Holiday in NZ..need advice on money matters.

[happyas]

I can't seem to find a specialised forum for this so will post here and see what info i can get.

 

Have made a plan to go to New Zealand for a short break and have tried to buy NZ Dollars at both recommended exchanges, ie super rich and SK Money Changer, but have had little luck in getting the larger amount i seek as of yet [Have ordered NZ$3000,} and leave next week, so in case the money changers don't get it for me, i'm looking at all options.

Is there any other good option to take such an amount ,..i have Thai ATM/Debit card, but am sure that by using that will incur all sorts of high fees in NZ, and have been told that the banks dont give a great deal either [high fees].

I know well of the rip off of airport money changers, so am reluctant to use them also.

In short,if  any NZers or other seasoned travellers to NZ who have knowledge of such matters could advise me of the best way to get my NZ$3000  easily into my possession, either before i leave here, or within NZ i would be very appreciative.

Thank you.

 

[Paul Catton]

Best option is fingers crossed for Super Rich.

ASB Bank in NZ whom I would normally use is currently buying Thai baht at a rate of 27.76271 per NZ dollar.

Super Rich is currently selling NZ dollars at a rate of 25.65 Thai baht per NZ dollar.

 

I try to pre-pay as much as I am able to before travel, reducing the need to personally carry an excess of currency over our discretionary spending funds.

 

[happyas]

6 hours ago, Paul Catton said:

Best option is fingers crossed for Super Rich.

ASB Bank in NZ whom I would normally use is currently buying Thai baht at a rate of 27.76271 per NZ dollar.

Super Rich is currently selling NZ dollars at a rate of 25.65 Thai baht per NZ dollar.

 

I try to pre-pay as much as I am able to before travel, reducing the need to personally carry an excess of currency over our discretionary spending funds.

 

Thanks, and yes , all my fingers are crossed for SuperRich or similar here..time is running out.

If i get stuck and have to use an ATM in NZ as a 'one off" withdrawal do you know if the exchange would be the same as the banks 27.76 or higher or lower?

Thanks.

[Paul Catton]

Just now, happyas said:

Thanks, and yes , all my fingers are crossed for SuperRich or similar here..time is running out.

If i get stuck and have to use an ATM in NZ as a 'one off" withdrawal do you know if the exchange would be the same as the banks 27.76 or higher or lower?

Thanks.

I believe ATM withdrawals here need to be with a Credit/Debit card, chipped and pin entry and Issued by your bank under the umbrella of Visa/MasterCard etc.

The rate of exchange would then be determined by Visa/MasterCard with your bank taking a percentage of the total transaction as a service fee, (it's around 2.25% that NZ banks charge for doing this overseas).

I would on the off chance contact your Thai bank, they may just be able to do a "cash passport" card or "travel money" card which is a Visa/MasterCard, pre loaded with choices of different currencies at fixed exchange rates.

[MrBrad]

I have no idea of the exhange rates and fees involved, and it may be prohibitive, but might you carry US dollars from here to there, and then exchange them as needed?  Having 22 $100 bills in your pocket is easier than carrying 76 1,000 baht notes.

 

Just a thought.

[dingdongrb]

Why do you need it all exchanged before you go?

 

Exchange just enough to pay for immediate expenses like airport taxi/shuttle, tips, some refreshments and such... then when you arrive at your destination get the rest exchanged.

[Jai Dee]

2 hours ago, MrBrad said:

I have no idea of the exhange rates and fees involved, and it may be prohibitive, but might you carry US dollars from here to there, and then exchange them as needed?  

If taking cash you would be better off taking Australian dollars.

Easily and fairly exchanged anywhere in NZ.

[xylophone]

I travel back to NZ fairly frequently and exchange some baht for NZ dollars before I go and use the New Zealand banks ATMs to withdraw funds from wherever I need them really (both NZ and Thailand).

 

Sure you will have to pay some fees, but in the grand scheme of things they don't work out to much, however I will agree with another poster in as much as you should stay away from the money changers in the airport in NZ, because the exchange rate is extremely poor, should you decide to take Thai baht or Aussie dollars with you.

 

There was a time when I did change quite a few Thai baht for NZ dollars here and I found that going round to the various banks I was able to scrape enough together for the purpose because most banks here don't carry much in the way of NZ dollars.

 

 

[Paul Catton]

13 minutes ago, Jai Dee said:

If taking cash you would be better off taking Australian dollars.

Easily and fairly exchanged anywhere in NZ.

So is Sterling and any other major currency, OP should be able get the amount indicated as there are enough Kiwis venturing across with our dollars.

If he was travelling one week later and behind us in the queue at Super Rich, guaranteed.

[happyas]

40 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

Why do you need it all exchanged before you go?

 

Exchange just enough to pay for immediate expenses like airport taxi/shuttle, tips, some refreshments and such... then when you arrive at your destination get the rest exchanged.

Not being an overly wealthy guy i can see a big benefit in getting 25.65 here as against up to 10% less in NZ, no matter how i do it there.

I haven't looked at the math yet re; US or Aus $ but no doubt will lose along the way.

 

Fingers crossed is working..SuperRich just called and have NZ$850 to pick up...might make it yet.

[Paul Catton]

23 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I travel back to NZ fairly frequently and exchange some baht for NZ dollars before I go and use the New Zealand banks ATMs to withdraw funds from wherever I need them really (both NZ and Thailand).

 

Sure you will have to pay some fees, but in the grand scheme of things they don't work out to much, however I will agree with another poster in as much as you should stay away from the money changers in the airport in NZ, because the exchange rate is extremely poor, should you decide to take Thai baht or Aussie dollars with you.

 

There was a time when I did change quite a few Thai baht for NZ dollars here and I found that going round to the various banks I was able to scrape enough together for the purpose because most banks here don't carry much in the way of NZ dollars.

 

 

Apologise for getting slightly off topic, but I really like your posts especially regarding "Patong is Dead", they are so informative and an unbiased view of the State of the Nation at a leading tourist venue without hype from the coal face.

Back to OP, any double conversions of currency results in double fees.

Suggest that if your Thai based currency converters cannot give you the volume required, stringently look at ATM withdrawal and then associated charges.

[xylophone]

21 minutes ago, Paul Catton said:

Apologise for getting slightly off topic, but I really like your posts especially regarding "Patong is Dead", they are so informative and an unbiased view of the State of the Nation at a leading tourist venue without hype from the coal face.

Back to OP, any double conversions of currency results in double fees.

Suggest that if your Thai based currency converters cannot give you the volume required, stringently look at ATM withdrawal and then associated charges.

Thank you for the compliment Paul, much appreciated and although I try to be objective, I do have to question myself sometimes because perhaps too much of what I write seems unduly negative, but then again that's how the place is I do believe!

 

Now back on topic, good point you make about the ATM withdrawal and if I recall, I was able to make a withdrawal from my Thai bank account, via an ATM in NZ, using my cash card from Bangkok Bank, so there are many avenues open to you "happyas" and you shouldn't be short of options in that regard.

 

AND I can assure you that the service you will receive from tellers or the like in an NZ bank will be far above what you have experienced here and they do actually try to help – – yes they do!