Cash, USD, XPF???

[SweetPease]

What is the best method of currency exchange for the cruise? We have booked a few tours that will accept USD,but for the markets and other things we might want to do on the islands (where Credit Cards may not be an option) what is the best way to exchange USD for xpf? Is it safest just to exchange onboard the ship as needed? Asking because I know many of you have done this several times and can provide suggestions, direction and guidance in this area. Thanks!

[tropicalkerry2002]

ATMs in each country...

I may take some local currency for transfer from airport to hotel.

For tours that wanted US dollars(Russia), I had travellers cheques that we cashed on board, no fee.

[SweetPease]

Thanks for the information.

[Mura]

When Euros first came into play we would get travelers checks payable in Euros but even then we couldn't always use them. At hotel chains, not problem. But at gas stations and smaller restaurants, they didn't want to take them.

 

Now, this was back in 2002.

 

More recently we just go to an ATM and get the local currency. If we're in a place where dollars are accepted, we will use them -- but you need to make sure.

 

We tend to use private guides and they will make it clear if they want dollars or their own currency. Just don't assume that dollars are accepted everywhere, because they are not.

 

When we did the Black Sea in the summer of 2012 most of our guides wanted to be paid in dollars. In Brazil this fall/winter, some wanted dollars, some wanted local currency.

 

You say you'll be on an "islands" cruise ... which would make me think that U.S. dollars would be welcome. Although I'm not sure about WHICH islands you are talking about!

 

We never change money on the ship because we do much better using our debit card (NOT a credit card) where the bank does not charge a foreign conversion fee.

 

Mura

[sanne]

When you arrive at PPT, as you come out of the customs hall turn right and at the end there is an ATM. We used this at the start of our Paul Gauguin cruise last year and will do so again when we cruise next year from this port on the Marina.

 

PS Also very easy to get a taxi to your hotel/ship. Just across from the ATM. Our flight arrived at about 10pm.

[SweetPease]

We are actually flying into Auckland and boarding Marina there to visit the South Pacific islands. This is why I wasn't sure about availability of ATM's. We will take travelers cheques and have already confirmed with various tour guides which form of currency they prefer. We just need to be prepared for the local markets, taxis, etc. anyone know if taxi drivers in Papeete accept USD? Thanks!! :)

Edited January 15, 2014 by SweetPease
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[Andromeda93]

You can also order foreign currency ahead of your trip and have it delivered to your home or office, at least in the US. We have used Travelex to buy more obscure currencies (Turkish lira etc) and our US-based bank to buy more common ones like Euros and CAD (the bank offered a slightly better exchange rate than Travelex at the time).

 

ATMs do usually offer the very best exchange rate so they are a great way to get most of the money you need. But if you happen to need foreign currency immediately on arrival (for a taxi to a city/hotel etc) it can be helpful to have at least some local currency for the first day or two in your wallet.

 

My husband once landed in Milan in the wee hours after a fog-diverted flight with no Italian lira in his pocket (this was pre-Euro). The ATMs in the airport were all depleted of cash over the weekend and hadn't been restocked. The cab didn't take CCs and the driver only wanted local currency. Fortunately someone was eventually found at the hotel who could change some money for him...at an exorbitant rate.

 

Luckily CCs are more widely accepted now, but we still always bring at least a bit of each local currency with us.

[Paulchili]

We just need to be prepared for the local markets, taxis, etc. anyone know if taxi drivers in Papeete accept USD? Thanks!! :)

 

It is very unlikely that the taxis in PPT will accept US $$. You can get XPFs at any ATM on other FP islands (there are 2 banks in Bora Bora just off the pier, for example) even before arriving in PPT or in PPT itself.

[SweetPease]

Great!! Sounds like we can just use the ATMs. We land in Auckland and I have to believe they have ATMs in the airport so we can pull a bit for our stay there and then will pick up xpfs at the first stop. Appreciate all the help!

[Paulchili]

Great!! Sounds like we can just use the ATMs. We land in Auckland and I have to believe they have ATMs in the airport so we can pull a bit for our stay there and then will pick up xpfs at the first stop. Appreciate all the help!

 

Yes - generally it is very easy.

I found that in Australia (&NZ?) some of the banks didn't like my Citi ATM, others did. Same with the 2 banks in Bora Bora - one didn't like it the other one loved it :D

Lesson learned - if one bank doesn't work, try another brand of bank.

[sanne]

It is very unlikely that the taxis in PPT will accept US $$. You can get XPFs at any ATM on other FP islands (there are 2 banks in Bora Bora just off the pier, for example) even before arriving in PPT or in PPT itself.

 

The taxis in Papeete and anywhere else in Tahiti do accept US$ but you will be paying much, much more than using the local currency. We were amazed just how much more the cost was in US$ and very pleased we had local cash.

[SweetPease]

Sanne, thank you for that money saving tip! Will be sure to have local currency before catching a taxi!:eek:

[Paulchili]

The taxis in Papeete and anywhere else in Tahiti do accept US$ but you will be paying much, much more than using the local currency. We were amazed just how much more the cost was in US$ and very pleased we had local cash.

 

It's understandable as the taxi drivers do not wish to go through the hassle (and expense) of converting the US $ to their own currency - nor should they have to.

It's a "convenience" fee they are charging those passengers that do not wish to get local currency.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Paulchili

[Hawaiidan]

What is the best method of currency exchange for the cruise? We have booked a few tours that will accept USD,but for the markets and other things we might want to do on the islands (where Credit Cards may not be an option) what is the best way to exchange USD for xpf? Is it safest just to exchange onboard the ship as needed? Asking because I know many of you have done this several times and can provide suggestions, direction and guidance in this area. Thanks!

 

There are many national currencies in the South Pacific ....XPF only works for Tahiti. The Cooks ... FiJI, Caledonia, all use their own or adopt a larger countries. Dollars remain the best But as mentioned ATMs ar everywhere

Do not use a debit card only a credit card for cash.. Too, Travelers checks...don't leave home with them. They are as dead as the dodo. Here in Hawaii, only large banks will cash them... Places that do may charge you a service charge to cash them too.

. forget using travelers checks in total

[rallydave]

There are many national currencies in the South Pacific ....XPF only works for Tahiti. The Cooks ... FiJI, Caledonia, all use their own or adopt a larger countries. Dollars remain the best But as mentioned ATMs ar everywhere

Do not use a debit card only a credit card for cash.. Too, Travelers checks...don't leave home with them. They are as dead as the dodo. Here in Hawaii, only large banks will cash them... Places that do may charge you a service charge to cash them too.

. forget using travelers checks in total

 

Dan, why would you ever suggest using credit card for cash?? The credit cards charge a transaction fee for cash even when they are giving interest free cash for a period of time and many charge foreign transaction fees. Would never us a credit card to get cash at an ATM. Not really familiar with Debit cards as I won't use one but, believe they work as ATM cards to get cash out of ATM's where the rates are the best. Personally I have ATM cards that cannot be used as Debit Cards and have never been charge a fee of any time at numerous ATM's through-out the world. Only place I have seen charges at ATM's has been in the USA if using a bank not the same as your card.

 

Agree about forgetting Travelers Checks. Did use them a year ago as the ship would cash them at no charge and I didn't want to carry so much in US dollars. Otherwise, they are difficult to cash.

[tropicalkerry2002]

except to cash on board ship to get US$ for tours I take. No fee to cash on board.

Don't use them anywhere else, but are better than carrying pile of US money, especially when the trip starts a few days before the cruise.

[SweetPease]

Will take travelers checks for things being paid in USD and cash on board. As for local currencies, will use ATM cards and avoid charges linked to CC when pulling cash as noted above. Curious, when I looked on line, it appeared most of our island stops took xpfs. I must have misread :confused: Will need to research more. Thanks to all for the continued advice. Helps to have experienced folks making suggestions!

[Paulchili]

Dan, why would you ever suggest using credit card for cash?? The credit cards charge a transaction fee for cash even when they are giving interest free cash for a period of time and many charge foreign transaction fees. Would never us a credit card to get cash at an ATM. .

 

Agreed. Most credit cards will also charge you very high interest on cash advances FROM the date the money was taken out (even if you pay your CC bill in full at the end of the billing cycle, where you will not be charged interest on other purchases but WILL BE charged interest on cash advance).

I would use a CC for cash in emergency only -YMMV.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Paulchili

[Hawaiidan]

Will take travelers checks for things being paid in USD and cash on board. As for local currencies, will use ATM cards and avoid charges linked to CC when pulling cash as noted above. Curious, when I looked on line, it appeared most of our island stops took xpfs. I must have misread :confused: Will need to research more. Thanks to all for the continued advice. Helps to have experienced folks making suggestions!

 

Fiji has their own Dollar Cooks use the NZ dollar New Caledonia has their own too Australia their Dollar New Zealand their dollar

Samoa... Pago Pago US dollar as it is a territory Marqusea xpf

 

Sorry about the credit card suggestion.... in 30 years of travel I have never needed or used a ATM... once in spain train station for $50 USd worth and once in Turkey for $100. I could care less what the fees are for that amount.

The rest of the time I use credit cards 99.999% of the time. Even in remote places folks take them I found. Too we don't buy stuff from markets.. only stores that take cards... We travel so see stuff not shop.

I have a drawer filled with money from Poland to Kaula Lumpur that I might as well throw out. And remember all the coin change you get.... no one will convert it... like those 5 and 10 euro coins and swiss franc

 

Again forget the Travelers checks. Off the ship for payment in USD's you are going to get burned with either non acceptance or extra charge to cash

If the bill is the exact amount of the Check... cool but don't expect change if not in many cases

[kiawahdon]

An approach I am using is to use my frequent flier credit card to buy myself a significant on board credit as a bon voyage gift to myself. Oceania has confirmed via email and the cash will be waiting for me when I board. Only limitation may be that I can only "withdraw" no more than $500/day. Not really an issue for me.

[Paulchili]

An approach I am using is to use my frequent flier credit card to buy myself a significant on board credit as a bon voyage gift to myself. Oceania has confirmed via email and the cash will be waiting for me when I board. Only limitation may be that I can only "withdraw" no more than $500/day. Not really an issue for me.

 

Will you get FF miles for cash advances?

What about the interest on cash advances?

[Hawaiidan]

An approach I am using is to use my frequent flier credit card to buy myself a significant on board credit as a bon voyage gift to myself. Oceania has confirmed via email and the cash will be waiting for me when I board. Only limitation may be that I can only "withdraw" no more than $500/day. Not really an issue for me.

 

With an "On Board Credit" what you do not spend.....they keep. You do not get it back.

[rallydave]

With an "On Board Credit" what you do not spend.....they keep. You do not get it back.

 

Not necessarily true. Only the OBC that the cruise line has any part in providing is non-refundable. Money put in completely by your TA, OBC gifts from friends, and purchased gifts like the OP mentioned are fully refundable in cash.

 

In answer to Paulchilli, the OP used his credit card to purchase the OBC, that is not considered as a cash advance and one way to beat the system and get double credit card points, if applicable and not pay a transaction fee or interest starting from the day of a cash advance which this is not as it is actually a purchase although it is beating the system.

 

Another way to beat the system I found on another cruise line is to use my key card to purchase credit when putting my card in a slot machine (there was no fee to do this on this particular cruise line). Then removed the card and cashed in the value on the card at the casino cage. The money put on the card went on my shipboard account and thus reduced the value of my OBC as a purchase. Got all my unused OBC from the cruise line returned in cash without any fees or need to buy the overpriced stuff in the boutique or gift shop/

 

Could also us the previous method of drawing money from the slot machine to simply keep the money and then pay with a credit card at the end of the cruise that gets double points for travel related items which the cruise line qualifies for the double points and you have the cash to pay the bill when it comes the next month.

 

Agree this is sneaky but, within the rules and not illegal. Simply another way to churn credit cards.

[Paulchili]

Thanks Dave - interesting points I was not aware of.

[Hawaiidan]

I have been working the "cards" for years and constantly learn more each year. Dave I like how you think amigo !!!