Traveling Money...
OK, you’re ready to visit your sweetie in Russia. You’ve thought every detail through… but what about money? In Russia most everything still is on a cash basis. Perhaps some places will accept CC. If you use travels checks you’re sure to be fleeced. The only viable options are ATM cards and the old stand by, cash. Still, the problem with ATM cards is that you will have to go to ATM machines to use them. Be careful since they are full of scams. Make sure you use only ATM machines that are designated by your cards ATM locator. Sometimes enterprising Russians will put out shell ATMs to eat your cards and use them before you get back home. With the real ATM machines, one has to be very careful since everyone knows that when one uses it they will have a substantial amount of money in their pockets. More over, these ATM machines are notorious for eating cards. When this happens it maybe difficult to get it back in a timely manner, if at all. Also, since there are so few of these machines, one can’t assume that they have any money to dispense. IIRC, some banks will accept ATM cards, however even this is not completely safe. A card number once used in Russia has a way traveling into someone else’s hands. So ATM cards should not be relied upon for as the sole method to extract money for a visit.
This leaves the old standby of cash is king. So you figure that it will be easy. Just go to the bank and cash out 2 grand in NEW bills before you depart for Russia. Not all banks will have a couple grand in NEW bills. Best make arrangements with the bank a couple of weeks before hand to have NEW bills for you to pick up. So you stick the new bills in your wallet and find that it won’t fit. Time to invest in a money belt and hide your dough. Have no more than a couple hundred in your wallet at any given time.
You make it to Russia in one piece and are about ready to hit the town with your RW. You go to the local money exchange to convertaa couple of Grants for a bankroll of rubles. Get an assortment of bills if possible. Russia and buses have this in common… they will only take exact change.
Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable packing a full belt with all your greens while you disco and drop vodka shots all night long. Not a wise move. Check with your agency to see if they will hold some of your money for you. Most all businesses have secure safes. Be sure to get a clearly written receipt for your deposit and don’t lose or damage it. Have witnesses for the deposit. As a rule of thumb, never give money to an interpreter or RW GF to hold. It will show poorly on you.
So go paint the town red and have a good time. All your green backs are in a safe place(s).
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RWP Money Matters - (cash, exchanging cash, cards, travelers checks, ATMs)
Ronin
Last edited on Wednesday November 5th, 2008 08:49 pm by ronin1
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