In Reply to: Money Exchange posted by Nathan on Wednesday, 21. April 1999 at 15:42 Bali Time:
I would advise taking your money as cash (AUD) and also having a VISA card as backup. The exchange rate is always far better for bills than travellers cheques. Only change a small amount of money at a time, keep the rest in your hotel safe. This is for two reasons. One, if it's stolen you don't lose much and secondly, it's easier to keep count of a smaller amount so that it's less likely that you'll be ripped off by the money changer. A few points about money changers:
1. Use a money changer with a reasonable rate ie. 5500 to 5605 Rp/1 AUD. Those with their rates around 5800/5900 Rp make their money by ripping you off.
2. Don't use the one's that are located in the back of shops or down side alleys etc
3. Keep hold of your money until you are satisfied that you have the correct amount in Rp
4. Get predominantly bigger Rp notes ie. 50,000 and 20,000 Rp bills(their easier to count)
5. Do not let the money changer touch the notes during or after you have counted it. If you suspect he has, take the time and recount it.
6. Take your time. With all those bills it can be confusing.
7. If your not comfortable get out of there.