Break an AU 20 or 50

Where is the best place to get change for theses size bills. I usually get some walk around money and my US bank only carried large bills. Starting at the airport should I just do small purchases each time as we make purchases. Will most venders take a 20 of 50 for a small drink, bottle water, snack ect. Should I try at the hotel desk. Will I need to go into a bank and will they help if I don't have an account with them. We will be all over CBD for a few days before we get on the ship (cashless onboard). Really want $1 $2 and $5s. Will I get "do you have anything smaller", with the "look" OR is this really a non issue. Regards.

As someone who has been to Australia five times, I think this is a non-issue. We have never had issues using AU$20 or AU$50 bills. But Australia is a very "wired" country and so we use our no foreign transaction US credit cards frequently. Possibly someone else has had problems, but we never have.

You can use $20 and $50 notes at any shop, both at the airport and out and about. Don't try the Travelex as they will only do it if you have got money from them. I know I asked recently at a airport Travelex :).

Here in Australia our $1 and $2 are coins not notes, often called "shrapnel" here. This is why we often recommend if you want to tip just round up to the nearest $5 as all those coins can get heavy. Handy to have a few but not too many.

So generally no issue, though if at a small market stall they might not have change for a $50 note.

Julie

Never had an issue cashing a $50 for probably 20 years a $100 can be problematic at some places.

I've never had problems cashing a $100 note in Australia at a supermarket, however I offer smaller notes at markets.

Thanks for the reassurances. So many times l will go to pay a cabbie and they act like they never have change. Rounding to a 20 is not an option. I do have a great no fee credit card for that too. Thanks for answering my questions.

We were just in Sydney and as the local experts mentioned we had no issues getting change back for $20.00 and $50.00 currency.

Also in case you need more money ATM machines were plentiful.

We even had a great one in our hotel so that was convenient.

Keith

We were just in Sydney and as the local experts mentioned we had no issues getting change back for $20.00 and $50.00 currency.

 

Also in case you need more money ATM machines were plentiful.

 

We even had a great one in our hotel so that was convenient.

 

Keith

Yep no shortage of ATMs, if you are using a debit card you can also get cash at most shops.

Most Australian ATMs dispense $50 notes as the default option (some only dispense $50s) so cafes, shops, taxi drivers etc are well used to changing $50s.

Yep no shortage of ATMs, if you are using a debit card you can also get cash at most shops.

I hadn't realized you could get cash at stores too with the debit card. Very good to know.

Keith

Most Australian ATMs dispense $50 notes as the default option (some only dispense $50s) so cafes, shops, taxi drivers etc are well used to changing $50s.

Excellent point.

I ended up using the ATM three times. One was to get money for another trip to Australia. Each time we got the bills back in $50 bills and as you noted accepted everywhere we used them.

Keith

I hadn't realized you could get cash at stores too with the debit card. Very good to know.

 

Keith

Big stores like Coles and Woolworths actually love it, as there is less cash to be collected and banked

Big stores like Coles and Woolworths actually love it, as there is less cash to be collected and banked

Great to know and that makes sense.

We went to Coles a couple of times.

Next time we will know.

Thank you.

Keith

Great to know and that makes sense.

 

We went to Coles a couple of times.

 

Next time we will know.

 

Thank you.

 

Keith

Many smaller stores will give cash out too

Many smaller stores will give cash out too

I've written this one down so I don't forget for our next visit.

Thank you again.

Keith