In Reply to: Cash Passports posted by ash esp on Wednesday, 4. June 2008 at 12:33 Bali Time:
Choice magazine did a review of prepaid tourist cards and this should be looked at before making decisions.
If using ATMs always draw the maximum allowed by the machine - in Indonesia usually less than $150USD and rarely up to but less than $250USD - this keeps the charges down and can end being less than buying and cashing travellers checks and or the commission on prepaid cards. Only use ATM machines at banks and with obvious security...even if the line is abit longish it is best to be patient - ever wondered why solo ATMs don't have lines of local people? Only use ATM machines that are new...the old ones have a habit of swallowing cards - this is not good late on a Friday afternoon!
Always take cash and for Aussies I would always take the AUD because you can get into a problem with USD notes and have them rejected. Euro would be next best. Most people seem to have the Kodak shops figured out for exchange. Don't exchange everything, keep some for rainy day in case you loose the card.
Use the credit card for paying where they have an electronic machine only. It is best to pay the hotel bill the night before when you at first secretly have worked out the machine is working! Most places charge 3% for credit cards...even if paying in cash you will find that exchange rate will be at least 3% (usually much more) on local Kodak shop.