Am a newbie trying to save $$ while I am travelling to Singapore for the first EVER time (that too with my family). What is the best way to carry money from Australia? I have MasterCard & Visa Card (Credit & Debit cards of ANZ CWBank). Questions coming to my mind are- whether I should carry AUD and get them converted as and when I need. Is taking $2000-3000 cash ok and safe? What happens if I buy using my cards? What happens if I withdraw SGD in an ATM using my debit card? Where do we get the best conversion rate?
Best Way to carry money as a tourist to SINGAPORE
L10muscat on 12/04/2016 - 01:24
Comments
Agreed with 28 Degrees and Citibank transaction account. This is the only answer you need to read OP. Using your ANZ cards will be much more expensive.
Or Bankwest Zero Platinum instead of the 28 Degrees and get complementary travel insurance.
Singapore is much safer than anywhere in Australia.
You can carry $10k Cash no problems, however for convenience as mentioned above 'Citibank transaction account for cash withdrawals plus a 28 degrees/Bankwest Platinum credit card for credit card purchases'.
I found that Singapore foreign currency exchange office/stores have some of the lowest fees (buy/sell spread) globally so you're not going to get ripped off if you decide to take cash.
I just don't like the hassle of carrying cash so just use a Bankwest Platinum credit card for credit card purchases.
In singapore virtually everywhere accepts credit cards without a surcharge so I just pay by credit card.
You can use your card everywhere in Singapore except in the taxis. Some of the taxis don't have a cc machine and that's where it is better to have some cash available.
Singapore also have plenty of malls and generally a money exchange or a bank in each where you can change some cash if you want.
But you can use Grab Taxi which has CC payment abilities.
Assuming you are able to call for one / book one on the app so it comes immediately. If you are going to be hailing one then they are not so frequent and that problem can be compounded when you have crying/hungry/jet lagged kids with you.
When I spent 2 weeks in Singapore, I would generally hail one but if it wasn't convenient to do so, then Grab Taxi would have one at my location within 3 minutes. The only one time I couldn't get a cab was at the bird park where there was a massive queue and no taxis.
Ended up calling an Uber then :)
Just get your cash exchanged there. Just got back Sunday and i was getting 1.03 for every Ozzie Paseo compared to about 0.95 here and $6 handling fees.
Like previously mentioned, Singapore is a lot safer then Australia …. people sleep on the trains and in parks etc.
If you use your cards, some might ask which currency you want to pay in, then always go for SGD.I wonder why you get downvoted. You are absolutely right on all points. Especially the part where you pay SGD on the credit card if the options comes up on screen.
You could probably walk around in Singapore with all of your money in a clear briefcase and be totally fine.
wouldnt go that far.
one warning i did get before i left recently was they have 'groups' coming in on flying visits who might walk at you at rapid speed (fill in the rest) … the police are aware of this apparently and had been posting more patrols in the more common areas.
like the signs around town say - "low crime doesnt mean no crime".
I wouldn't recommend carrying it around by balancing it on your head.
+1 very safe
maybe more so than australia
Since you already have contemplated carrying $3000 I assume you have a high tollerance to risk.
I say carry as much as you like. Singapore is one of the safest places in terms of muggings and pick pockets. If you are alert then any curious people will stick out like a sore thumb. Some reasons: Singaporeans are mostly Chinese. They have a larger personal space bubble (except on public transport). Eye contact is much less like in most asian cultures.
As for keeping large amounts of cash in the Hotel this is a bit trickier. For 5 and 4 star hotels to protect your cash from room service use the electronic safe. For 3 and 4 star hotels its fine if you lock the cash in your combination lock travel bag, since its your first trip you'll be randomly in and out of your hotel a lot anyways. For back packer hostels I'd say kiss your luggage goodbye.
A tip at the airports is if you are carrying +$2000 you will probably get searched by customs (ie. drug swab test, personal frisk). It usually happens when you walk through the metal detector as the x-ray operator has worked out what's in the wallet.
Singapore is THE safest overseas trip for a first timer. I'm surprised when I go to the hawker food stalls and see hoards of guys and girls in business suits.
I'm surprised when I go to the hawker food stalls and see hoards of guys and girls in business suits.
Where do they keep all those people? :)
But why is that surprising? Hawker food is the tastiest and also having it for lunch is no stranger than going for a sandwich here, or increasingly, going to a food court.
I agree about hawker food being so so good and they take cash only too.
As a frequent traveler to Singapore, both AUD and SGD are major currencies so you wont have issues changing money anywhere.
Best tip, dont change any SGD in Australia. Once you are in Changi Airport, change some cash there (like maybe SGD $500 to $1000) for day to day expenses. Then if you need more, there are many forex tellers everywhere in the city (raffles and orchard road), chinatown, little india and all major shopping centres. If you need to make a big transaction, just swipe your card and it would ask for what currency to pay in, ALWAYS choose SGD as the retailer's AUD conversion is usually much worse than the bank's.
I have never withdrawn from a Singapore ATM. But as with every other countries that I have drawn from the ATM, the usual will be bank's conversion plus a small transaction fee like a couple of dollars (around $5 or so). So if you intend to draw from ATM, make sure it is a big amount so you dont charged with the transaction fee multiple times. ANZ Bank is in Singapore, so maybe if you take from an ANZ ATM it could be fee free? Do check.
The rates over there in Singapore is always better than the big four aussie banks.
I'm from Singapore and I visit my family and friends there every year. I agree with what the previous posters have already said.
Personally, I use my 28º MasterCard for credit card transactions (always pay in SGD) at stores and my Citibank Plus debit card for ATM withdrawals. Singapore ATMs don't charge a fee for withdrawals so you can use any ATM. Also, Citibank ATMs are at almost every MRT station, if you insist on using them.
If you have neither of these cards and won't be able to get them in time for your departure, then I would suggest changing a small amount of money (about A$100) for taxi fare, phone SIM cards, MRT cards and other small expenses. You can then change your Aus dollars at money changers which are found everywhere. I’ve found the best rates at “Mustafa Centre” (open 24 hours) in Little India, “Lucky Plaza” (basement) in Orchard Road, “The Arcade”(second floor) at Raffles Place and “Fountain Money Changer” at “Marina Square” (Level 2). You can also check these sites to see who’s offering the best rates for the day:
http://www.mustafa.com.sg/frmForex.aspx
http://www.get4x.com/location/SingaporeSafety and crime should be the least of your worries when you're in Singapore. Don't let the lack of a visible law enforcement presence in Singapore fool you. We're a self-policing nation whose citizens are always mindful of the harsh deterrent sentences that are meted out to offenders. :)))
no real police patrolling the street but lots of cardboard pictures of a policeman situated at every corner of shopping centres which i found really hilarious.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/yan-dao-cop--i-m-bigger-in-real-li…
And run by the Pay And Pay government. Hahahaharrrr! Oh well, it was funnier the first time, circa late seventies.
Just as safe as walking around AU carrying it.
I've walked around with quite a few $1000 notes before, and never felt unsafe. They have a $10,000.00 note as well (as well as $500s and $1000s), but you won't see it often around.
Wade
http://www.mas.gov.sg/Currency/Circulation-Currency/Notes.as…
Real bargainnnnn getting into OzB
Gonna stay around Mustafa (max use of 24 h open) so I guess I'll get it converted as and when I need.
my ANZ credit card has travel insurance included though I don't think i'll be using it because it has 2-3 % charge; ATM has 5$ ATM fees.
When are you leaving?
Get yourself a Citibank transaction account for cash withdrawals plus a 28 degrees/Bankwest Platinum credit card for credit card purchases.
They incur no international fees, and the exchange rate is close to what you see on xe.com
Using these cards will incur an international transaction fee plus a crappier exchange rate.
Singapore is seemingly safe. It feels safer there than here in Perth! I guess all cities will have red spots so leave your cash in the hotel, and bring what you need. Bear in mind exchanging cash at a cash exchange means you won't get the best rate, since they are the middle man.