Show me the money, Part 1.

If you have ever traveled in another country, you know about foreign currency (and the Canadian quarters that sometimes turn up in your wallet do not count, unless you were in Canada when they got into your wallet). Money from other countries is very often quite gorgeous. They feature pictures of various historical figures, royalty, national monuments, famous buildings. Yes, we have all that on U.S. money as well (minus the royalty), but not in such bright, beautiful colors. It can be lovely. Frame-worthy even. And dealing with a new type of money is another part of the experience and adventure of travel.

Before you take that trip abroad, I recommend ordering some currency of the country you will be visiting through your bank. And do it well in advance because it sometimes takes a while ... not every bank has a stack of Honduran lempira or Malaysian ringgits lying in their vault.  I suggest doing this because it’s just great to have some cash on hand when you get to the airport (or dock/port or bus station). You don’t have to find an ATM/money machine right away, or money-changing booth, nor do you have to worry about dealing with the money exchange brigade as you exit (people standing there with cash, ready to change your money ... but rarely at the going rate) – you can simply smile and walk on by. Then you can pay for a taxi, or a bus, buy a cold drink, stop and get some coffee, whatever. It’s just one less headache, especially if you arrive at night.

Here are a couple of Nicaraguan córdoba bills. The paper
is shiny and seems to be waterproof. And I love the
illustrations. Thirty córdobas equals $1.29 US, as in
one dollar and twenty-nine cents. 

Another thing I recommend is to take a calculator. Just a teeny, tiny one that will fit into your pocket, purse or daypack. Maybe you can do math in your head lickity-split like Rainman. Not so me. It is just useful as you get used to the conversion of your money to the new money you’ll be using on your trip. Because you will most likely want to know how much something is compared to home. 

“Wow, this rug is 200 quetzales! Are they crazy? I could get a rug at Crate & Barrel for less than that.”

---- Um, no, you couldn’t. Two hundred quetzales is just over $25. Get a half dozen!

A calculator helps put things in perspective.

Sometimes you can use your U.S. paper money, especially for hotels and the like. Even though it’s had some hard times lately, the dollar is still valued in many countries and used with great frequency.* In fact, it is used so often in many countries that they would scoff at my suggestion to bring a calculator because they are so accustomed to converting to U.S. dollars that it is second nature. I have met many foreign travelers who have to exchange their country’s money for U.S. dollars before exchanging it for the local currency of where they are traveling. At home they got U.S. dollars to exchange in a country other than their own and other than the U.S.  Go figure. 

*(Note: Panamá, as well as some other countries, exclusively use the U.S. dollar. Here is some information on the Panamanian balboa, aka, the U.S. dollar, which is quite interesting. )

I should also mention that in my travels to Latin America, I have encountered businesses that are very willing to take U.S. dollars, but only if the bills are nice, clean and as crisp as possible. If a bill is even minutely torn, they will turn it down. If it is worn out with folded edges and corners, they do not want it. I have never understood this, especially since I have paid for things several times here in the U.S., with bills that looked like an old pair of ripped up denim jeans, with nary a blink from the cashier. Why in these countries that are so laid-back are they so uptight about the condition of a U.S. paper bill? If you know, please share. 

Next week I will continue with more information about money and travel. Stay tuned ...