Big Bucks

Picked up a stack of foreign currency for my trip today.

Basically just pocket money to cover cab fare and a pint when I first arrive somewhere. A few Pounds, some Euros, a small wad of Aussie dollars, and a couple of Pesos to pay for a plate of tostadas and a round of Dos Equis in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta when I arrive there in late November.

But nothing makes you feel like a million bucks like having 1.2 million Indonesian Rupiahs in your wallet.

Street value: $86 U.S.

I’m gonna make it rain in Bali!

Thanks to Travelex Currency Exchange — they’re in virtually every major airport on the planet — I was able to purchase the currency online using a credit card. The key word here is “purchase.” It goes through as a regular charge without having it count as a cash advance. If I waited and withdrew the money from an ATM in Dublin or Barcelona using a credit card, a cash advance is slammed with interest charges immediately. And then, depending on the card you’re using, there is usually a foreign transaction fee and unfavorable exchange rate thrown in.

That’s not to say that Travelex didn’t take their pound of flesh for their service. There is a reason they are in every major airport in the world. They’re making a fortune. Without any heavy lifting.

I kept my purchase conservative, but if your order totals more than $1,000, they’ll hand-deliver the cash within 48 hours to your house for free. Less than $1,000, they’ll ground ship it via Fed Ex for a nominal fee.

Keep it in mind next time you need some foreign loot.