What currency to use?
 

I'm sure I saw a post relating to this a few months ago, but can't seem to find it...

We are starting to count down the weeks now for our trip and one of the thinbgs to start thinking about is currency, which one/or a few different ones and how much of it.

Our starting point is Vladivostok and then heading west through Mongolia and the Stans.

Is there anyone with recent experience of those areas in terms of best currency (or maybe not so recent experience) to take/use ie Euro, US dollar or GBP etc.

The other thing we can't decide on is how much currency to carry with us. We are travelling in a 4x4, and we have a safe bolted in, so can store it there.

My initial thoughts were in the region of equivalent US $1500 or so...:confused1::confused1:

Is this too much/little?? We will obviously be using cards where ever possible, so it will be small day to day things maybe but more than likely emergency money.

The main question though, which currency???

currency
 

Pumbaa,

For currency and type of Credit cards in Africa check my web site link. There is other usefull info too.


exploreafrica.web-log.nl: 30-Tips & Tricks (in English)

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Which currency - depends on waht purpose.

For your trip ... Remember each time you change the type of money you loose something .. no point in changing OZie money into US money then UK money .. may as well go direct from OZ to UK money.

Emergency money .. that would be for ? If small things like a taxi to the next town .. well local currency or US .. all most anyone knows the rough exchange rate from their currency into the USD. For larger things you'll be near a bank any way.

Enjoy the ice cream .. it is very good in Russia.

Russia ... 'Stans....

In 2002 situation was ... only US$....no credit cards...hard currency ... no travelers check... if willing to pay huge amounts of transaction expenses, western union (quite available in big cities) ...

In all big cities Barnaul included, you can withdraw money out of an ATM machine using a Visa debit card...NOT Visa electron or Mastercard as readily.

I would open an online bank account and then use the ATM/debit card they give you to withdraw money as you go along. You can then withdraw the money as you need, AND not get hit with too bad of a rate.

Carry 1000 $/Euro in small notes as spare...ditch the safe...
tuck those notes into a smart place.

You WILL be asked to declare foreign curreny on you when you cross borders...no need to carry anything that will raise attention.

HTH

in Russia and most of the stans euros work just as well as dollars these days.