Tag Archives: Buy foreign currency

Use Foreign Currency To Support Local Economies When Traveling Abroad

Foreign currency is king with local vendors!

When American tourists travel abroad, they can “support local” by paying in their destination’s foreign currency & promote sustainable travel in several ways!

When you use local cash to pay for gifts, souvenirs and services (like tipping excursion tour guides or restaurant servers), you directly support local businesses. In addition, you prevent the vendor from incurring any fees associated with credit card transactions, which can be significant for small businesses. This means that more of your money goes directly to the business owner, who may use it to hire more employees, invest in their business, or support their family.

Using foreign currency for purchases overseas can stimulate the local economy and create a positive “ripple effect”. For example, if you were in San Miguel de Allende and purchase a silver bracelet set with turquoise, the jewelry designer may use the cash to purchase supplies (silver, turquoise, tools) from a local supplier and to pay the artisan jeweler who sets the stones. The action of paying in cash allows this local merchant to pay employees and vendors while supporting economic growth within their community. Paying in cash can also foster positive cross-cultural exchanges between visiting foreign tourists and local residents – don’t hesitate to inquire about their traditional artisan methods and learn about their culture. This can lead to meaningful conversations and connections that can help you gain a deeper understanding of the local traditions and way of life.

Travel hack: local vendors often offer price reductions on merchandise when tourists pay in cash vs. using a card, because they don’t lose part of the sale to credit card processing fees!

Always respect local customs and etiquette when making purchases and tipping - expectations vary from country to country.

Of course, Xchange of America is an excellent option when you buy foreign currency online for travel – whether you order ahead (or wait until the last minute), our convenient online platform makes ordering easy. Plus, we offer rush delivery for quick shipping to your home or office so you can land at your destination with local cash in hand!

Xchange of America…foreign currency, delivered!

4 Tips for Traveling to Brazil

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Introduction to Brazil

Brazil has become one of the most widely traveled destinations in the world. With over a tenth of the world’s inhabitants, you can understand why Brazil is a popular country to visit. But keep in mind that the country offers much more. From the wetlands of the Amazon rainforest to the stunning beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is interesting, and a destination that truly offers something to every single visitor, and don’t forget to buy foreign currency before your visit.

Thinking to visit Brazil

If you’re planning a vacation in Brazil, choosing a tour operator in Brazil is a must. If you hire a Destination Management Company (DMC) to accompany you during your vacation, you should select some of your favorite places in Brazil to make the most of your trip. To help you, here are a few tips for your trip to Brazil. Please see below and find out for yourself:

Christ the Redeemer

If you come to Brazil, it is impossible to avoid the world famous Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Christ is the Redeemer, one of Brazil’s best-known landmarks one hundred and fifty feet high. Once you climb the hill to reach the statue, you can enjoy the spectacular views of the entire city of Rio. But the statute the designers have designed and the one that looks over Rio now show Christ with open arms that embrace all human beings.

Iguazu Falls

While only a quarter of the Iguazu Falls are in Brazil, the rest are in Uruguay and Argentina. But the Brazilian Iguazu Falls are still an attraction worthwhile for your vacation while you check out with a Brazil tour operator. In addition to impressive sights, the falls are surrounded by the National Park, a jungle that protects over four hundred species and more than two thousand plants. Is not that amazing? A tour operator really gives you the right orientation about different places and routes for smooth and memorable tours.

Copacabana

Copacabana is one of the most famous beaches in the world, three miles from the densely populated city of Rio de Janeiro. No matter what your holiday wishes are, Copacabana has different things for different people. For travel enthusiasts who crave craziness and the most wonderful people most. For whatever reason, it attracts hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers every year, and the one thing they all agree with is having a great time while they visit.

Amazon Rainforest
Tragic is the only word to express a tour to Brazil without entering the Amazon rainforest. Thousands of rare plant and animal species around the world and several indigenous tribes plunging into the glorious wilderness do not seem to be anything that you will probably experience again! Moreover, Manaus – the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas – is the perfect gateway for all visitors who want to get into the depths of the rainforest. In addition, there are several tour operators in Brazil who offer excellent travel itineraries catering to the travel needs and preferences of each client.

Conclusion

If you are in Brazil, enjoy the best value for money and use the tour package of a tour operator in Brazil that covers everything you need during your trip. So book your holiday with a Brazilian tour operator as soon as possible so you do not miss out on anything

Tips for Traveling to China

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China is a great country with many attractions. However, it is also strange for many travelers. Here we will share some tips to help you travel to China more easily. Traveling to China is a wonderful experience. You can learn new things and meet wonderful people. China is a land of natural wonders and collections of ancient history.

It is culturally one of the richest nations in the world. When you visit China, you have to prepare for its amazing features. In order to experience the best of China, you should learn to be practical, because it is a place that is best enjoyed with simplicity and sensitivity. Below are 4 tips for travelling to China.

When traveling to China, it is always important that you bring only necessary things. This means that you have to be practical enough to reduce your luggage and travel easily. Extra luggage means additional payment for your cargo. One of the most important things you need to bring with you when traveling to China is your passport, identity card and travel guide. You should also remember to pack appropriate clothing by checking China’s climate. If you do not, you might end up buying clothes when you get there and spending money unnecessarily.

Being practical means being realistic. When you are in China, you do not have to worry about being noble or luxurious to get respect from the citizens. The Chinese are among the most respectful people in the world.

Therefore, they love the visitors and welcome them with joy and great veneration on their land. If you want to save time and money and connect with them, you just have to earn their respect. Once you’ve made friends with the locals, they’ll be happy to help you find the best sites and the cost-effective routes.

When traveling to China, it is always recommended that you know and understand their culture. When traveling with a partner, be sure to stay humble while you are there because the Chinese are not used to couples holding or kissing in public.

In China, you should make sure that you do not yell, shame, or humiliate another person because you might get into a fight. The Chinese love humor. However, you should avoid dirty jokes or sexual jokes. If you’re on the outskirts of China, do not be intimidated by people staring at you. This is probably due to the fact that they do not see Westerners very often.

Another important tip to keep in mind when traveling to China is to make sure you know where to exchange your money with foreign currency. Its official currency is renminbi or RMB. Many of China’s best locations are outside the city and most of them have no ATMs or money changers.

Therefore you should exchange your money online at Xchange of America before visiting. Eating in China is another experience in this amazing country. You can get the most out of your travel budget China by dining in reasonably priced restaurants that serve traditional Chinese dishes.

4 Tips for Traveling to Bahrain

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Tucked neatly in the eastern shores of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain is a small group of islands. Unlike its oil-rich neighbors, Bahrain had a difficult past. Bahrain does have a few other industries, but the shallow waters surrounding the archipelago produced excellent pearls, which used to be the major economic activity.

However, the country has made significant improvements in the past decade making it an ideal place to visit. It is one of the most liberal (Western Friendly) countries in the Arab peninsula with multi-cultural residents, businessmen, and travelers now crowding the streets.

There are plenty of places to see in and around Manama, the capital of Bahrain. From camel farms to Souks (Traditional Arab Marketplace) to modern and ancient architecture, Bahrain has a lot to offer. The food culture is also versatile and not boring at all for travelers of all backgrounds, and you will want to buy foreign currency before you visit – the local currency is the Bahraini dinar.

Here are 4 tips that might come in handy when you travel around Bahrain.

1. Pick a time: Winter would be the best season to travel. Like any other Arab countries, Bahrain has dry desert weather, so we would not recommend traveling during summer. On the average, the winter day temperature is about 77 degrees Fahrenheit and at night, it drops down to 30 degrees.

2. Rent a Car: It is ideal for you to rent a car with an English speaking driver. They have public transportations such as buses but if you are not a local, you would be very confused about the routes. A lot of those buses are not air-conditioned, crowded, and can be very hot inside. Bahrain is not an ideal place for taxis either. They are few in number and can be quite expensive to foreigners. Even a short 10-minute ride can cost up to $25 dollars. Since you are a tourist and plan to visit different sites, a rented car is the ideal mode of transportation. If you can’t rent one, have cash with you for transportation.

3. Stay Healthy: Do not travel to Bahrain if you are not healthy at the time. A sudden change in weather can cause problems and you do not want that. In the dry desert weather, it is advisable to drink a lot of water. You should also eat some fruits during your meals. The local fruits are the best because they are perfect for that kind of weather.

4. Show Respect to the Culture: Bahrain is somewhat liberal when it comes to cultures. Yet, you should be respectful of the local conservative Muslim traditions. Males should wear long trousers or shorts below knee level. Women should not wear items that are revealing. The hotels have their own swimming pools and beaches and swimsuits are allowed there but not on a public beach. Also, it is not advisable to show affection to opposite sex in public.

Traveling to Bahrain will be quite a unique adventure, so pack your bags and get out there.

Where is the best place to buy foreign currency?

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When you are planning a trip to another country, the last thing to do is to get some local currency before you go. This is something that a lot of us forget about until we are at the airport. The usual packing list for travel will just include the physical items you need to bring and foreign currency is always an afterthought.

You probably think that having a wallet full of US Dollars and some credit cards will be all you need in the new country. This is not always the case.

Not all countries are that sophisticated to be able to accept US dollars or take credit cards for payment for services like a taxi. To be safe, you really should carry at least a small sum in the local currency to pay for incidentals like taxi fares and tips. Ideally, the best place to buy foreign currency is online from a trusted provider like Xchange of America.

Options for buying foreign currency

Your local bank usually has a foreign exchange but you need to find out what fees they charge as this differs from bank to bank. Some of them even have a commission free return for any foreign currency you bring back unspent. If you left it to the last minute to buy foreign currency and the banks are closed, you don’t really have many choices.

Your best bet is at the airport. Unfortunately, airport currency exchanges are not the best places to buy foreign currency. You probably don’t have a lot of choices and will have to use their service but the rates are not great and they sometimes charge very high commission rates too. You will get a lot less for your dollar if you change your money there.

If you were already on the plane when you remembered that you needed to buy some foreign currency, there is also the option at the destination airport. If you fly into one of the larger international airports, there will probably be a currency exchange there. Again, the rates are probably not that great either. Most smaller airports don’t have this facility.

Another alternative is to use a local ATM to take cash out in the local currency when you arrive. The downside to this is that you have no idea what rates you will get in US Dollar terms. Most cards also charge a fee per transaction when you use an ATM machine overseas.

In some third world countries, the chances of getting your card cloned at an ATM is quite high. For your security, check the ATM machine carefully before using your card and getting a nasty expensive shock.

Where to buy currency at the best rates

A bit of early planning before you travel will certainly save you some money. You can choose to use a service that doesn’t charge you high transaction fees and gives you a good exchange rate.

You will get more foreign currency for your dollars by using a currency service like the one at Xchange of America. If you are too busy to get to a store or a bank to buy your currency, they offer a great service where they will deliver your currency to your door. They don’t charge hefty fees and you can get your cash quite quickly and still get a better deal than buying your foreign currency at the airport.

Why XChange of America is More Convenient Then a Local Currency Exchange

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If you have never used a service online to change money, now might be the time to start.

Xchange of America is an online currency exchange that will deliver any foreign currency you buy straight to your door. It is designed to be super convenient for today’s lifestyle.

They offer a “Point and click, currency to your door” service and are aiming to be the top currency exchange in America. Besides being an online business, they have several physical locations too. You can see their list of stores on their website.

Why is it more Convenient Than a Local Currency Exchange

Have you ever thought to buy currency online? It makes sense, as you can do some research, compare rates and place your order. All of this can be done in minutes in front of your computer. There is no need to go out of your way to find a local currency exchange, find parking, stand in a line, wasting time. When you buy currency online, it is a simple and straightforward transaction. You know exactly how much cash you are getting.

They will even send it to you. You don’t have to drive anywhere to pick up your foreign currency. This saves a lot of time and headaches. If you are in a hurry, you can book the currency you want online and pick it up at one of their outlets. When you buy foreign currency online at XChange of America, you never have to worry that they don’t have enough of the currency you want.

If your local currency exchange didn’t have stock of that currency, you don’t have many other options. You can use their secure service to buy foreign currency with a debit or credit card. They use a state of the art identity verification and authentication for your security.

They also don’t have a minimum amount you can exchange and there isn’t a fixed fee. When you buy foreign currency from XChange of America, you can use their currency converter calculator to work out how much in the equivalent foreign currency you will get. You can compare this to what the going exchange rate is. The great thing is that all this information is available freely online.

Lock in rates

The foreign exchange markets are notoriously fickle. Rates can fluctuate greatly in just a few hours. When you buy your currency online, you would have bought the currency at a fixed rate and is not subject to any strange economic situations that can cause big changes in the exchange rates.

Specialist providers like XChange of America are one of the largest providers. Usually the larger the provider, the higher their volumes and the more they can offer better exchange rates. Banks might not do a lot of currency transactions and due to this, charge a higher fee. Xchange of America deals with very high volumes of transactions and will be able to buy and sell currencies at close to wholesale rates. These are usually better than retail rates. There are saving to be made with regard to costs and this can be passed over to the customer.

Xchange of America deals with many different currencies and more likely to have stock of the obscure foreign currency you need for your next trip.

4 Benefits of Traveling to Mexico

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Holidays in Mexico are such fun. Think about the sun, sea, and sombreros and you can enjoy all that because the USD to Mexican Pesos exchange rate is so favorable. Mexico’s cheap peso has made the country so much more attractive to foreign visitors. It’s a good time to take advantage of the exchange rate and enjoy a vacation in Mexico.

The Mexican peso is trading at around the level of 1 USD to well over 10 pesos. It will likely stay at this level for the foreseeable future as the fears of trade restrictions are looming over the Mexican economy. This economic uncertainty is not likely to be going away anytime soon. Lock in your spending money now as you can buy foreign currency online at Xchange of America.

1. What you can do in Mexico for cheap

Take a vacation at a luxury beach resort. Taking advantage of the low rates now is the time to indulge yourself and book into a luxury beach resort. Tourism numbers have affected the hotel industry and there are some amazing deals to be had. Compare the prices for a long weekend getaway to Cancun against a long weekend somewhere stateside. You’ll find that it’s probably cheaper to fly off to Mexico.

Here is a top tip. The hotels along the coast from Cancun to Tulum are seeing very low occupancy rates of about 27%. If you want to book at a particular hotel for a week, email them directly and make them a deal. It is possible to bargain, especially if you book direct. At the minimum, you might get a spa credit or some free cocktails. The hotel doesn’t have to pay booking fees and it’s a win win.

2. You can buy lots of amazing Quality Artisan Tequilla or Mezcal to bring home

To the Mexican people, Tequilla is like a religion. Everyone has their own favorite and their idea of the best. There are so many small artisan producers that make an amazing product but can only be bought locally. These are not the cheap bottles with the worm at the bottom, drunk by kids on their spring break. These are smooth, mellow, artisan drinks made to be savored like a fine brandy.

With all those Mexican pesos in your pocket, make sure you get a few of the good bottles as you can’t get them back in the states.

3. The best service at hotels and resorts

Due to the low exchange rate and the low occupancy, Mexican hotels and resorts are rolling out the red carpet to give you the best service.

Some visitors have been given free upgrades at the resort with lots of extras thrown in. A lot of resorts are spending a lot of money on social media campaigns to promote their destination. Now is the time to indulge yourself while the USD MXN exchange rate is so low.

4. Upgrade your experience

With the benefit of the stronger dollar, your spending power is now much higher. Time to upgrade your experience. You can now book into the best restaurants and bars and the costs in USD has dropped a lot too. Previously, when times were good down there, it would have been impossible to get a table. And when you did, it would have cost a bomb. Now with all that Mexican pesos sloshing around in your wallet, it can go towards paying for that fine dining meal followed by a romantic cocktail at the trendiest roof top bar. Party away!

4 Benefits of Traveling to Brazil

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What’s on your travel bucket list? Is going to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro? Learn to samba? Did you want to walk on Ipanema beach? If you thought that these vacations were beyond your budget, look again. Now that the US Dollar is so strong and the Brazilian Real is so weak, these trips might be quite affordable after all.

1. How to take advantage of the strong dollar when traveling to Brazil

Now is a good time to visit Brazil when the dollar is so strong. Foreign visitors will benefit from the fall of the Brazilian Real. Your US Dollars will go a long way after you touch down at Rio de Janeiro airport. When you buy Brazilian Real, you currently get a little under 3 Real to 1 USD.

2 Afford to see Rio de Janeiro in luxury. With more Brazilian reals to the dollar, your holiday budget can stretch a bit further. So instead of roughing it, you can afford to see Rio de Janeiro in comfort and luxury.

You don’t want to risk not having cash on you when you arrive in Rio. Make sure you buy foreign currency at home before you leave.

*Instead of hiking up to the Cristo via a jungle path, the 125 ft Christ the Redeemer statue, you can take the cog train up. *Next, take the glassed-in cable car up to Sugarloaf, where you get the most iconic view in town. Bring your cameras and be prepared to be awed. *You can afford to take taxis instead of risking the local buses. *You don’t have to risk food poisoning by eating at the cheap street vendors, although their espetinhos grilled meat skewers are quite tasty.

*Catch a game of beach volleyball on Copacabana beach.*Learn to surf in Arpoador*And if plastic surgery is your thing, that nose job will now be even more affordable.*Now, renting a car can be quite reasonable, plan a road trip from Rio to São Paulo via Costa Verde. You can choose to follow one of the luxury tour operator’s itineraries which take in the island of Ilha Grande and pretty Paraty. Along the way, you can stay in some of the new eco resorts and posh beach hotels.

3. Dont’ pay in USD with your card on vacation Make sure you buy foreign currency before you travel. This way you can lock in the best exchange rate before your trip. Use the cash to pay for your hotels and incidentals. If you have to pay by card, make sure you do in in local currency and not in USD as the rates will always be bad.

4. You don’t have to rough it in a cheap hostel. With more BRL in your pocket, you can upgrade your hotel stay. You will get more for your money if you don’t book through the big online sites. Those rates are always in USD. If you find somewhere you would really like to stay, contact them directly and offer to pay them cash or local currency. You will find that this is a trick a lot of seasoned traveler use. You will almost always get a better rate. If you made friends with a local travel agent, they sometimes have local rates for holiday resorts too, instead of the internationally quoted USD rates. (This tip works in Asia too).

There’s no time like the present to book that trip to Brazil. Book soon to grab the best deals.

Why You Need Cash When You Travel

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On almost everyone’s packing list are the essentials, clothes, shoes, toiletries, camera equipment and battery chargers. One thing we almost never have on our list is cash or foreign currency.

Do you really need to carry cash with you when you travel?

Today, we are so used to just using plastic for everything. This doesn’t work so well in some countries where business can’t take card payments. If you end up in a small town and where there is no working ATM machine, you could be in trouble. Having some cash on your will tide you over until you find a way to get money from an ATM.

In cases like this, you really need to have some cash on hand. It will get you out of a sticky situation as cash talks.

On arriving at a new country, taking a cab or bus from the airport will be your first purchase. These services may be able to take payments by card but they most certainly will take cash. If you are a bit jet lagged after getting off the train, it’s not a good idea to do mental arithmetic to work out of your taxi fare was fair or not. Ask at the information desk at the airport and get the cash ready. How to safely carry cash when you travel?

It can feel unsafe to carry cash around with you when you travel in a strange country. There are ways to carry your cash that makes it safer.

You can split the cash into different bundles. Make sure that you carry some in your pockets and some in your bag. So that if the worst should happen, you have not lost all your money.

If you are staying somewhere that has a safe, leave some cash in the hotel and carry around just enough for the day.

When you buy foreign currency online from Xchange of America, it’s a good idea request an amount in small notes. Nothing is more attractive to crooks than an unsuspecting tourist waving around big notes. Be inconspicuous and use the small notes.

Most developed countries are used to taking payments with plastic. Even so, you really need to have an amount in emergency cash with you for your peace of mind.

If you run out of cash when you are traveling, you can always take more out at a local ATM. Depending on your bank, you usually get quite a good exchange rate doing this. However, you don’t always know if the cash machine is taking a fee or if your bank or card will charge you a foreign transaction fee. All these costs add up. Better if you had some dollars on you from home.

Alternatively, you can also buy foreign currency at a local bank or exchange with a credit card. With these transactions, you don’t normally get the best exchange rates.

You will almost always get charged a transaction fee for using a card while you’re abroad. Make sure you find out what the fee is and it might make it worth your while to take out cash and buy your currency with that instead.

Buy Foreign Currency Online

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You are long overdue for your vacation and this time you have chosen the sun kissed cliffs and beaches of Italy. All your bags are packed and you are ready to go, but before you set foot in Italy, you of course need to make sure that you have enough Euros with you.

Did you buy foreign currency online ahead of time? Of course, if you were unfortunate enough to have remembered while you were at the airport, we feel for you. They do sometimes give you the worst exchange rates possible.

Make the Best of Exchange Rates

When we plan for our vacation, we go to great lengths to cut our costs on travel, accommodation and even at times, on food. But most of us, forget that we can save a pretty penny if we got our foreign currency purchase right! If you had been prudent enough to plan ahead, see the currency fluctuations over a period of at least a month or two, you have a better chance of getting the best exchange rates possible.

Exchange rates fluctuate rather steadily over time and you of course are better off, if you buy your Euro when the US Dollar is at the strongest. Simply put, you can buy more Euro with the same amount of US Dollars, when US Dollar is at its strongest, and Xchange of America can help you time your purchase.

Buy Online and You Might Save More

But planning ahead just isn’t sometimes sufficient to get you the best exchange rates. You guessed it right! Like everything else out there, you can also buy foreign currency online. And buying Foreign Currency online from some of the specialist Foreign Exchange Institutions like Xchange of America can help you save more.

Buy foreign currency online and you have the choice to either pick it up at a store location or have it delivered to your home. Most places charge you a delivery fee if it’s delivered to your home, but if you need to exchange more than a threshold amount, you can save on the delivery fee. Now, this is very convenient in the very least.

Look Out for the Special Promotions

There are special promotions that happen online, and those are always fun times for the customer. Look out for promos, be sure to read the fine print, and your vacation might just get a lot cheaper and a lot happier. Perhaps you can save a particular amount on your currency purchase, or you might get discounts on bulk purchases.

Compare the Best Offers

If you choose to buy foreign currency online, it’s becomes easier for you to compare the exchange rates as well as service fees and total prices offered by the various foreign exchange institutions.

Easiest Savings in Your Vacation

Saving on currency exchange is the easiest way to save while you go for your vacation. Choose to buy foreign currency online at Xchange of America and it might just help you cut your budget to size for a better hotel or a more convenient flight.