Declaring cash at customs
 

Hi,
What are people's views on declaring the cash that you're carrying at customs?
I would have thought that if you do declare it, that would just make the border guards want some of it, but if you don't and they find it, they'll be difficult?
Cheers
Charles

Catch 22

I think it is best to declare, if they find it and you have not declared it they may take it all anyway. Also if you are hiding anything and they are asking for a bribe you are in a bad negotiating position.

I learnt this lesson crossing into Russia, after declaring my cash, custom officers then wanted me to "make them happy" with a $100 bung, or they would search me and the bike and I might have to wait a long time before customs clearance. I acted unconcerned and told them I had all day. Problem was, I had what I thought was an illegal GPS which I did not want to loose so we compromised with a "gift" of my Ukrainian loose change and $10. I had customs clearance without a search and in 20 minutes, 15 minutes of which was negotiations.

If I did not have the GPS they would not have got anything.
The one and only time I have done this and it still pisses me off I had to do it.

As far as boarder customs is concerned honesty is the best policy, unless you are prepared for the down side.

Steve

I hide all my spare cash, usually American$$ on my bike. You have to dismantel it to get to it. I've never declared it and took my chances. I think of it this way, of all the things you carry, whats no. 1? The bike! The safest place to keep your stuff IMHO.