BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi everyone,

I am travelling to Northern India and Nepal next month. I have heard ATMs aren't a reliable source of dosh, so should I bring Travellers checks? Cash? I am travelling for six months so I am not really comfortable taking my whole budget for the trip in travellers checks. As I have always seemed to get screwed on commission when I cash those puppies in Has anyone been there lately and know the situation first hand?

Thanks booties

Bring a mix. In the larger city banks, ATMs should work fine, but the exchange rate tends to be lousy. In more rural areas, cold, hard cash (US$ in reasonably small denominations) will serve better, but you may not be able to change money in every village. Finally, traveller's cheques are great for emergencies (except if you plain forget that you have then--which I managed to do once!). However, I have had American Express cheques refused because of the many counterfeits in circulation (that was a long time ago) and I think I saw a sign in Bangkok that Thomas Cook cheques are now suspect. Don't know what the situation is like in India.

It is worth noting that American Express replaced the cheques I had stolen recently without any quibbles.

When I was in Northern India and Nepal last year all I ever used for cash was my ATM card and never had any problem finding a machine that would accept my card. There's even one or two on the Annapurna circuit if you plan to go trekking while in Nepal. If I was you I'd just take a small amount in travellers checkues and cash.

I agree - most places in India have had a surge of ATM's - infact, there are plenty of places where you can use your Visa/Master credit cards too. So, I used a combo of credit card and ATM. Travelers cheque are sometimes a pain, you will get a slightly better rate but for me it was not worth the effort - I had to go to the bank and it took an hour to fill out paper work etc. I prefered the ATM's.

on the note of atms in nepaland india, i heard that the maestro/cirrus system is not used/very rare and that he visa system is the predominate system? is this true? also, when using the atms to withdraw money, does the screen have the option of savings, credit etc or not? got stung in south america when using credit card that is linked to my savings as well, thinking that i was pulling money out of savings account but it came out as a cash advance from credit, not cool

thanks

My ATM card is cirrus but I saw plenty of signs for maestro and plus as well. Not sure about the option for savings or credit but it's all in English so you shouldn't have a problem. Most machines dispense the cash first and then the card. I've met a few people who just forgot their card. You can usually get it back but it's just an extra hassle

Hi

Currently in in northern India, Manali !

Since we have been here we've just used ATM's.

Major towns all seem to have working ATMS; we're using a Visa card and only one machine in Chandigarh refused it. Luckily there was another machine nearby so no probs.

Just in case we can't get money out in some remote areas such as Kaza, Spiti Valley and we run low on our day to day money, we have an emergency fund of rupees that could keep us going for about 2/3 weeks.

Not sure what the hit is regarding the exchange rates but knowing banks we're probably not getting the best deal.

All the best and have a fantastic time.