How to carry cash? HELP

[nssnick]

Guys, I have $CAD 10,000 in my GIC. But I am not sure how long it will take there for my account to get activated. So, I ll carry $1000 along with me in Indian currency (Rs. 57k something). Now, I want to know how should I carry this money. Will that be fine to carry the amount in Indian currency and later convert in at any airport if I ll need any or I should get the Canadian dollars from my home country itself. (One agent told me that at the Canadian airport or where ever else, you ll get paid less because they won't provide you with fair conversion rates as they will know you have to get those converted to use it).

I have not travelled earlier, So I don't know anything. Also, I ll have a halt of 3 hours at Zurich airport on 22nd august, will I need any money while I travel or in the flight?

 

[mead]

Guys, I have $CAD 10,000 in my GIC. But I am not sure how long it will take there for my account to get activated. So, I ll carry $1000 along with me in Indian currency (Rs. 57k something). Now, I want to know how should I carry this money. Will that be fine to carry the amount in Indian currency and later convert in at any airport if I ll need any or I should get the Canadian dollars from my home country itself. (One agent told me that at the Canadian airport or where ever else, you ll get paid less because they won't provide you with fair conversion rates as they will know you have to get those converted to use it).

I have not travelled earlier, So I don't know anything. Also, I ll have a halt of 3 hours at Zurich airport on 22nd august, will I need any money while I travel or in the flight?

best way is to get CAD as u can shop around for the best conversion rate and during travel u can use it. like for food or drinks at zurich. also u should carry change like say $100 in some $20 bills, $10 bills, $5 bills, $1bill and some quarters atleast $2 worth of quarters so if u need u can use it at airport for trolleys or pay phones to call relatives/someone etc. at airport u wont get a good conversion rate.

 

[nssnick]

best way is to get CAD as u can shop around for the best conversion rate and during travel u can use it. like for food or drinks at zurich. also u should carry change like say $100 in some $20 bills, $10 bills, $5 bills, $1bill and some quarters atleast $2 worth of quarters so if u need u can use it at airport for trolleys or pay phones to call relatives/someone etc. at airport u wont get a good conversion rate.

That is strange that I won't get a good conversion rate on the airports I thought I ll get better rates than what I ll be provided here...Okay I ll carry CAD's. We have to pay for trolleys too

 

[mead]

That is strange that I won't get a good conversion rate on the airports I thought I ll get better rates than what I ll be provided here...Okay I ll carry CAD's. We have to pay for trolleys too

trolleys cost $2-$5 depending on airport. check airport rates on indian airport too see if it is better ....that way u can get the best conversion rate. my experience banks r better at conversion rates but go around compare different rates.

 

[Nahush]

Hey, what do you think about getting it converted at Thomas Cook? They also provide travel card and Travellers check. What do you think of that? I am thinking of getting a travel card.

 

[mead]

Hey, what do you think about getting it converted at Thomas Cook? They also provide travel card and Travellers check. What do you think of that? I am thinking of getting a travel card.

my experience thomas cook gives low rates. all nationalized banks have foreign exchange in india they can give u travelers cheques etc so go around find the best rate if thomas cook gives lowest rates then use them.

 

[Nahush]

my experience thomas cook gives low rates. all nationalized banks have foreign exchange in india they can give u travelers cheques etc so go around find the best rate if thomas cook gives lowest rates then use them.

Cool!
Thnk you

 

[sabby2612]

Guys, I have $CAD 10,000 in my GIC. But I am not sure how long it will take there for my account to get activated. So, I ll carry $1000 along with me in Indian currency (Rs. 57k something). Now, I want to know how should I carry this money. Will that be fine to carry the amount in Indian currency and later convert in at any airport if I ll need any or I should get the Canadian dollars from my home country itself. (One agent told me that at the Canadian airport or where ever else, you ll get paid less because they won't provide you with fair conversion rates as they will know you have to get those converted to use it).

I have not travelled earlier, So I don't know anything. Also, I ll have a halt of 3 hours at Zurich airport on 22nd august, will I need any money while I travel or in the flight?

As far as how the GIC works (when you land here), you can refer to the following thread;

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/how-long-does-it-take-for-the-gic-account-to-get-activated-once-we-reach-there-t159585.0.html


and about carrying CAD from India. Well, Mead is right about his experience at Thomas Cook. Now let me explain the reason. Getting it converted at any bank or Prominent agents such as Thomas Cook will fetch you less money - because of the charges they levy on coversion- coversion fee, forx conversion rate (their buying and selling always has huge difference) and on top of that, you need to pay taxes.

The best option to get good rate is to approach not so big agents. There are plenty of them around, don't know where you from, assuming you are from India and from metropolitan city, visit any market place you will find tom dick and harry selling CAD. They won't charge you any fee and rate they will give you will be good ( of course start with 100CAD, the trick is you ask them that you just need 100CAD how much will be the rate, they will give you a rate around 57 to 58 as of 08.08.2013, then you tell them what if I buy 1000 or 2000 CAD, you see, the rate will jump by 25 to 50 paisa per dollar which is not bad at all if you are taking 2k to 3k CAD).

Last place on this earth I will go for currency conversion is - AN AIRPORT.

Cheers!

 

[nssnick]

As far as how the GIC works (when you land here), you can refer to the following thread;

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/how-long-does-it-take-for-the-gic-account-to-get-activated-once-we-reach-there-t159585.0.html


and about carrying CAD from India. Well, Mead is right about his experience at Thomas Cook. Now let me explain the reason. Getting it converted at any bank or Prominent agents such as Thomas Cook will fetch you less money - because of the charges they levy on coversion- coversion fee, forx conversion rate (their buying and selling always has huge difference) and on top of that, you need to pay taxes.

The best option to get good rate is to approach not so big agents. There are plenty of them around, don't know where you from, assuming you are from India and from metropolitan city, visit any market place you will find tom dick and harry selling CAD. They won't charge you any fee and rate they will give you will be good ( of course start with 100CAD, the trick is you ask them that you just need 100CAD how much will be the rate, they will give you a rate around 57 to 58 as of 08.08.2013, then you tell them what if I buy 1000 or 2000 CAD, you see, the rate will jump by 25 to 50 paisa per dollar which is not bad at all if you are taking 2k to 3k CAD).

Last place on this earth I will go for currency conversion is - AN AIRPORT.

Cheers!

It will be hard to believe whether the currency tom, dick and harry will give will be real or not. It is a Canadian currency, obviously we are not expert to know the details. Also, it ll be hard to get back at those people. What about nationalized banks? SBI,PNB etc?

 

[sandhuboy]

can any body tell me where i can get coins or 1$ or cents. Plz reply asap.

 

[vishal23489]

@nssnick - one of my friend leaving there told me to carry some where around 500-700$ in travel card for axis bank...
private banks will give us good rate...

we also need some bills of small amounts for trolly at airport...

btw, which college and what course for you are going ?

 

[sabby2612]

It will be hard to believe whether the currency tom, dick and harry will give will be real or not. It is a Canadian currency, obviously we are not expert to know the details. Also, it ll be hard to get back at those people. What about nationalized banks? SBI,PNB etc?

Sir, when I said Tom, Dick and harry, i think you took it to literally. I meant not to top notch people such as Thomas Cook, but then agents who are in business for long. I am not talking about taking it from a hawker. And you can always ask them for a receipt but of course that will then include taxes which will be paid out of your pocket.

 

[sandhuboy]

plz reply to my question above plz?
And what is " bill "?

 

[mead]

plz reply to my question above plz?
And what is " bill "?

bill is a note like a 10 rupee note....$20 bill is a $20 note ..u can get change anywhere u get foreign exchange like in banks ..foreign exchange agents etc....

 

[XYZ User]

How about a travel card guys ?