The IAF woke me up with their latest presents to the Lebanese, so I had to check back in. Several Freepers have asked me to write a book-et about international travel (with an appendix about travel to war zones). Entry on currency. Cash is king. If you don't have it, you are toast. At the minimum, have an ATM. I was working with a Canadian colleague who "doesn't trust ATMs." He ran out of cash so he asked me to get some using my ATM card. ATMs are almost universal. Don't travel overseas without TWO. I have heard horror stories over and over about an ATM eating a card. If you have two, which means two different banks, you are covered. This also means having two bank accounts, preferably at major banks: Citi, BAC, Chase. I carry an extra wallet with about $100 equivalent in each of the major currencies: USD, GBP, Euro, JY. But when it comes to the crunch USD rules. I have never had dollars refused anywhere in the world. Discount yes. Turned down no.
The bad news is you may have to ride a duck and be wet and sticky for at least 5 hours or more.
The good news is, if you ride a duck, it will be FREE.
Good advice about the ATMs.
Unfortunately for my only trip out of the country on our honeymoon our bank told us we'd be able to use our ATM card, but the system wasn't up and running yet when we arrived in Nassau! (They were supposed to be able to take our card there, but the implementation schedule was somehow delayed, and my bank had no clue?!?). We were going to be stuck in Nassau, with next to nothing as far as cash for the next 5 days... We spent two days in our hotel room on the phone with our bank until we worked out a way to completely pay off our visa card with money in our checking account via the phone. It is unbelievably difficult to get cash in a foreign country, and that was just the Bahamas, and WITHOUT an emergency situation!!! I don't know if things have changed, but that was a scary lesson for my husband and I...
That was an interesting, helpful post. Please add me to the list of FReepers interested in that booklet.
Sorry you are getting the run around and are stuck there. I can understand some of this antagonism though, I just watched a CNN report that had some hysterical people screaming that the USA/Bush was at fault in not getting them out. Pelosi was one of them, says Bush is back to his Katrina mentality.
Appreciate the first hand reporting. Safe travels.
Thank you. Excellant points. Hope you are doing well, and in safety soon. Take care.