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How to use a travellercheque? How to use a travellercheque?
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 24 Aug 2005
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How to use a travellercheque?
Hello, how does it work, a travellercheque?
Is it personel? Are there other methods (besides cash) to take money thoughout the African continent?
Thanks a lot!
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  #2  
Old 24 Aug 2005
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quite simple.
You enter a forex bureau/ bank that accepts traveller cheques.
you will have to show some ID and -very important- the receipt of buying the traveller cheques. never keep that receipt with the cheques.

Then they'll give you a (sometimes lousy) forex rate ,and you'll get the money.

other means of getting cash:
- credit cards (not always possible)
- wire money through western union/...

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Old 24 Aug 2005
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Alyhough travlers cheques are said to be safe I find them cumbersome.

I'd take cash and a visa card.

Rob
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  #4  
Old 24 Aug 2005
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hey, we're all belgian here !

Fortunately, I've never needed to test the real safety of the Traveller's cheques.

but I agree with robbert.
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  #5  
Old 25 Aug 2005
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Travellers cheques are rubbish. Havent used them for years. I agree, cash and cards.
Matt
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  #6  
Old 31 Aug 2005
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You can normally get a cash advance on your credit card from bank branches in capital cities.

Most West African capital cities have ATM's which accept Visa cards. With Mastercard you can normally get a cash advance from the tellers where the ATM doesn't accept (at at least one bank in the capital cities). Best to take both.

From Kenya south you can draw using Maestro cards, Visa or Mastercard.

For west africa take Euros. East Africa USD is king. You'll be able to exchange all major currencies throughout. Try carry smaller denominations (i.e. up to 50 USD notes).

You can change travellers cheques in most capital cities but the rate is normally worse than for cash or ATM, and often it can be a hassle finding a place to accept them.

[This message has been edited by tifua (edited 30 August 2005).]
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  #7  
Old 31 Aug 2005
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I found it very difficult finding a place that would change traveller's cheques in NW Africa.

Now I just take cash and a Visa card. Although in Mali I found I could only use the Visa card in Bamako. In the south of Algeria I almost ran out of money because I couldn't find a bank that would accept the Visa card.

If the ATMs aren't working (not unusual) you can generally use your card inside the bank as described above.

For cash: generally Euros for Francophone countries, USD for Anglophone, although I've heard USD is good for DRC.
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Old 1 Sep 2005
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Yep. DRC is definatly $ country. USD is even an official currency.

I guess that has something to do with uranium ore and then Lumumba who was flirting with socialism, and maybe, because of the reasonable good oil the americans are pumping in the Bas Congo. And of course, DRC is french because of the Belgians, not because of the french.
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