Travelling O/S

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shi thouse said..
Off to Singapore next week, what's the best way to sort the dollars out over there??

- take AUD$ and exchange over there
- travellers cheques
- just draw out $$$ from the ATM

Any ideas/experiences would be welcome!

Do you need cash for who rehouse ?
I travelled to Moscow last year and it was so much hassle to find a place that would exchange AUD to rubles.
Ended up using bank and Visa cards everywhere.. didn't need cash at all.

Just do exactly the same as you do now, carry some cash and use your card. Really, most of the world is pretty safe and easy so it's unlikely you'll run into too many problems, especially in Singas. Terrorism, banking system crash etc are unlikely but Orchid Towers will provide a safe space should you feel unsafe

Before i go anywhere i go get a few hundred exchanged (or ordered) at the local shops money exchange (the convience far outweighs a few $$ in fees or chasing a better exchange rate) and then just make sure your card works OS.

I've never seen a travellers cheque being used either so i'd avoid those.

There are atms everywhere. Some work some don't spending on you're bank. Just find the one that works.
I pay for everything on card there except Chinatown street stalls etc.

Singapore tips?zoo.
cabs super cheap.
Chinatown cheap beer in streets. good food.
little india cool. Banana leaf oppollo nice indian reasturaunt serves rice on banana leaves.
Hawker food stalls. Have food ratings A to D. Only eat at an A or B.
Even ceo's eat at the hawker stalls. look up the history. have some chicken rice.
walk along river down near boat key. all the seafood in tanks. Huge mudrabs from sri lanka. Huge bullfrogs. (can eat them if game)
and fish shellfish. But reasturaunts not all that good. Clarke key good for a look at bars but very overpriced.
Eat at a different spot every night. Chjimes, Chinatown, Holland village (I like - catch cab) Dempsey hill for a splurge
they say Singapore sling at raffles but id skip the drink and just check it out then walk across the road to chjimes. nice vibe at night.
rooftop bar at tallest building. costs heaps but cool. Swisshotel.
that new hotel building with the boat on top amazing. worth a visit. had a jewlery store with everything in the tens of millions. can catch lift to top.
go carts on sentosa. also the forts museum is good. rest is overpriced ****e.. best to catch the subway to the shopping centre across the bay and catch the gondola. shopping centre is huge. universal studios lines are massive. not worth it imho.
Chinatown good seafood reasturants rather than boat quay.
orchard road for womens window shopping. theres a cool basement level food area like diamaru in Melbourne.
simlim square isn't cheap and every store is the same.
four floors of whores - orchard towers. wouldn't know it if you don't look. gets more depraved as you go up. only been there once. holy crap.
nothing cheap, so shopping is meh. which is the national pasttime

Awesome information folks!!! Thanks for the heads-up.

Myusernam....made a note of the places you have mentioned and will aim to get to a few of them. Hoping to eat our way around Singapore...just not at the four floors of whores!!

Comm bank money cards ...convenient but the exchange rates are a rip off .

Wherever you travel, two cards and cash.

1. A specialised travel debit card that has low or no overseas transaction fees. Most of the major banks have them. Could be QANTAS cash if you already have the frequent flyer card. Typically your standard domestic cards will add another 3% on overseas transactions.

2. The ATM VISA or MASTERCARD credit card that you already have to serve as a backup for the travel card.

3. Cash....grab a few hundred before you go to use for small purchases on the street and anywhere that you do not trust. Ask around for the cheapest exchange in your city. KVB Kunlun is the best in Sydney. Avoid Travelex windows on the street and anything at the airport.

If you do use the overseas ATM, you'll be paying at least $5 per cash withdrawal, so don't go taking $50 out at time.