Should I Get AUD with Me before Arriving in Australia?

LGottfrieden on 11/07/2024 - 22:54
Last edited 11/07/2024 - 22:54

Hi guys,

I'm planning to travel to Melbourne for a year as I found a job there.

I've been reading online that it can be very useful to bring some AUD when travelling to Australia (I'm from France) but wanted to know what's your thoughts about it?

I understand that it can be useful to have some cash when travelling to some parts of the world (such as Asia, as some shops don't accept credit cards) but is that true also for Australia?

Thanks for your help and can't wait to come and discover your beautiful country!

Travel

Comments

  • skid on 11/07/2024 - 23:01
    +28

    VISA/Mastercard credit cards are commonly accepted today in Australia.

    • CodeXD on 12/07/2024 - 09:38
      +15

      But be prepared to pay surcharge charged at the whim of the store despite it being illegal.

      A store I went to didn't accept cash, and there was a card surcharge - no possible way to pay the price advertised.

      https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/card-surcharges#toc…

      • ninohax on 12/07/2024 - 10:58
        +6

        So true. The entire surcharge system is such a rip off. We are way behind when it comes to technology. All the Asian Countries now have QR code payment technology where they don't have to pay any kind of surcharge and in many countries there is no surcharge for using debit or credit cards. And to be honest we are being sort of forced to hold back on embracing new payment technologies by the government so as to not disgruntle their American bosses by preserving the duopoly status quo of Visa and Mastercard in the Australian payment world.

      • gromit on 13/07/2024 - 13:05
        +6

        The surcharge is a fraction of what most money changers charge for purchasing Australian dollars.

        • CodeXD on 13/07/2024 - 13:22

          Yes, and OP will need to pay the surcharge ON TOP OF international transaction fee (depending on their card, I have no idea what they have in France lol)

          • gromit on 13/07/2024 - 15:59
            +1

            @CodeXD: plenty of credit cards with no international transaction fees and whats more the conversion rate for currency on them is generally better than money changers.

      • Zapwap on 13/07/2024 - 21:44

        I guess if you tap and pay, you might get burnt a little. I always try to eftpos wherever possible by using debit cards (e.g HSBC's 2% CB) insert a card into the machine and select saving/eftpos.

        • spedohero on 14/07/2024 - 09:49

          Even using insert using eftpos select saving some merchants charges it like using cc.

        • txb on 14/07/2024 - 14:17

          Ive never paid any surcharge with HSBC irrespective of card payment type
          Am I meant to be paying more with contactless?
          Price at checkout + 2% HSBC cashback is the price I pay

          • mountaineer on 14/07/2024 - 21:00

            @txb: Tried ALDI yet?

            • bonezAU on 15/07/2024 - 20:13

              @mountaineer: Aldi is free for EFTPOS transactions, they only charge 0.5% on Visa/Mastercard

      • sauce2k on 14/07/2024 - 23:38
        +1

        yep ive gone back to cash again ffs

      • trapper on 15/07/2024 - 11:08

        You can usually pay with debit card with no surcharge.

    • star-ggg on 12/07/2024 - 10:54
      +3

      Probably more ubiquitous than anywhere else in the world

  • sumyungguy on 11/07/2024 - 23:05
    +14

    I don't carry cash any more in Australia, I can't think of anywhere it's needed over card

    • HamBoi69 on 12/07/2024 - 07:08
      +7

      Fish and chip shop.

      • EightImmortals on 12/07/2024 - 07:51
        +9

        Optus outage?

        • HamBoi69 on 12/07/2024 - 08:18
          +4

          Nah. Extra food is usually given when you pay cash.

        • sumyungguy on 12/07/2024 - 09:37

          All I can think of is beggars, buskers and perhaps there are still some coin-operated laundromat appliances. Last time I saw meat tray tickets being sold in the beer garden I couldn't purchase. I keep a lobster in my wallet but always leave the house with just my phone.

          • xsacha on 16/07/2024 - 05:02

            @sumyungguy: Went to a laundromat and it had card payment.
            Saw a homeless guy handing out Big Issue with a card reader.
            Never had any extras or freeebies for paying cash.

            Can't remember the last time I saw cash preferred. Probably a Chinese restaurant that had a huge card surcharge.

    • LiteDough on 12/07/2024 - 09:40
      +4

      Small stores where you don't meet minimum spend for EFTPOS?

      • sumyungguy on 12/07/2024 - 09:41
        -5

        Not a dealbreaker, just purchase slightly more, support small business.

      • Nillionaire on 12/07/2024 - 11:10
        +1

        Let them charge you the extra 50c or whatever

        • nobro25 on 14/07/2024 - 07:53

          That used to be 5 ice creams at Macca's back in the 80s.

          • Vool on 15/07/2024 - 14:03

            @nobro25: Today it might get you the cone.

    • KaTst3R on 12/07/2024 - 10:33
      +4

      Discount for cash payment at some restaurants.

      • sumyungguy on 12/07/2024 - 10:42
        +4

        Which is a tax evasion thing. PAYG taxpayers get stiffed with the burden of sustaining the nation.

        • KaTst3R on 12/07/2024 - 11:13
          +1

          Look at the big corporates first before calling out the small guys.

        • Widget on 13/07/2024 - 21:22
          +3

          Not Tax evasion, more of an incentive. Extra fees using card, so there's always a saving using cash, if not the customer, the operator.

          • greatlamp on 14/07/2024 - 09:24
            +2

            @Widget: That's a reasonable explanation but it's naive to believe tax evasion in hospitality isn't happening in the majority of businesses

            • Widget on 14/07/2024 - 19:43
              +1

              @greatlamp: Tax evasion can happen in any sector. I think it's unreasonable to assume a restaurant that offers discount for using cash is committing tax evasion.

              • greatlamp on 14/07/2024 - 20:38

                @Widget: Someone who runs a small business doesn't. There's a cultural schism in society between people who assume others generally follow all laws, and people who believe others would break laws if convenient and low risk.

                Do you know anyone who works in hospitality on a personal level? Ask them.

                Have you really never noticed someone putting cash in the register without completing the sale? Try shopping in small businesses with cash a bit more, you can see it for yourself

                • Widget on 15/07/2024 - 00:40

                  @greatlamp:

                  Do you know anyone who works in hospitality on a personal level? Ask them.

                  I don't.

                  Have you really never noticed someone putting cash in the register without completing the sale? Try shopping in small businesses with cash a bit more, you can see it for yourself

                  I try to pay with cash as much as possible, but I've never seen this happen, not to say it doesn't happen.

          • banana365 on 14/07/2024 - 11:17
            +1

            @Widget: For whom? Does the business owner treat their time as free and it costs nothing to deposit the cash? There are costs associated with cash, just as there are with cards, it's just that they're less direct and easily measurable.

            • Widget on 14/07/2024 - 19:46

              @banana365: There's costs associated with everything. Nothing is truly free. I guess it really depends on the business operator weighing up costs. Does the cost of running eftpos outweigh the costs of operating using cash. Pros and cons for each.

    • ninohax on 12/07/2024 - 10:59
      +2

      Never been to a local market have you? There are a lot of places that have a minimum spend criteria to use cards.

      • sumyungguy on 12/07/2024 - 13:25
        +6

        Markets: Square POS everywhere, no minimum spend. But there's no need to impose a minimum spend when you're surcharging. For those who want to save the surcharge go with cash.

      • Nebargains on 13/07/2024 - 15:55
        +2

        Every time I go to a local farmers market pretty much everyone accepts card via Square.

        Personally I haven't used cash in Australia for 5 or so years and never ran into a cash only business.

      • xsacha on 16/07/2024 - 05:04

        Cant remember the last time I saw someone accepting cash at the local markets. It has all been square readers for at least 6 years now.

    • neoleo on 12/07/2024 - 11:38
      -1

      There are still many stores or restaurants that only accept cash. When your card has problem, you need cash. Sometimes I read the news like people cannot use their cards for shopping because of network problem (visa/mastercard or certain banks got this problems sometimes). They have to leave their groceries shopping to find cash or cancel …

      When there is no electricity because of technical problems or natural disaster (flooding for example in certain areas), people have to use Cash. At least bring $50 or $100 just in case we need.

      • Nebargains on 13/07/2024 - 15:56
        +2

        Those are edge case scenarios that rarely occur that most of us will never experience.

        • neoleo on 13/07/2024 - 16:00
          +4

          If there is card surcharge in store or restaurants, I prefer cash. Also certain stores/restaurants only accept cash or even give discount for cash. One Thai restaurant nearby gives 7% discount for cash payment and surcharge for card …

          • banana365 on 14/07/2024 - 11:19

            @neoleo: ATO would be interested to know where.

            • neoleo on 14/07/2024 - 12:16

              @banana365: 1 meal is equal to 2 people meal size/serving, so big and cheaper for certain meals under $15 after 7% cash discount and good taste, busy place usually. It's in Sydney City ;-)

      • MrTweek on 14/07/2024 - 00:16
        +6

        yeah, that's clearly something an overseas tourist should worry about.

        "better get some overpriced AUD from my local bank before going to Australia, otherwise I'll risk not being able to buy a didgeridoo from a farmers market during a natural disaster."

      • Eeples on 14/07/2024 - 11:18

        Oh Please. Hardly any stores and restaurants are cash only.

      • trapper on 15/07/2024 - 11:10
        +1

        There are still many stores or restaurants that only accept cash.

        You're more likely to encounter places that won't actually take cash.

    • RiseAndRuin on 13/07/2024 - 14:38
      +1

      Aldi

      • xsacha on 16/07/2024 - 05:06

        0.5% surcharge?

    • Hangryuman on 13/07/2024 - 14:45
      +1

      in Sydney I haven't needed or used cash since the start of COVID - over 4 years now

      but yeah if you can set up an Australian bank - after a second UBank fiasco I won't bore you with, I set up a Macquarie bank account recently - Macquarie seem to work internationally with a debit card that might be no fees and no international currency conversion fees ? - https://www.macquarie.com.au/everyday-banking/transaction-ac…

      • Widget on 13/07/2024 - 21:23
        +1

        after a second UBank fiasco I won't bore you with,

        Bore me please. I'm with uBank. Can you summaries the uBank fiasco? Was it a you+ubank issue or a ubank-national thing ?

    • Hvrd on 13/07/2024 - 18:59

      i only pay cash for barbers

    • Geekomatic on 14/07/2024 - 00:48
      -4

      Cashless=POWERLESS.

      C'mon. We are treated to one after another of security breaches from huge Co's to huge gov't's.

      In NO WAY, should anyone suggest cashless. The only ones who do, are CRIMINALS. Truly.

      • sumyungguy on 14/07/2024 - 08:28
        +3

        You may have that upside down. High denomination notes are used worldwide for tax evasion and crime including terrorism. Cash transactions leave no electronic footprints.

    • Frankensnore on 14/07/2024 - 08:00

      Paul’s infamous burgers in sylvania
      Pho An in bankstown
      Tax evaders

    • rawm on 14/07/2024 - 14:08
      +1

      Car wash

    • Hotpotcorn on 15/07/2024 - 13:45
      +1

      springvale.

  • altomic on 11/07/2024 - 23:05
    +5

    sarcastic answer - bring US$ as most people want them due to volatility of the AUD

    real answer - we're a 1st world country. cash or card is acceptable every where.

    and there are a million ATMS everywhere in case, for some weird reason, a place doesn't take cash.

    just use an ATM when you get to australia and avoid the shitty exchange rate you'll get by trading for AUD in France.

    • Hangryuman on 13/07/2024 - 14:45

      some ATMs might also incur an international currency conversion fee

      • MrTweek on 14/07/2024 - 00:17

        So do banks in France when you buy AUD, most likely much more.

  • kevst on 11/07/2024 - 23:10
    +2

    Get a revolut card - they are available in France and transfer some money onto it - keep it in auros and change it when needed if you want.

    But the best bet is to find a French bank that provides good exchange rates and open an account there.

    Look up the 100 points ID here for Australia and try and secure it before you come so you can open an account quickly.
    People like ozforex (can't remember their new name) do bank to bank transfer for you. They are a licenced currency trader.

    The French Backpacker forums in france for australia with probably have good advice for people like you travelling here.

  • Muzeeb on 11/07/2024 - 23:28
    +6

    Is their a La FrogBargain in France?

    • Randxyz123 on 12/07/2024 - 08:08

      @OP please make this ahaha

  • Gottfrieden on 11/07/2024 - 23:31
    +3

    Thank you for your answers!

    I was quite surprised about those websites telling to bring cash when travelling to a country such as Australia.

    I'll use Revolut as @kevst suggested :)

    @Muzeeb —> No FrogBargain in France as far as I know. What is it exactly?

    • Muzeeb on 11/07/2024 - 23:55
      +5

      I was just wondering what the French equivalent to ozbargain is. Looks like it's dealabs

      Your English is really good. Safe travels internet stranger.

    • Stromae on 12/07/2024 - 00:41
      +1

      Ill second that. I used my Revolut card when I visited Oz 2 years ago. They offer the best conversion rates and are accepted everywhere.

      • kaleidoscope on 14/07/2024 - 01:30

        Its been all over youtube ads. Must be good or doing a big marketing push

  • try2bhelpful on 11/07/2024 - 23:46

    I assume the company you will be working for will need you to have a bank account to transfer your wage into. As others have indicated you will need to have sufficient identification to cover the 100 points to open up an account. I live in Melbourne and barely use cash at all.

    You might want to look at what fees might be involved if you are looking at overseas transactions with your existing overseas credit cards. in the same way I will have to watch it when we travel to France later this year :)

    My suggestion is investigate how to get your bank accounts and probably an Australian credit card fairly quickly. Generally the bank account card is also the ATM and debit card.

    Hope you have a great time in Melbourne.

  • El cheepo on 12/07/2024 - 00:00
    +1

    Many places seem to prefer cashless these days.

    Can’t hurt to have like $100 on you, but i doubt you would need it if you have a debit/ credit card.

    • EightImmortals on 12/07/2024 - 07:53
      -4

      And many places prefer cash too. I don;t think I've hit a 'card only' shop but if I do I'll just leave my crap on the counter and walk out. :)

      (Opinion might change at some point in the future)

      • SimAus007 on 12/07/2024 - 08:59

        Nandos is card only, the butcher chain Cannings is card only, plenty of bars are card only, and onboard airline purchases are card only now.
        As much as I think cash should stay, I can understand a business operator's choice to do this, given the risks of carrying cash.
        I can see it from both sides :)

        • EightImmortals on 12/07/2024 - 09:12
          -2

          Yeah as long as we have the choice I'm not too worried. If that choice is taken from us then I suspect we'll be in real trouble at that point.

          • Darude Sandstorm on 14/07/2024 - 07:50

            @EightImmortals: Remember that time card didn’t exist and everyone was in real trouble always

            • EightImmortals on 14/07/2024 - 07:53

              @Darude Sandstorm: Not sure what you are referring to. Before card, we always had cash in our pockets and if we needed more we'd just go to the bank and withdraw it. As we were paid in cash it wasn't a problem most of the time and visiting the bank was mostly to deposit money not withdraw it.

        • greatlamp on 14/07/2024 - 09:32
          +1

          It's a sign of the concentration of wealth accelerating. Small business owners used to prefer cash as there was an opportunity to avoid income tax.

          Now that most seemingly small businesses are run by employees with an absent owner (implying they make so much profit they do not need to attend the premises themselves), cash creates a risk of theft by unsupervised employees.

          • compound on 15/07/2024 - 10:52

            @greatlamp: This is a good indicator.
            For some reason I assume a lot of small businesses are struggling?

            • greatlamp on 15/07/2024 - 12:08
              +1

              @compound: You can also find evidence in the ATOs TaxStats figures over time. Smaller businesses are disappearing slowly.

              I'm not sure what the direct causes are, however as the cost of everything keeps increasing it requires more capital to take the risk and start a new business, which means it's far easier for an existing successful business to expand than for someone new to start a business.

              COVID restrictions forced a lot of people who were up until then only visiting local stores into using online stores, click and collect etc. Perhaps many did not return.

              We are also in a 'per capita' recession driven by high interest rates, meaning GDP would be contracting if not for the recent large increase in population.

              Businesses that benefit are primarily those that sell essential goods - supermarkets, while small businesses that sell other goods and services would be struggling.

              • leiiv on 16/07/2024 - 09:40

                @greatlamp: Very interesting insight. What do you think about the implications to the society and economy in short and long term?

      • El cheepo on 12/07/2024 - 09:36

        I can’t remember the last time i used cash to pay for anything.

        But card only places do exist.
        I feel like a lot of card only places started during covid and then never switched back.

        Im not for or against either, i personally just prefer to use apple pay from my phone for everything.

      • try2bhelpful on 12/07/2024 - 12:04
        +1

        Lune is card only.

  • Hardlyworkin on 12/07/2024 - 07:35
    +1

    No cash needed though be beware of drop bears.

  • mskeggs on 12/07/2024 - 07:40
    +4

    Would you take cash out in rural France?
    With zero cash, you might occasionally be unable to buy from a roadside stall, or small food seller. You won’t be able to give a coin to a busker, or easily buy a secondhand microwave oven on Facebook marketplace.
    I haven’t been to France for years, but even then, 90% of formal transactions could be made via card/electronically. But fewer informal.

    I would have no hesitation landing in Australia with no cash, but I would also plan to carry $20 or $50 with me routinely so I am not inconvenienced if I encounter a rare “cash only” option.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 12/07/2024 - 13:05
      +1

      Or for those rare occasions of a an IT/Network outage, power failure, when cash is king. During an extended power outage, local chicken shop was still functioning as it was cooking with gas, but was cash only.

    • Gottfrieden on 12/07/2024 - 23:49

      That's a very good point!

      I indeed use cash in France sometimes, so I guess that would apply to Australia as well. Thanks for the insight!

  • onetwothreefour on 12/07/2024 - 08:00
    +6

    You need cash to give as a tip to the kangaroo who takes your kids to school.

    • Hangryuman on 13/07/2024 - 14:47

      I only carry cash to give to buskers - but some of those now have Apple Pay tap things - those small white squares - or QR codes you can just tap to donate.

      • Miss B on 14/07/2024 - 18:32

        Apple Pay tap things - those small white squares -

        Square?

    • Eeples on 14/07/2024 - 11:20

      Tipping not required or expected in Australia for the Kangaroo.

  • Randxyz123 on 12/07/2024 - 08:07
    +1

    Nah don’t bother. Sign up to wise or revolut before you leave France. You can deposit money directly from your French account and convert to AUD.

    The premium revoult is quite good value actually and includes travel insurance, lounge access at airports etc. Not sure what the French one includes but I am sure it is similar to the UK.

    When you get settled with a flat etc you can sign up to an Australian bank (eg up) to get paid into and get a little cash for the odd time you’ll need it.

    Welcome to Australia! Feel free to post if you need any more tips!

    • Shadowsfury on 12/07/2024 - 08:58

      Aussie one doesnt have travel insurance :(

    • MITM on 12/07/2024 - 15:50

      Translation: Flat = apartment or share house or tyre puncture or broken thong.

  • Engrisk on 12/07/2024 - 12:42
    +1

    You should always bring some cash, it does not need to be AUD.

    This is because sometimes your bank card will be declined even if you notified the bank.

  • coolhead on 12/07/2024 - 13:30

    if you are coming for a year, there is no harm in carry some cash $100-$200.. You will be paying majority on card so assuming you have a no fee credit card with you.

  • bargaino on 12/07/2024 - 14:17
    +1

    Sounds like two separate questions there.

    When travelling, always carry some cash for emergencies. Euros will be fine until you land, and draw some AUD from a machine when you get here.

  • MITM on 12/07/2024 - 15:55
    +1

    Can't remember the last time I got cash out from an ATM.

  • Gottfrieden on 12/07/2024 - 23:52

    Thanks guys, that's very helpful.

    I guess I will follow what most of you said: get a Revolut to change my euros into AUD and open an account in Australia as soon as I land.

    • belongsinforums on 13/07/2024 - 12:21

      some banks charge fees for a savings account, such as commonwealth. avoid these banks.

    • Zapwap on 13/07/2024 - 21:52

      You must have heard of HSBC's 2% instant CB debit card? Try to get one of such cards to help offset card surcharges.

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