Access to cash en route to Mali??

[thestens]

We are travelling to Mali via Morocco and Mauri for 7 weeks and don't want to take a big stack of euros with us.Can we get cash from banks with Visa card or would travellers cheques be any good? What have other folks done?

[orrin]

Very important!! visa card!!

Forget TChqs.

Morocco: You will find ATM's in major cities.
RIM: Forget it! make sure you have euros! NOT DOLLARS.
Senegal: Will find atm in places like St Louis, Dakar..
Mali: found atm in Bamako. Used Visa card in bank in Mopti.
Make sure it is visa.
Not solo, Visa electron, maestro, cirris? etc. These may work in morocco but not south.
Hope this helps.
orrin

[wilco]

Stop Press!
There is now a single ATM (as said, only Visa applies) in Nouakchott.

Dave

[thestens]

Brill! Visa it is, then!

[obiahman]

What about mastercard? Will that do?

[wilco]

Not in West Africa.

[pibbins]

In January 2008 I managed to draw money with Mastercard from an atm by the cafe opposite the new shopping centre on the south side of the bridge in Bamako.That sounds clear! I also managed to change sterling at a bureau de change in Bamako but at a very poor rate. The euro is the only way to go if you take cash.Have fun, John.

[Matt Roach]

You can get cash using your mastercard at ATMs in Morocco, Senegal and Mali. In Mauritania the Soc Gen machine in Nouakchott was only give cash for visa.

In Mali not all ATMs will give cash on mastercard, but if you try Ecobank or Atlantic bank you should be fine. Only downside is the limit on mastercard was 50,000 CFA per transaction, whereas you can usually get a lot more with visa. Hence if you card company charges an overseas ATM fee, using mastercard becomes much more expensive.

cheers

[Toyark]

Aim for any 4 star type hotels like Mercure etc, can always get/change cash there

[thestens]

How possible is this ? In the absence of ATMs is this viable?