To participate you will need to enter your login details:
Go Back   The Australian Frequent Flyer Online Community> > Community Resources > Your Questions
 
   

Digital Luggage Scales
product picture

Qantas Bomb threat

» Read Article

Jetstar's "new" A321

» Read Report


Reply

Registered Users have the option of removing this and all other advertisements.  More

 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 10:38 AM
simongr's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Member of: QF Gold AA EXP
Posts: 5,917
Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

Hi all

Bit of a n00b question here - sorry for that.

I have just gone through my ofrex bag and found I have a combination of foreign notes that would add up to a couple of hundred A$. Given my travel has been curtailed for the foreseeable future I am wondering whether it is worth converting to A$ rather than having sat in a bag gathering dust.

My only question is that if I go to a Bureau de Change with 3 currencies - do I get hit with the currency change fees?

Just wondering.

Cheers

S

__________________
Waging War on Corporate Travel agents! Fight the Powers!!!
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Registered Users have the option of removing this and all other advertisements.  More
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 12:16 PM
straitman's Avatar
Established Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SE Oz
Member of: Qantas, UA
Posts: 4,602
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

Quote:
Originally Posted by simongr View Post
Hi all

Bit of a n00b question here - sorry for that.

I have just gone through my ofrex bag and found I have a combination of foreign notes that would add up to a couple of hundred A$. Given my travel has been curtailed for the foreseeable future I am wondering whether it is worth converting to A$ rather than having sat in a bag gathering dust.

My only question is that if I go to a Bureau de Change with 3 currencies - do I get hit with the currency change fees?

Just wondering.

Cheers

S
simongr,

I tend to leave all my spare currency in an envelope 'until next time' as it's always handy to have a bit of odd currency when you get to a place. The changes in exchange rates hardly make a dent in few hundred dollars here or there.
__________________
cheers,
Bill.

Oz Fest #6" - Cairns Queensland - Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-24, 2009
_______________________________
QFF Platinum (OW Emerald,) 65.21% toward Lifetime Silver, UA Nothing, HHonors Gold, PC Platinum, Hertz Gold No 1, Ansett -- nothing any more!
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 12:21 PM
simongr's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Member of: QF Gold AA EXP
Posts: 5,917
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

That's what I have been doing - nicely labeled zip locks of various currencies (housed in a BA J amenity kit bag - I am truly a sad sad person) but with an impending reduction in travel and restriction on destinations I am wondering whether having a couple of hundred dollars tied up is a wise investment - that's an awful lot of comics
__________________
Waging War on Corporate Travel agents! Fight the Powers!!!
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 12:26 PM
oz_mark's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Melbourne
Member of: QF FF, SQ KF, DJ Velocity, MH enrich
Posts: 6,502
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

Quote:
Originally Posted by straitman View Post
I tend to leave all my spare currency in an envelope 'until next time' as it's always handy to have a bit of odd currency when you get to a place. The changes in exchange rates hardly make a dent in few hundred dollars here or there.
I have had one experience when, by 'next time', they had replaced the notes on issue, and I had old outdated stuff....
__________________
Air: QFF Gold
Hotel: PC Plat, Hyatt GP: Plat, HH: Silver
Car: Avis preferred
On the Road to LTS: 98.1%
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 12:29 PM
wandering_fred's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Member of: AA/QF
Posts: 154
Send a message via Skype™ to wandering_fred
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

In Perth there are quite a number of Forex "hole-in-wall" type outlets with no commissions being charged. For small amounts that would be my choice. If they are close together, check the exchange rates first, they do tend to vary in Perth.

Now as for collections of small bills stuffed in old wallets / envelopes etc, I have some 1977 Iranian riyals and some 1983 Brazilian bills if anyone wishes to make an offer .... OTOH I did change my Hungarian bills before I left Europe this April.

Wandering as ever

Fred
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 06:06 PM
JohnK's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD, BNE and BKK
Member of: QF Platinum, PC Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 8,543
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

What are the 3 type of currencies you have left over? Isn't there anyone you know that would be interested in taking them off your hands for a fair exchange and avoid any currency conversion fees and lower exchange rates?

We have done this many times when coming back from overseas trips. If we have Euros left over and someone we know is going back to Europe then we come to some arrangement and similarly when I have needed Euros or US$ I have asked around if anyone has any they would like to offload. It usually works out to be beneficial to both parties.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Registered Users have the option of removing this and all other advertisements.  More
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 06:47 PM
NM's Avatar
NM NM is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Member of: AA Exec Plat; QF LTG; PC Plat; HHonors Gold
Posts: 9,857
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

I always try to minimise the cash I take home from another country unless I know I will be back soon. I will sometimes pick up something for the family at the airport or use the cash for the airport transfer or even for part of the hotel bill.

A few times I have had some foreign cash in my wallet when I come across someone planning a first time trip to that country (Hong Kong) and was able to hand him a few hundred dollars and told him to buy himself a coke from me . He was reallyt chuffed to be given some foreign currency for his big trip.

I remember a few years ago, the day after returning from an ATW trip, I took my son to school. His class was going on an excursion that day and his teacher was desperate for a male parent to accompany the class and asked if I was available. I agreed to go and then found out one of the places to be visited was Brisbane International Airport where they would be given a guided tour.

The teacher was trying to explain the Travelex booth and about foreign currencies. I opened my wallet and passed around US$, GBP, Euros, HK$, and SIN$. The kids were amused by the different notes - the teacher just shook her head in wonderment and the airport tour guide asked if I wanted to take over the tour.

So it can come in handy.
__________________
NM aka Nelly Mobbs
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 07:47 PM
v8Statesman's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PER
Member of: QF Platinum, Gold ff.com.au
Posts: 902
Send a message via ICQ to v8Statesman
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

Quote:
Originally Posted by oz_mark View Post
I have had one experience when, by 'next time', they had replaced the notes on issue, and I had old outdated stuff....
I have noticed this in Singapore. (Paper vs Plastic notes) But they still accept my paper notes.

Did you have a problem using your $$$?
__________________
QFF Platinum, 30.64% to Lifetime Silver, Hyatt GP
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 07:50 PM
v8Statesman's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: PER
Member of: QF Platinum, Gold ff.com.au
Posts: 902
Send a message via ICQ to v8Statesman
Re: Foreign currency conversion - multiple currencies

Quote:
Originally Posted by wandering_fred View Post
I have some 1977 Iranian riyals and some 1983 Brazilian bills if anyone wishes to make an offer ....
The 1977 bills I'll happily remove from you. (Good vintage 1977)
__________________
QFF Platinum, 30.64% to Lifetime Silver, Hyatt GP
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 18th August 2008, 10:49 PM
serfty's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Member of: ¤QF WP[96-01,05-09] 102%LT SG ¤HHG
Posts: 8,192
I visit NZ alot; so did not concern myself over taking a few NZ$ and ¢; I could always use them later.

However darkly last year I had a six month hiatus; lo and bold the next time I visited my NZ50¢ piece was rejected; they had gone to smaller coins.

Advice was given to go to a bank ...
__________________
utilities¤)
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Missing Foreign Currency Amounts? serfty American Express Rewards 47 6th October 2007 04:58 PM
2.5% Foreign Currency Conversion Fee being introduced serfty CitiBank Rewards Program 27 24th February 2007 12:19 PM
CC best suited for foreign currency transactions? JesterinOz General Credit Card Discussion 17 9th September 2006 10:36 AM
Virgin Blue's currency conversion oz_mark Open Discussion 3 20th March 2006 01:19 AM
New Dynamic Currency Conversion Maca44 Virgin Blue Velocity 2 4th March 2006 08:57 PM


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 12:37 AM.


 
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.7.0. Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC4 ©2008, Crawlability, Inc.
Designed by
 
Copyright © 1998 - 2008, The Australian Frequent Flyer. All Rights Reserved.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80