In Reply to: Travellers Checks...American Express? posted by Max Anderson on Wednesday, 18. August 1999 at 21:28 Bali Time:
there is supposedly an american express office in the area, but i was not able to really find it. my boyfriend took amex travelers checks and you not only get a lower rate of exchange, but your signature must match EXACTLY when you sign it, or they will not accept these.
i got clean, crisp, perfect $100 u.s. bills and went across the street from matahari in kuta to the fuji film office and traded money, with no hassles or rip off. here's what you do...
1) lay your hundred down flat in front of the man
2) throw your calculator next to it
3) ask the exchange rate
4) enter that number times 100 in your calculator
5) hold it up so he can see it
6) watch him count the money
7) lay the money down in thousand increments and count it back
8) thank him and leave
i went there several times and had no problems.
ONE THING I FORGOT, ASK IF HE HAS LARGE BILLS (HE ALWAYS DID) BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE TRANSACTION. IF HE DOESN'T GO DOWN TO SOMEONE ELSE. JUST REMEMBER TO CARRY YOUR OWN TINY CALCULATOR, WHICH YOU WILL PROBABLY DO ANYWAY, TO FIGURE OUT PRICES THROUGH THE DAY.
THE NICE hotels will change money, at a substantially lesser rate.
the atm machines work, but sometimes there is a long line, or they are shut down. i also exchanged money at the airport.
WHEN I EXCHANGED MONEY, I WAS SO ANXIOUS AND NERVOUS THAT I DREADED IT. BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF TIMES, I DIDN'T GET UPSET, BECAUSE NO ONE EVER TRIED TO RIP ME OFF. ONE TIME A DIFFERENT GUY THAN MENTIONED ABOVE GAVE ME SMALL BILLS AND I FELT UNSURE OF THAT. IT'S CONFUSING TO HAVE ALL THAT MONEY.
i think the aussies get ripped off more than americans, from what i read. also, don't change small bills, you get a lesser rate, for some unknown reason. take the new $100's. don't crease, or fold them.
when i would lay the perfect bill in front of the guy he would almost salivate. :-)