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| couple of questions about my visit | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 25 2008, 01:43:10 AM (593 Views) | |
| heykeith | Mar 25 2008, 01:43:10 AM Post #1 |
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Chinwagger
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first has to do with money and credit cards. im thinking of getting 500 in australian currency and using a credit card for the rest. does this sound ok? whats the deal on withdrawing cash from an atm? second, if i bring a laptop, is there a voltage converter i can buy? can i take the laptop on the plane along with a carry on? is it just too much trouble to bring one for 2 weeks? |
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| alect | Mar 25 2008, 02:01:45 AM Post #2 |
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True Blue Mate
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Cash + cards sounds fine. Most laptops are good 110-240V so you don't need a voltage converter but you will need a plug adaptor from US to Aust (like this VP6 one). And yes you can take the laptop on the plane - I would never check a laptop. I don't think it's too much trouble as long as you will need it. If not then don't bring it. |
| Los Angeles to Melbourne with my Yank wife (and dual daughter plus twins in the oven) | |
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| Pamm | Mar 25 2008, 02:12:34 AM Post #3 |
True Blue Mate
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Make sure your seat on the plane *has* a power port. I've noticed a disturbing lack of them in the economy seats. Apparently airlines don't realize that people flying economy have laptops just as much as business/first class fliers do *sighs* |
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| pastrycook-136 | Mar 25 2008, 02:34:30 AM Post #4 |
True Blue Mate
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Hi, both your ATM and credit card will work in Australia just like they do here! You will get a better exchange rate if you just withdraw cash from an ATM in Australia than if you buy Aussie cash from an exchange in the US. You will have some fees to use these cards and your ATM pin needs to be 4 digits (mine already was). Call your bank before leaving and let them know that the foreign charges that will appear on your credit card and ATM card are not fraud. When I withdrew cash the Aussie ATM even converted my US balance to Aussie dollars for me! Aussie ATMs despense $50 bills (notes). My first reaction to this was something like aw shit, how am I going to buy lunch but this is ok because unlike here in the US they seemd to be welcome even for small purchaces. I am not sure if this true for every Aussie store however. As far as your laptop goes look at the power supply block. If it says 100-240 volts 50/60 cycles like mine does it will work fine with just an adapter plug. Hope this helps, Jed |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| heykeith | Mar 25 2008, 02:37:16 AM Post #5 |
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Chinwagger
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yes, all of you have been wonderful help! |
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| alect | Mar 25 2008, 02:39:51 AM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Actually airlines do realize, but they're a business. Usually there are some powerport but not at every seat. Having power ports costs money (providing wiring and current; extra weight and therefore gas) so lower fares (ie economy) only get lower levels of service. This is not a unique concept regarding powerports. |
| Los Angeles to Melbourne with my Yank wife (and dual daughter plus twins in the oven) | |
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| Pamm | Mar 25 2008, 02:58:37 AM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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Don't mind me, I'm still annoyed that I was told there were power ports on my seat when I last flew to Maryland, and of course, there weren't :arrgh: I've discovered that Bank of America has an agreement with Westpac where their atm's don't charge a fee for using them. Which is why I changed from Compass to BoA. I can also open an account in Westpac online before I come over, then activate it once I'm there, which is another thing I like. There found the page on BoA about it and Wespac's moving to Australia page ...ever get the feeling I do far too much research? 
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| heykeith | Mar 25 2008, 03:05:02 AM Post #8 |
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Chinwagger
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never too much research pamm! maybe i ought to open a bank of america account. the things on the back of my atm card say AFFN, interlink, plus and star. any of these taken down there? |
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| Nanook | Mar 25 2008, 06:37:14 AM Post #9 |
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True Blue Mate
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Beware that when you use a US credit card in Australia (or anywhere overseas) they will charge you an additional foreign transaction fee. I believe it's Visa, Mastercard etc that charges this, not your credit card company. |
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| chocopaws | Mar 25 2008, 07:01:37 AM Post #10 |
True Blue Mate
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I actually used my Amazon Visa while in Oz without a problem - no extra fees on my statement. Maybe I got lucky?
:D Also, I bank with Citibank - and they are international. I was able to withdraw money from a Citibank ATM at the Sydney airport without any additional charges. I was so excited about the plastic money that I ran across the hall back to my boyfriend, waving my money and going, "Look! They're like Disney dollars!" Of course, he told me to keep it down and put it away asap. XD |
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| elsja | Mar 25 2008, 07:56:41 AM Post #11 |
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aussie pilot lover
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Watch out! They've changed this. I had citibank too until they started charging 2-3% for the foreign conversion. They just made this change in January I guess. So now that I'm back home in CA, I just opened a BofA account. We discuss this in more detail here if you want to check it out: Citibank/B of A |
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Elsja's Bloggity Blog | |
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| jo | Mar 25 2008, 08:20:39 AM Post #12 |
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Piker
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Great questions and very needed answers, i was about to ask the same questions before I saw this posting. I was thinking that since I wanted to avoid credit card fees that more cash would be better, but perhaps for safety sake, not so. Any thoughts on cellphones? |
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| Dev | Mar 25 2008, 09:42:36 AM Post #13 |
"No day but today."
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Actually (sorry to disagree), but that's not entirely true. Regardless to what bank you're with, you will be charged a foreign currency conversion fee for each withdrawl or even purchase you make on your card. Don't get swayed by the banks telling you that you will have no fees because you will. It's a not-so well known loophole they use. That being said, I also need to warn you about withdrawing money from a credit card. Each time you withdraw money, it counts as a cash advance. This means that if you have an interest-free period on your card, whatever money you withdraw doesn't get the interest-free period. It also could mean that you get charged up to 25% interest on that money! Before you come over and use your card, contact your bank and find out a) how much the cash advance interest rate is, and b) how much (or what percentage) the foreign currency conversion fee is. You can get slammed by these two issues when using credit cards overseas if you're not careful. If you have any other questions about credit cards, feel free to PM me. I worked in the credit cards department (first internally, then on the customer service line) for a combined total of about a year (unfortunately), so I know pretty much everything there is to know about credit cards. 
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value." 
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| elsja | Mar 25 2008, 11:04:01 AM Post #14 |
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aussie pilot lover
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I'll have to disagree wtih this one. Citibank didnt charge anything until January and according to angie (who so graciously even sent me a screenshot of her bank statement) doesn't ever get charged conversion fees through b of a/westpac. So there ARE banks that don't charge, if you do the research. But I do agree with the credit card to withdraw money issue. Cash advances have a much higher interest rate usually and will stick with you until the entire balance is paid off (not just the amount you withdrew). |
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Elsja's Bloggity Blog | |
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| heykeith | Mar 25 2008, 12:21:58 PM Post #15 |
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Chinwagger
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ok, one more question to throw in the mix, my card is a credit/debit/atm card. any problems with those? |
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| Dev | Mar 25 2008, 01:04:52 PM Post #16 |
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"No day but today."
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No. That money comes directly out of your account, as opposed to just...well...out of nowhere. The only thing you might be up against is the foreign currency conversion fee. Just make sure when you do a withdrawl that you DON'T push the "cash advance" button in the options menu.
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| pastrycook-136 | Mar 25 2008, 01:13:11 PM Post #17 |
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True Blue Mate
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No problem :goodonya: :goodonya: . This is the one to use for cash withdrawls and debit purchaces (called EFTPOS in Australia) just like here in the US. Australian ATMs are just like ours except that the currancy that comes out is Australian and it does not ask if you like English or Spanish first! I have a Bank of America card. Most major US bank ATM cards should work but you might just ask your bank anyway. Use your credit card (visa or mastercard) to purchace things but NEVER to get a cash advance as Elsja has warned. There will be some fees to use the credit card on your statement. I just opened an account online with Westpac. I had to call them in Australia to set up the online banking part. The account is deposit only until you present your ID in person in Australia. The customer service rep I spoke to was great and he seemed interested in his job and my needs unlike the annoyed tone of some US service reps. Westpac is affiliated with Bank of America. They charge no seperate visable fees but they do make money on the exchange rate spread. This means that Elsja and Ranting Dev are both correct about fees!! :lurve: |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| Pamm | Mar 25 2008, 01:30:08 PM Post #18 |
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True Blue Mate
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I don't do credit cards, so I'll be using my debit card *grins* I'm planning on getting American Express travelers checks in AUD before leaving, as well as some cash. And depositing funds in the Westpac account
 I do hate how banks get away with charging fees for everything *sigh* Keith, you'll have to post how that goes on your trip
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| TerritorianTori | Mar 25 2008, 01:53:36 PM Post #19 |
It couldn't happen here
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You've got a debit card with a Mastercard or Visa logo, right? Those will work fine in the ATMs for withdrawing cash, but if you try to make purchases with it at a store via EFTPOS, be sure to push the "Credit" button on the keypad... i.e. use it the same way you would a credit card. If you try to use it as a debit card, it won't work, because it runs on a different system from that of US debit cards. (however, the ATMs recognise just about everything) I used to have a Visa Check Card through Wells Fargo, and that's how I had to do it.
I did this too - they're great! Most places will accept them the same as cash. But, when I tried to deposit them into my bank account, I was charged $10 each! :eek: That was almost 5 years ago now, so not sure if they're still doing that, but just thought I'd mention it so you don't get a huge shocker... |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| pastrycook-136 | Mar 25 2008, 01:58:17 PM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi Pamm, I wouldn't bother getting traveler's checks. I think I read somewhere that they are not commonly accepted in Australia but I could be wrong. They serve no better purpose anyway when you can just withdraw cash from any ATM in Australia from your American account using your American card that you have now just like you can withdraw cash anywhere in the USA. You can use your ATM card make debit purchaces too, just like here in the US. Any ATM fees you might have should be no more than the cost of traveler's checks anyway. I have done quite a bit of travel and I have not used traveler's checks in over 20 years. They are almost obsolete. You can wire your funds to Westpac directly from the US or use Ozforex to transfer the funds like I am doing. Ozforex promises a better exchange rate. I believe you or your boyfriend must make a deposit within 30 days of opening the Westpac account or it will be closed. This account is deposit only until you present ID in Australia in person. A quick edit. I didn't see Tors post as we must have been writing at the same time! I stand corrected about traveler's checks being accepted in Australia. I still think that nowdays they are not really needed. |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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7:49 PM May 19