money and how to carry it
 

hi everyone

i want to sort out what money to take with me on my trip to nigeria-benin-niger-algeria-tunisia and hopefully some one can help me.

i will be travelling for 6 weeks using public transport. here is my plan at this stage, please comment:
nigeria (transit only) : US$ cash
benin (about 1 week) : euro cash, (euro travellers cheques ok too?)
niger (about 2 weeks) : euro cash
algeria (about 2 weeks): US$ cash, us$ trav cheq (change in tam possible?)
tunisia (about 1 week) : maestro card

i would prefer information from people who have experience in these countries in 2002 (ie after euro introduction). please tell me when you were there when if you post a reply.

ALSO, is it better to take big notes ie US50, US100 or small notes?

thank you very much

paul

For Niger you are spot on for Euros. Cash is fine, but travellers cheques in Euros were also easy to change in Agadez, with a very reasonable flat 2% commission, no matter how much you changed. The service at the bank in Agadez was fast and painless.

Euro travellers cheques could also be changed in Niamey, but at the time I was there (January 2002), there were very long queues in the bank, and there were limits on the amount you could change. (500Euros ?)

On the subject of note size. Money changers usually prefer the $50 or $100, though some refuse these as if the turn out to be duds they loose out.They also seem to be fussy on the dates of the notes, prefering younger ones. I suggest you split your funds, cards and cheques into at least two wallets whatever. Toby

You can use Euro cash and Travellers Cheques on the whole trip, at least in Algeria they are definetly favoured over dollars (Janurary and May this year).

I havent been to Nigeria since the Euro conversion but I understand they are accepted there as readily as the Dollar. Travellers Cheques are usually possible in every capital city and in big tourist towns along the route.