and try to get the best exchange rate to whatever the local currency is.


Edit: You may want to call your credit card company and tell them you'll be in the US from X to Y so hopefully they won't flag your card if you use it here.

My suggestion to you is to call your bank ahead of your visit and advise them that you'll be traveling internationally and to please permit any charges.

I did this with my bank before my trip to Europe last summer. They were happy to do so, and even advised me that if I was in the UK, I had to use pin-based transactions only otherwise it would be declined due to fraud. Even though I wasn't traveling to the UK, it was good info to have just in case.

CBP can pretty much do what they want if you're not a US Citizen. Sorry, can't help you there.

I've visited my bank recently and I thoroughly asked them about international usage of my debit card and they said that I won't have any issues and it does not require any prompting from my part, even though I did it this year just to make sure.

However, after having my money sitting there last year without me being able to touch it, I'm a bit reluctant to trust them again so this time around I'm considering taking cold cash with me and then use my bank account as a back-up.

Yeah, as far as CBP... I guess it really sucks not to be an american sometimes and quite honestly dealing with TSA was a heck of a lot easier than dealing with CBP.

Again, thanks for the help guys :)

Yeah. I've had too much trouble with cards internationally to trust them. If you're in a third world area and something goes wrong you've got big headaches.

1) You're welcome.

2) One has to declare the over $10,000 coming and going. They sometimes will harass people in the jetway getting on their departing flight.

3) Call your bank ahead of time and let them know you are traveling. Also, consider getting an American Express card. Very widely accepted in the US and much easier to travel with.

4) The power hungry, overgrown children we employ as border guards can pretty much do what they want. That said, they aren't at all likely to do something nefarious with your passport, so I wouldn't make a big deal about that.

I'll be going to Europe later this year, which isn't really a 3rd world country, although places like Barcelona are somewhat notorious for pickpockets. I've decided to take a money pouch thing, and keep my extra currency on me at all times, unless there's a safe in my hotel that I feel really sure about.

Then, you can leave say €50 in your wallet for expenses. If that gets stolen, well damn, but at least you haven't lost all €700.

My bank (Bendigo) seems rather pro-international travel which is nice. There's a thing called a "cash passport" which means you can load a certain amount of cash onto a card in any currency, and use that like a debit card. If someone decides to get fraudulent, they've only got access to that card and whatever money is on it, not your whole bank account. Perhaps you can ask your bank if they have a similar system?

BTW, what do folks do with their passport and travel docs when you're not flying around or at the airport waiting to fly? Should I stick mine together with the cash in the "secret" money-pouch thing?

Usually put my passport in the room/hotel safe and I never carry much cash. Especially in Europe, where credit cards are at least as widely accepted as in the US. Just pull the money out of the ATM when needed.

I have a Chase ATM card and an Ameriprise ATM card; I've never had a problem using either overseas. AmEx charges fees for ATM use, so I just keep that as a backup.