The Banks in Mexico charge you a fee for using the ATM, even if your bank doesn't. For me the best way is to go to the Banamex ATM and withdraw 8000 MX $. You have to pay a fee from about 30 Pesos (about 2 USD). Other banks charge more. Banjercito charges only 18 Pesos but they have very few ATMs as far as I know.

Save Travel

Ok, there's always an atm charge, I can live with that. Should one take both a credit card and debit card?

How much currency do you keep on you? How would you hide it?

My plan was to just get enough currency to get me through the county than distribute it in various pockets and hide some on the bike.

I know I'm making this way more complicated than what it is.

I should have stated I'm leaving Portland and headed to Tierra Del Fuego in January.

IMO, you need two credit cards and two debit cards. As sometimes one card will not work. Try to use debit cards that are on different networks. (see back of card)

Good to have hiding places for cash. Just be sure to remember where you've stashed it! I normally keep under $100 US in my wallet with more money hidden. Some use a "dummy wallet" as well.

US Dollars cash should also be well hidden and saved for times when you cannot access cash via ATM or use credit card. Be sure to plan ahead at borders and either exchange or spend remaining cash from the country you are leaving.

Be careful with money changers at the borders. They are very slick.

develop a system and stay with it.

January departure is good for all of Mexico and Cent. America. Dry season, cooler. You may get wet coming South from Portland.

!Que le via muy bien!

Big savings to be made in Argentina if you have us dollars and can make use of the dolarblue exchange rate

Km

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Tony
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Charles Scwab debit card does not charge fees and will reimburse foreign bank charges.

For Brazil, try to avoid the ATM's from "Banco24Horas" as they charge transaction fee to boot. The effective conversion rate fom them is also lousy. Try to use the ATM's from the major banks as Banco do Brasil, Banco Bradeco, Banco Itaú, Caixa Econômica Federal etc.

All personal preference, depending on your comfort level.

Cops can locate hidden money fairly quickly. I can attest to that...

Tell me more about the cops.

Be low key, blend in, try not to stand out. Be polite, S M I L E ... and try to speak Spanish, no matter how badly. Always say Buenos dias/tardes/noches to begin every conservation, request or reply. Politeness matters.

You may get the odd crooked transito cop (traffic) but mostly they will leave you alone if you look somewhat "respectable" and follow the rules best you can.

Federal Police are another matter. Generally speaking they leave tourists alone.
Play your tourist role quietly, don't break the law ... you should be fine.

How much cash you want to carry on you will vary with the country size and amount of time you plan on staying .
Generally , work from a maximum allowed bank machine withdrawal down until you have about two days of money- burn left , then find a bank machine again.
Carry only a small amount in your user wallet, maybe barely enough for one day. Leave the bulk stash in a safe place like a money belt in your undies. Restock your daily wallet only in absolute privacy . Don't give street pickpockets a clue as to where you carry it .

If crossing e. g . Mexico or Brazil over several weeks it is not advisable to get all the money in cash . Visit bank machines to get it in reasonable instalments.
If you are ripping across a tiny country in a day or two it makes sense and you might be no worse off if you got it at a border money changer by trading in the currency you will not be needing anymore. It is going to cost some regardless of where you convert , but try to avoid blatant ripoff exchange rates.

As Mollydog suggests , have several cc and several bank cards which work for different handling systems . Look on the backs of the cards and cover as many bases as possible with logos for Maestro, Cirrus, Mastecard, Interac, Plus, Interlink , Visa and others.
The more options the better for hitting a match to bank machine connections .

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

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