Cancel for Any Reason: Travel Insurance Coverage During a Pandemic
It might be tempting to book a holiday in the hopes that Australia’s international borders will re-open soon. But there’s a high risk that you may have to cancel the holiday – or that complications arise from the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re all attuned to protecting ourselves against travel mishaps with insurance but travel insurance in a time of corona has become a lot more complicated. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance might have provided protection against the pandemic. But Cover-More, Australia’s major supplier of CFAR policies, suspended Cancel for Any Insurance policies at the start of the coronavirus outbreak. […]
Currency in India
A Travel Money Guide to India India is one of our favourite places in Asia for the breathtaking beauty of the Taj Mahal, the glorious Goa beaches, and its interesting cities like Rajasthan, Mumbai and Varanasi. To get the most out of your trip, it’s a good idea to learn everything you can about the local currency and payment options before you go. Want to learn more about the currency in India and how to get your hands on it for the best value: What currency is used in India How to buy Indian currency before you go AUD to […]
Taking Cash Out of Australia: How Much Is Too Much?
Are you heading away on a big holiday abroad, or moving overseas, and are unsure how much money you can actually carry out of Australia? The good news is there’s no limit to how much cash you can take out of, or into, the country. But while you can carry unlimited sums out of Australia, you may have to declare amounts with a combined worth of AU$10,000 or more. Important read: While we try to keep this info as accurate and up to date as possible, it’s general information only. Please remember we don’t provide financial or legal advice. Australia […]
3 Significantly Better Options to Currency Exchange at Sydney Airport
Currency exchange at Sydney Airport can be a real rip-off. If you are exchanging a small amount under $200, you could lose up to 30% of your money in loaded exchange rates and money changer fees. There are only 2 money exchange options at Sydney International Airport – ANZ or Travelex. If you are already at Sydney Airport, then these are your only 2 options. If you have time to sort out your travel money before you go to the airport, here are 3 better alternatives: Order online before you head to the airport Head into a store or a […]
The Australian Dollar motors to a 21 month high over the weekend
The Australian dollar moved higher over Friday and Saturday, pushing to a 21-month high against the US dollar. Once again, the move higher was driven largely by a weaker US dollar. So how does it work? Well, if the US dollar weakens and the Australian dollar remains the same, then the AUD/USD exchange rate goes higher. The opposite is true too. If the US dollar gets stronger and the Australian dollar doesn’t change, then the AUD/USD rate will fall. In this case, the US dollar has been falling for 4 straight months. This is a big change from earlier in 2020 […]
Tax on Currency Exchange for Travel Money and Travellers’ Cheques
If you want to exchange large amounts of money for your trip abroad, it’s natural to wonder whether you’ll be taxed and whether it’s better to exchange your foreign currency overseas. The good news is that in Australia, you don’t have to pay tax on currency exchange if you’re simply buying foreign cash for a holiday. That’s because the transaction is a one-off and the money you’re buying is for personal use. But it depends on the circumstances around your foreign exchange. There may be a small tax just on the service fee or commission. And if you’re buying traveller’s […]
Why You Can’t Find an American Express (AMEX) Currency Exchange Store
If you have used American Express in the past to buy some travel money, you might be wondering – why can’t I find them anywhere? Well, unfortunately, American Express has stopped buying or selling currency in cash. AMEX currency exchange closed their Australian stores. They also closed their wholesale division and no longer offer customers in Australia the ability to exchange currency in cash. It happened a few years ago and it appears that they won’t return. Alternatives to American Express currency exchange in each city There are dozens of currency exchange locations to buy travel money in Australia. […]
The 5 Best Options to Take Money Overseas
In all likelihood, you’ll need access to the local currency while overseas. But whether you choose to pay with a credit, debit, or travel card, or whether it’s better to use cash, depends entirely on where you’re going and what you plan to do while you’re there. Some countries like Sweden operate nearly exclusively in plastic payments while others, like Vietnam, have an almost entirely cash-based economy. So what’s the best money option while travelling overseas? It could be using travel money, a prepaid travel card, or a debit or credit card, depending on your destination and itinerary. We recommend […]
How Much Spending Money to Take to New Caledonia
While Australians love visiting New Caledonia, either on a cruise or on an island getaway, there’s no avoiding it… New Caledonia is expensive. Is it still worth visiting? You bet it is. With a collection of stunning tropical islands and an intoxicating French-Melanesian culture, this South Pacific island has plenty to offer. So to make the most of your visit, you just need to budget it right from the start. New Caledonia’s official currency is the Comptoirs Français du Pacifique, commonly called the Pacific franc (CFP). A suitable daily budget for spending money in New Caledonia is between 15000 CFP […]
Why the Australian Dollar is getting stronger when the economy is on it’s knees
The AUD/USD exchange rate has risen 30% in 4 months. That is remarkable. 2020 has been a rocky ride for most currencies and markets and the Australian dollar is no different. Here are a few reasons why the Australian dollar has gotten so strong, so quickly. Overdone Part of the reason the Australian dollar bounced back so hard is that in March, it may have fallen too far. That is, during the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, markets sold off the AUD too hard, believing things were worse that they ended up being. On the other side of this, […]
The 6 Best Ways to Take Money to New Caledonia
So you’ve booked a trip to New Caledonia – either as part of an epic South Pacific cruise or as your own relaxing island getaway. And now the daydreaming is over, it’s time to sort out the nitty-gritty details – like how to carry money to New Caledonia. We understand you don’t want to miss out on any of the treasures New Caledonia has to offer (from the world’s largest lagoon to impeccable French cuisine), so we’ve created this guide to help you make the most of your savings and figure out what exactly is the best way to take money […]
Melbourne Currency Exchangers Close for Stage 4 Restrictions
If you need to exchange currency in Melbourne right now, you’ll have to wait at least 6 weeks. Every money exchange store in Melbourne was forced to close their doors under stage 4 business restrictions from today. Under these new restrictions, financial and insurance services will be closed with the exception of bank branches and critical banking services. This also includes currency exchange outlets at the airports. The Victorian government has indicated that stage four restrictions are expected to be in place for 6 weeks. That would mean that businesses remained closed until at least Monday the 14th of September. […]
Currency in New Caledonia
A Travel Money Guide to New Caledonia New Caledonia is one of our favourite jewels in the South Pacific crown. But it isn’t a budget destination and to get the most out of your trip, it’s a good idea to learn everything you can about the local currency and payment options before you go. The official currency of New Caledonia is the Pacific Franc (CFP or XPF) – money you’ll quickly become familiar with since plastic payments still aren’t common away from the tourist hotspots. Want to learn more about the franc and how to get your hands on it […]
The 5 Best Ways to Take Money to Vanuatu
Vanuatu boasts luxury beach resorts, beautiful waterfalls, volcanos, and intoxicating underwater reefs perfect for snorkelling or diving. We love it so much that Australians account for almost all cruise ship visitors to Vanuatu and some two-thirds of their long-stay visitors. But how do you get the most out of your stay without squandering your savings on unnecessary fees and charges during currency exchanges? Here are the 5 best ways to take money overseas, to Vanuatu from Australia and will ensure you get the most out of your trip (and your budget!). Making payments with your Australian debit card Making payments […]
AUD USD Rises Above 72 cents for the first time in 17 months
For the first time since February 2019, the Australian dollar has risen above 72 cents. It caps off a remarkable period for the Aussie dollar which hit 0.5740 in late March. The massive rally higher has been driven by: An increase in commodity prices A weaker US dollar Increased risk sentiment The forecast for the AUD/USD remains uncertain heading into the back half of 2020. While many agree that the US dollar could weaken further, commodity prices are less likely to continue higher. There is also the possibility of increased volatility which historically, has had a negative impact on the […]
How Much Spending Money to Take to Vanuatu
If you’ve booked a trip to Vanuatu, you want it to be everything you dreamed of. You’ll want to do it all, not have to choose between diving in the blue holes or heading to the Cascades because of budget constraints. A holiday to Vanuatu is about rest and relaxation. Give yourself a little more opportunity to rest by budgeting the adventure right from the outset. On average, tourists spend roughly 55,000 vatu a day on their getaway (the Vanuatu currency). But to figure out the right budget for your needs, you need to factor in: Where you want to […]
The Aussie dollar rockets to a 15-month high above 71 cents
Yesterday, the Australian dollar pushed higher to hit a 15-month high. A softer US dollar helped propel the AUD/USD rate to 0.7181 before easing back about 0.5% this morning. The Aussie dollar managed to strengthen despite a rise in coronavirus cases both locally and in the US. The extension of the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs by the federal government set a positive tone for the local currency which also move higher agains many other major currencies. While a higher AUD benefits Australians heading overseas, most locals can’t take advantage of it with international travel bans likely to remain in place […]
Currency in Vanuatu
A Travel Money Guide to Vanuatu Vanuatu is one of our favourite South Pacific holiday destinations, thanks to its luxurious boutique hotels, enticing regional cuisine, wreck diving, blue hole explorations, and extravagant spa life. With more than 80 islands, Vanuatu has plenty to offer but this also complicates money matters when travelling around. The official currency of Vanuatu is the vatu and in many parts of Vanuatu, you’ll be relying on vatu cash for everything. Modern payment options, from ATMs and banks to card payments, are a rarity beyond the main cities. So in this guide, we’ll help you understand […]
