Money Matters
Electronic Funds
Global Travel Alliance recommends the use of credit/debit/ATM cards for international travel.
Travelers Checks
Do not carry large amounts of cash. Take most of your money in travelers checks and remember to record the serial number, denomination and the date and location of the issuing bank or agency. Keep this information in a safe and separate place so if you lose your travelers checks you can get replacements quickly.
Foreign Currency
Before departing, you may wish to purchase small amounts of foreign currency to use for buses, taxis, phones, or tips when you first arrive. Foreign exchange facilities at airports may be closed when your flight arrives. You can purchase foreign currency at some U.S. banks, at foreign exchange firms, or at foreign exchange windows or even vending machines at many international airports in the United States.
Some countries regulate the amount of local currency you can bring into or take out of the country; others require that you exchange a minimum amount of currency. For currency regulations, check with a bank, foreign exchange firm, your travel agent, or the embassy or consulate of the countries you plan to visit.
If you leave or enter the United States with more than $10,000 in monetary instruments of any kind, you must file a report, Customs Form 4790, with U.S. Customs at the time. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal proceedings.
VALUABLES--DON'T BRING THEM!
Do not bring anything on your trip that you would hate to lose such as expensive jewelry, family photographs, or objects of sentimental value. If you bring jewelry, wear it discreetly to help avoid grab-and-run robbery.
Excerpted from: U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U. S. State Department Publication 9926. February, 1992. pgs. 16-18.
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