Holiday through Southern Asia, take cash, or can I get a card of some sort?

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  Lancerx on 14/04/2013 - 18:35

  +1

  coming from the region, i can tell you it's always safer to take card with you (depend where you go to i suppose). At least you can cancel it if you lost it or "get unlucky. I usually pay extra on my cc, so i can take out cash using card such as 28 degree from any atm that accept master or visa..plenty of them around..

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  ynot1985 on 14/04/2013 - 20:55

  I just came back from hk and have been to malaysia numerous times..

  carrying 28 degrees card is way better than carrying cash.. almost all atm's accept them

  no atm fees means that unless you lost the card or go somewhere that has no atms, theres really no reason to carry cash, just withdraw money as you go

  and make sure to tell the bank you are going overseas or else they might flag it as an suspicious transaction

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    altomic on 21/04/2013 - 20:46

    ditto. just had 2 weeks in KL, JK, Singapore. 28 degrees card has grooves in it from usage.

    use it in ATM's for cash.
    only use cash for taxi's and street vendors.

    though when I got the train from KL to Sing, when I arrived at Woodlands there were no ATMs anywhere. luckily the taxi's took mastercard.

    28 degrees card is your best friend. until you have to pay it off.

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  freakitude on 14/04/2013 - 22:37

  yeah +1 for 28 degress card.

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  terlalu on 15/04/2013 - 00:53

  Not sure about philippines, but there are atms galore in Malaysia and HK, and all major shops and hotels will accept your card.

  Also, you're talking about South-East Asia not Southern Asia.

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  mumof2sydney on 15/04/2013 - 16:15

  hi- be aware that you will have to sign most places (not PiN) in malaysia as they use 6 digit pins…so try and get your card to paywave before you go if not done so…the exchange rates there are heaps better than the banks here- so just take cash and swap as you go…heaps of exchange places- at every supermarket etc etc…

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  MITM on 16/04/2013 - 17:26

  Get a duplicate card before you go. If a ATM chews your card, you have a back up.
  Take some cash for taxis etc. Post Office does good rates, but you have to "order" it. See www.PO

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    littlecreatures87 on 18/04/2013 - 14:09

    No need for post office (or anywhere in Australia). Will receive much better rate in destination country and done on the spot.

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      MITM on 19/04/2013 - 12:07

      I just feel comfortable taking smallest amount of local cash with me. First use of cash is Airport to hotel by bus, train, taxi, hire car, moped. Peace of mind vs "aussie rip off"
      A 000,000 things can go wrong with cards - but usually dont.
      What if the ATM at the arrival airport is broke?

      Withdrawing cash from ATM with 28degrees card incurs interest from day 1 - so no interest free purchases (hotels/meals etc) from then on - unless you load your card up with cash beforehand.
      But that's a whole other thread.

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  gimme on 17/04/2013 - 14:56

  +1

  28 D Mcard - Works almost everywhere (make sure you top up here to avoid cash advance fees)

  Backup card - Just in case.

  Cash - For incidental stuff. Don't bother changing money in Aus. Do it at your country of destination. Exchanging money in Aus is a COMPLETE ripoff!!