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Reasons to Purchase Currency Before Traveling to Undeveloped Countries

While it is always recommended, for several reasons, to buy currency of the destination country, it is especially recommended when traveling to less developed countries. While all the normal reasons remain – i.e. safety, less risk of loss, etc. – new reasons and risks arise when discussing less developed countries.

Less developed countries typically have less access to foreign currencies meaning that the difficulty of finding a bank or entity to accept the home currency of the traveler in exchange for the currency of the destination country increases drastically. Not having the currency of the destination country on hand ahead of time can therefore lead to having no money in the destination country for the life of the trip. This is not only unpleasant, but can also be dangerous as it could lead to lack of food, water, supplies, places to stay, and even in the most extreme cases a flight home.

While the traveler may find some entity to accept the trade of home currency to destination currency, the likelihood of the transaction being standardized by the current currency exchange rate is extremely low which could lead to having much less destination currency than the traveler had previously planned on having. This could lead to the traveler not having enough not only to enjoy the trip as they had intended, but possibly not having enough to truly survive comfortably while staying in the destination country.

The next major danger in not having the destination’s currency ahead of time in less developed countries stems from the countries lack of infrastructure. In the case of an emergency – i.e. break down of public transportation, or something just goes wrong while traveling the country – not having the destination country’s currency could lead to a dangerous situation in which the traveler is stranded without a way to pay for help getting out of the situation or getting back to their hotel or place of residence whilst in the country.

It is possible that these issues do not happen; however, it is always better to be prepared for the worst, especially in personally unfamiliar territories such as these undeveloped foreign countries. It is important to understand that in many undeveloped countries, the United States dollar does not hold the same standardized exchange value as it does in the rest of the world, if it holds any value at all.

To avoid getting stuck in these dangerous or uncomfortable situations in unfamiliar, undeveloped countries, it is important to buy foreign currency online ahead of time. Buying the currency online ahead of time ensures that the proper currency exchange rate is used to give the traveler a fair, universally accepted value in the transaction, and to ensure that the traveler has the destination’s currency in hand to avoid possible dangerous or uncomfortable situations and allow for a response from the traveler to emergencies that may occur while traveling. Buying the destination country’s currency online is always the safest and best way to go.

The Potential Future of Currency in Travel

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Anyone who travels internationally is used to going through the process of taking their currency and converting it to the currency of their destination at providers like Xchange of America. Whether this is using United States Dollars to purchase euros, or baht, or pounds, it is a common process that has slowly but surely evolved.

What used to be done face to face in a bank, can now be done online. Travelers have the ease of going online, opening their account, and now have the ability to buy foreign currency online.

Each of these paper currencies are regulated and recognized around the world in the currency exchange market which values each of them in relation to the others. This is the way it has always been with countries regulating their own currency to either increase or decrease its value, therein affecting the way consumers – and travelers – buy, sell, and use currency.

The digital age, while being underway for quite some time, is beginning to further innovate the way currency is used, traded, and even perceived and understood. The first cryptocurrency released in 2009 and was the first currency that was not regulated by a single, centralized entity such as a government.

This shocked the world and has quickly, in the time since then, branched off into a plethora of new cryptocurrencies – currencies that are not tangible, but stored online in accounts. The up and coming cryptocurrency is beginning to become another way to purchase currencies that are accepted in many locations, however, they still lack the widespread acceptance of most paper currencies.

Some currencies that have branched off of the original cryptocurrency have slowly but surely grown in popularity, use, and value. So much so that it has caught the eyes of major banks and governments and could change the way travelers prepare for their trips with regards to how they handle their currency transactions.

India’s Axis Bank has decided to launch cryptocurrency payments, effectively propelling cryptocurrency into uncharted territory. A quote from The Economic Times cites deputy managing director for the bank saying “We are committed to using innovation in technology to make banking simple and convenient for our customers”.

China is the latest country to investigate the idea of using cryptocurrencies as a ubiquitous currency. China’s central bank officials have had numerous meetings with the company behind to discuss their currency in hopes of implementing a system that uses cryptocurrency.

Could this mean that soon rather than buying Indian rupee or Chinese renminbi, travelers can buy cryptocurrency? Probably not in the near future. Only time will tell, but with India’s Axis Bank on board with the idea, and other Indian banks announcing they would follow the cryptocurrency trend as well, there is a possibility.

This means, for travelers, that they could soon have 2 sources of currency to buy that would be viable in countries they choose to visit. You may be able to choose an original currency at providers like Xchange of America, cryptocurrency, or both options when you travel abroad. Only time will tell the future of cryptocurrency and the role it will play – or not play – for travelers of the world.

5 Benefits of Buying Currency Online

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Buying travel money is now made more convenient and more practical, thanks to the numerous options available in the market like Xchange of America. If the traditional mode of buying foreign currency seems too tedious for you, then it’s advisable to buy foreign currency online. Here are five benefits of making this decision.

A very convenient transaction

Whether you like it or not, you will have to deal with currency exchange if you are traveling internationally. Of course that is because you often cannot spend your dollars in another country; your money has to be converted.

The old school way is to go to the bank and have your money converted there. But this age-old tradition is not any more convenient and practical these days. That is because it would require waiting in long queues just to be served by the teller and having to submit tedious documentations especially if you are buying a huge amount of a specific currency.

This is why many travelers prefer to buy foreign currency online instead. Right at the comfort of your home or anywhere you are as long as you are connected to the internet, you can actually and immediately buy any currency of your choice.

Getting the best rates for conversion

Online currency sellers like Xchange of America have a currency converter tab, which you could use to instantly determine the rate of exchange. This way, you could carefully and strategically plan how much budget to designate for your trip.

What’s special about such converters is that rates are competitive and are regularly updated, so the rate applied to your transaction is the real and live one—no more, no less. In the traditional exchange centers, you have to drop by their locations personally to find out the rate leading to impulse decisions on how much currency to buy.

Safe and convenient payment methods

Online transactions are more convenient even in terms of payment. With Xchange of America, you could opt to pay via bank wired transfers, e-check, money order, credit/debit card charging, or collect on delivery (your payment will be made upon pick up of the currency you are buying). Moreover, if you are not comfortable and feeling secured to carry cold cash around, online is the way to go.

Availability of currency

If you are going to a place that is a common destination for travelers, you may find it easy to convert your dollars into that country’s currency. But in rare cases, there are currencies that are not readily available for purchasing in most currency exchange centers.

When you buy foreign currency online, you would instantly know the availability, saving you from the hassle of finding other exchanges at the last minute. Fortunately, Xchange of America sells almost all currencies that travelers need.

Buying ahead of your trip

Because of its convenience, buying currency online is more recommended especially if you are a very particular planner when it comes to traveling. You could instantly buy foreign currency online weeks or days ahead of your scheduled trip so this factor of your travel will not bother you anymore in the days or hours to your flight.

Tipping Around the World

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Some countries expect tipping, while others consider the practice to be rude, limited to those who want to “show off” their wealth. Some cultures expect the traveler to be an honored guest, and behave as such, which means no helping with serving, clean up, or tipping allowed. What’s more, it will help to know that some service people, such as bartenders, housekeepers, or bellmen, pool their tips with the rest of the staff, so a tip isn’t always a communication of a job well done. Meanwhile, the amount of polite tipping changes between locations, with some expecting up to 20%, and others finding as little as 5% acceptable.

So what countries expect tips, and how much is expected? Read the following list for some of the planet’s top destinations, and how they expect a traveler to tip politely. Then, proceed to XchangeforAmerica to buy foreign currency to cover tips for provided services. Remember that this list is an overview; some regions have different rules – for example, tipping in Hong Kong is different than tipping in the rest of China due to its Westernization.

China – A mere 5% is expected here for restaurant service, and only if the service is above standard. Any mediocre or bad service deserves no tip in Chinese custom, so the amount you leave will be a message to your server. 5% is expected for taxi drivers, and hotel porters expect approximately a dollar of the local currency. However, make sure to check before tipping, as tipping in some sections of China is considered rude.

Estonia – Only tip for great service, and research the area in which you are traveling to determine the standard tip total.

Denmark – Tip 10% to wait staff only for excellent service. Round up for taxi drivers, and expect the tip to be part of the overall hotel bill for porters.

Belgium – 10% is standard for service workers, as is rounding up the overall amount. Watch the bill, however, because most businesses will add a service fee, which means you may not have to tip at all.

Brazil – Only tip for great service here, and tip the standard 10% across all service industries. However, some industries include the tip, so double check the bill.

Switzerland – Round up, as the service fee is typically included in the bill.

Don’t tip in French Polynesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, or Italy. Additionally, countries such as France add the tip into your bill automatically, so rounding up on the dollar, or Euro, is customary. However, you may not be able to tip with a credit card, which makes carrying a small amount of Euros convenient.

No matter where you travel, you’ll need to do your homework and find out how the locals feel about tipping. If you can’t find specific information through an Internet search, ask your travel agent. Make sure to work tipping information into your budget, and make sure to buy enough foreign currency to cover tips. Most locals appreciate local currency, but again, it’s wise to check before you exchange your currency.

Understanding South American Currency

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South America is a beautiful continent, with a number of different areas to explore. The vast landscape includes everything from rainforests to snowy mountains, and the terrain is speckled with ancient ruins and modern cities. Whether you’re going for business or for pleasure, you’ll be surprised at the variety of culture, nature, beauty, and urban jungle that meets you in every country. However, before you leave, it’s important to make sure you are prepared, including exchanging currency while remaining in the comfort of your own home. Sit back and relax while you wait for your currency, but remember to never leave this for the last minute – it must be done a week or more ahead of time, to ensure you have plenty of time to receive the currency. Once the currency is received, make sure you have enough, and that it is from the correct country, by checking it against this handy South American currency guide.

South American Currencies:

Bolivia – Boliviano
Chile – Peso
Argentina – Argentine Peso
Brazil – Real
French Guiana – Euro
Colombia – Peso
Ecuador – US Dollar
Guiana – Guyaenese Dollar
Peru – Nuevo Sol
Paraguay – Guarani
Uruguay – Uruguyan Peso
Suriname – Surinamese Dollar
Venezuela – Bolivar

This is a sample of the local currencies. When you exchange foreign currency online, you’ll be able to view each currency’s updated exchange rates, which countries exchange freely, which are closed currencies, and much more. It’s best to work with a well-known, trustworthy online money exchange company who has been in the business for a long time.

Traveling around the continent also means paying extra fees to move through some countries, so remember to grab the appropriate cash for these expenses. For example, there is an exit fee associated with leaving Brazil, so you’ll need to make sure you have enough Real to buy the exit passport. Additionally, understanding these currencies will help you make sure you have the right currency for the right country. Even if your destination takes dollars, you’ll want local currency to pay taxi drivers, small shop owners, and anyone offering a service in a rural community. Even if you don’t plan on traveling to a place where you’ll need the currency, carrying some local currency in small bills is always a good idea, to prepare for any scenario.

The best place to find these currencies is on XchangeforAmerica, where you’ll have access to lower rates than if you attempted to exchange within the country. However, it’s important to also find out if your destination has a “closed currency”, because these countries make it more difficult to exchange currency before arrival. XchangeforAmerica will help you determine the best way to get currency from these countries, all while making sure you have some currency from every country you’ll visit during your travels.

Head over to our site now. You’ll find everything you need, for nearly every country around the world. Let us worry over your exchange while you worry over other trip details, including what amazing area of South America you’ll explore first!

Top 5 Things You Can Do With Foreign Currency

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Using foreign currency is one of the best ways to guarantee that you can purchase anything you want during a trip overseas or anywhere else. Foreign currency is easier to use than credit or debit in a number of different circumstances. Depending on which country you visit, there may be very few areas where you can use a credit or debit card. Having cash with you is a sure way that you’ll be able to enjoy everything that your destination has to offer and get around on the island easily and quickly. Below are some of the top ways to use foreign currency once you travel.

Purchase food from street vendors

Many street vendors only take cash for payments for food, as they regularly do a large volume of business and often are not connected to any type of payment processor or credit or debit card machine. There is always the rare exception, but the majority of the time you should have cash with you if you want to purchase any food from street vendors.

Buy taxi and other transportation services

Taxis and other transportation services often require cash only payments, just as most of them do in the United States. You won’t be able to use credit or debit cards for many of these transportation services, and it can be very inconvenient when you need to get somewhere in the country you are traveling to. It’s crucial that you have cash with you so that you don’t get stuck without having adequate transportation.

Purchase souvenirs from vendors everywhere

You can buy souvenirs in cash from many different vendors when you have foreign currency with you. Otherwise it may be difficult to purchase items such as art, handcrafted items, jewelry and other types of small souvenirs that you can bring back home with you.

Buy local clothing

Purchasing clothing made in the country you are visiting is one of the most popular purchases that travelers often make. You can purchase any clothing that you find sold by a street vendor or other vendors who may accept only cash as a payment. With a sufficient amount of cash you can ensure that you are able to buy any types of apparel that interest you, and it can often be easy to pack a few extra items of clothing to take back home.

Take local tours

Many local tour providers in foreign countries will accept payments in cash. These are typically walking tours or tours can also be on bicycles or small vehicles. These tour operators are usually small individual operators and so they are often unable to take credit or debit card payments. You can miss out on some great opportunities to see parts of a country that you haven’t seen before. Local tours can be exciting and fun depending on where you go and what you do during the tour, and you can see unique areas of a country that you may otherwise have not been able to see. So be sure to carry currency with you whenever you travel overseas.

What’s the Fastest Way to Buy Foreign Currency?

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Whenever you need to buy foreign currency, it’s a good idea to use an online provider if you’re trying to save the most time possible on your purchase. Online currency exchange services like Xchange of America are fast and convenient, and are designed to lower the amount of time that you spend on your purchase as much as possible. You’ll enjoy being able to purchase as much currency as you need within minutes, and there are multiple payment options available to you when you use a service like Xchange of America. It’s unquestionably the fastest and best way to have the currency that you need right on time no matter when you need it.

Local currency exchange services can be difficult to find

Although Xchange of America has some locations throughout the United States and is one of the leading most reasonably priced currency exchange service out there, you may not have an Xchange of America location near you. This means that you’ll have to rely on another option, and you might have trouble finding one near you. In many cases you’ll have to drive several miles to exchange your currency, and when you add in the time it will take, your gas costs, and other costs it is clear that using a reputable online currency exchange service is well worth it. You’ll avoid the need to search around for a local exchange and there’s no question that you will save time on the process.

Online currency exchange takes a few steps

You don’t need to talk to anyone or wait in a line if you know what type of currency you want to purchase and have your payment information ready. However you’ll have to do that when you buy it locally. If you wait until you’re overseas to exchange currency or at the airport you can expect some very long wait times in many cases. Online currency exchange on our website is very simple, intuitive and fast no matter how much currency you need. You can make a purchase online at 25anytime, 24/7 and your order will be processed during the next business day and shipped as quickly as possible right to your door.

Save time and ensure your currency arrives when you need it

The amount of time that you can save on currency exchange can quickly add up, especially if you need to make multiple currency purchase throughout the year for travel purposes. You’ll be able to reduce the amount of time it takes by hours just by using an online service. Your currency will also arrive at the time you expect it to. Throughout the process your personal information is protected as long as you use a trustworthy and high quality service like Xchange of America. So it is important to find the right company to do business with online. With a bit of research you can see that Xchange of America is a top tier service to consider using for currency exchange, and the speed is simply unrivaled compared to the other options out there.

Why Airport Currency Exchanges Are The Worst Place to Buy Foreign Currency

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There are a number of opportunities to buy foreign currency inexpensively before you travel, but an airport currency exchange is almost certainly the worst option. Airport exchanges have a number of disadvantages, and they are located in airports because of the fact that travelers have no other option other than to rely on them if they neglected to exchange their currency before they left their home. These currency exchange services can be totally avoided if you purchase your currency online from Xchange of America, as you’ll spend a significantly lower amount of money on your exchange and you’ll get much more currency for the money that you spend.

Airport exchanges are overpriced

The majority of airport currency exchange services are highly overpriced. They usually charge you processing fees and sometimes won’t even let you know how much they are charging you; you’ll simply get a bill and the amount of currency that you requested. When you don’t have much time, you aren’t going to be able to distinguish whether or not you are getting a decent deal on your currency purchase, and you may go ahead and use their services even if you don’t want to. That can be avoided when you use an online currency exchange service from a trustworthy and established company like Xchange of America.

They are often crowded

When you’re traveling time is usually of the essence, and you may have important meetings to attend or destinations that you need to visit. Airport currency exchange services can be very crowded, however, especially in some of the busier airports, and you may find that you’re stuck in line waiting for a long time just to exchange a small amount of currency. That’s just another hassle to deal with along with the high prices and trouble of having to find a currency exchange when you’re traveling. When you purchase currency online you’ll never have to worry about finding an airport currency exchange and dealing with wait times. You only need to wait a few business days for your currency to arrive and you’ll have all the cash that you need for your travel plans.

Your airport may not have a currency exchange

There’s also no guarantee that the airport you’re leaving from or arriving at will have a currency exchange. Airports in some countries have fewer services, and as a result you might have to venture outside the airport and make a detour trying to find a currency exchange at your travel destination. This can be really challenging as you likely aren’t familiar with the area.

There’s no doubt that airport currency exchange services are typically the worst option when you need to exchange currency. Our online currency exchange has become one of the most popular and widely used options for currency exchange, as you won’t have to pay for service fees and you’ll avoid the headaches and trouble of having to find and use an airport exchange. Make sure your next trip goes smoothly and use our online service today at http://www.xchangeofamerica.com

Should You Buy Foreign Currency Locally?

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With so many options to buy currency online it can be difficult to decide whether you should purchase it locally or from a website. There are benefits and disadvantages to both options, but in many cases, you will benefit from purchasing it online in several ways. You will usually save more money and time on the entire process. Unless you live in an area with high-quality currency exchange services, purchasing it online is generally much more preferable. Below are some of the benefits and disadvantages buying currency locally compared to the internet.

Buying currency locally can be time consuming

Even if you know exactly where you need to go to buy currency, it is often time-consuming. You must spend time traveling to and from the currency exchange, you’ll have to wait in line, and in some cases you may have to wait for your currency to be shipped in before you can pick it up. If this happens you must wait for the shipment and then you’ll have to travel back another time to the currency exchange service to pick it up. if you don’t know where to buy currency you’re going to have to spend time calling each option in your area and determining whether they sell the currency that you need. You may also have to drive many miles if the local exchange is nowhere near you.

Buying currency online is fast

If you buy currency online, you will never have to make any trips anywhere, as your currency will be shipped directly to your home. You simply make your purchase by choosing the currency that you want and then inputting your information. you can choose your shipping speed and other requirements as needed, and your currency will arrive directly to your home. You can always call customer support to find out about processing times, order updates and exchange rates without having to wait to talk to anyone. Because of these benefits, in the clear majority of cases, buying currency online is much faster than any other method. The price for many online currency exchange services is also usually much lower than brick-and-mortar services.

Buying online is secure with the right service

One of the main concerns of lot of people who shop online is the fact that some websites are not secure. if you choose the right online currency exchange service like Xchange of America, then there is no risk that your information will be compromised. It it’s just as secure as purchasing it in person, and Xchange of America happens to have several locations throughout the country where you can purchase currency in person. You will find that the prices are also the same no matter where you purchase our currency. In any case, you will save the most money if you purchase currency online. We can provide you with more information about the other benefits of buying currency online or answer any questions you may have prior to your purchase. Give us a call today at (888) 796-2962 to ask any questions or to place your order.

When is the Right Time to Buy Foreign Currency Online?

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If you plan on buying foreign currency online, you probably know that the exchange rate will change on a regular basis. This rate is updated on our website, and you can see real time values from the homepage. This can help you make a determination on the best time to buy foreign currency online, but there are other considerations to keep in mind as well.

If you plan on traveling for example, you will want to time your purchase so that you have plenty of time to receive your shipment prior to flying to your destination. You don’t want to delay your purchase in almost any case when you plan on traveling, as waiting until the last second can end up causing unnecessary stress, and the chances are that the exchange rate won’t be a huge issue with a smaller purchase.

Ask Xchange of America about favorable exchange rates

As leading experts on currency exchange, we know plenty of details about currency exchange rates and how you can save money by purchasing currency on a day when the dollar is stronger. We can help you time your purchase so that you get the maximum amount of currency possible. If you need your currency sooner you can order any time of course and we guarantee that you will save money compared to most other currency exchange services.

Sometimes it can make sense to time your purchase out, and in other cases if the rate is already favorable or if there isn’t expected to be any major changes anytime soon you can make your purchase. If you plan on making a smaller purchase this is probably irrelevant, but if you plan on making a larger purchase it can definitely make a major difference in what you pay.

Use an online provider to save time

If you have waited to buy foreign currency before a trip and need to get it in the near future, buying it online is almost certainly the way to go. But you won’t just want to buy it from anyone. Xchange of America offers great exchange rates without service fees, and your order will be processed as quickly as possible. This will help to ensure that you get your currency on time and that you don’t have to deal with delays or not getting it before you have to fly out.

Ask questions and plan things out

In many cases, such as when you need to buy a small amount of currency, you are better off just buying it as soon as possible. If there happens to be a big event that affects the value of a currency you will usually hear about it in the news and be able to avoid buying currency on a day when the exchange rate is unfavorable. You can also ask Xchange of America for advise on the best time to purchase the currency that you need and to get more information about how exchange rates fluctuate. Give us a call today at 1-888-800-1977 for advice or to place an order.