Money in Malaysia

On Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:52:28 +0800, Miguel Cruz
wrote:

In article ,
"Jamie" wrote:

Hi just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what form of money
I should take to Malaysia. Should I just rely on ATM cards or should I take
travellers cheques as well?

ATMs are fairly ubiquitous in Malaysia.

Also, you can change cash in certain major currencies (Euro and USD) at
dedicated money-changer shops for a very low cost - possibly cheaper
than the ATM. The Euro spread for cash exchanges at the money-changer
nearest me is about 1.8% (meaning you're paying less than 1%) and
there's no other commission or fee.

miguel

Nice to see you. Welcome back.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:52:28 +0800, Miguel Cruz
wrote:

In article ,
"Jamie" wrote:

Hi just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what form of
money
I should take to Malaysia. Should I just rely on ATM cards or should I
take
travellers cheques as well?

ATMs are fairly ubiquitous in Malaysia.

Also, you can change cash in certain major currencies (Euro and USD) at
dedicated money-changer shops for a very low cost - possibly cheaper
than the ATM. The Euro spread for cash exchanges at the money-changer
nearest me is about 1.8% (meaning you're paying less than 1%) and
there's no other commission or fee.

miguel

Nice to see you. Welcome back.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi
Miguel we need you back..WELCOME.
Let is know where you been and if you are ok.
James

On Jun 9, 2:26*pm, Alan S wrote:
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL

wrote:
Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

Well, on the rare occasion when you are totally tapped out and the ATM
circuit is down for repair or something.

It's an emergency backup. My bank don't charge me for TC's so not a
big issue.

On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:55:41 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

On Jun 9, 2:26*pm, Alan S wrote:
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL

wrote:
Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

Well, on the rare occasion when you are totally tapped out and the ATM
circuit is down for repair or something.

It's an emergency backup. My bank don't charge me for TC's so not a
big issue.

I always have either US$200 or Euros200 as my emergency
stash in my "secret wallet" together with that backup credit
card and my passport.

No matter where I've been in the world, one of those two
currencies was OK to get me out of strife on the rare
occasions I needed it. Probably the only place I know that
neither would get much acceptance is back here. But neither
would a traveller's cheque in most Aussie small towns.


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

"Alan S" kirjoitti
om...
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They
are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

This about answers your question.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Why different account?

On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:32:57 +0300, Markku Grönroos
wrote:


"Alan S" kirjoitti
viestissä:9t7r445nj18fu7nabhhgdivl5buil04dci@4ax. com...
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They
are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

This about answers your question.

That's five years back; I haven't seen anyone anywhere using
traveler's cheques since then. Of course, I'm only an
observing sample of one.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Why different account?

Because the first thing I do if a card is lost or stolen is
advise the card emergency line - which immediately freezes
use of any card on that account. A secondary card on the
same account is fairly useless after that.

I actually used to carry three; a visa, a mastercard and a
bank debit card. Last trip just the visa and bank debit.


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

"Alan S" kirjoitti
viestissä
On Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:32:57 +0300, Markku Grönroos
wrote:


"Alan S" kirjoitti
viestissä:9t7r445nj18fu7nabhhgdivl5buil04dci@4ax .com...
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They
are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

This about answers your question.

That's five years back; I haven't seen anyone anywhere using
traveler's cheques since then. Of course, I'm only an
observing sample of one.

Exactly.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Why different account?

Because the first thing I do if a card is lost or stolen is
advise the card emergency line - which immediately freezes
use of any card on that account. A secondary card on the
same account is fairly useless after that.

As far as savings accounts are concerned this is pretty much so.

On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:55:41 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

On Jun 9, 2:26=A0pm, Alan S wrote:
On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL

wrote:
Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They a=
re
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
--http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/http://loraltravel.blogspot.com
Latest: Indira Gandhi Airport, Delhi

Well, on the rare occasion when you are totally tapped out and the ATM
circuit is down for repair or something.

It's an emergency backup. My bank don't charge me for TC's so not a
big issue.

Why would they? They have your money interest free to invest until
you finally cash them. That's worth a lot more than a commission.

On Jun 10, 1:32*am, Markku Grönroos wrote:
"Alan S" kirjoitti
om... On Mon, 9 Jun 2008 08:28:32 -0700 (PDT), PeterL
wrote:

Traveller's cheques are still good for their replacement policy. They
are
easy to change in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and so worth.

True, they are still good as a backup.

Where? I haven't used one since 1967...but then, I didn't
start travelling agai until 2003.

This about answers your question.

A second card on a different account is a better backup.

Why different account?

If one gets stolen or loss.

PeterL wrote:
On Jun 8, 10:52*pm, Miguel Cruz wrote:
In article ,
*"Jamie" wrote:
Hi just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what form of
money
I should take to Malaysia. Should I just rely on ATM cards or should I
take
travellers cheques as well?

ATMs are fairly ubiquitous in Malaysia.

Also, you can change cash in certain major currencies (Euro and USD) at
dedicated money-changer shops for a very low cost - possibly cheaper
than the ATM. The Euro spread for cash exchanges at the money-changer
nearest me is about 1.8% (meaning you're paying less than 1%) and
there's no other commission or fee.

Hey, long time no see miguel.

Hi everybody. Good to see some familiar names are still here. I can't
believe how long it's been!

miguel
--
Photos from all 45 countries on 5 continents:
http://www.cultureshocktherapy.com