Traveling is an exciting time, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the thrill of seeing a new part of the world. Before you set off though, there are practical things to consider, chief among them being money. Traveling is expensive and most of us would like to get the most bang for our buck in order to extend our vacation budget further. Read on for a few currency conversion hacks to help you navigate the tricky world of dollars and cents abroad.

Hack #1: Don’t Change Money in Touristy Areas The money exchange shops near your favorite attractions or in the middle of the city probably seem too good to be true, and they usually are. Money converters are banking on you not doing your homework. Most times these places have outrageous conversion rates, so what you save in convenience, you pay for in sneaky exchange rates. It's worth a trip off the beaten path to save some dough so ask a local where they would go to bank. You'd be surprised just how much better the rates can be in less populated areas.



Hack #2: Always Check Conversion Rates at the Post Office Often times, high exchange rates are subsidized at government agencies, which includes post offices. While in a foreign country, it may be hard to locate the closest post office that also does currency exchanges, but to avoid paying high fees and commission rates, it's definitely worth a try. Most times you can exchange large sums of money for the best rate and then sell back what you don’t end up using, which is an incredible deal.



Hack #3: “No Commission” Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Good Deal At places that advertise “no commission” there won’t be a commission taken out, but the exchange rates will be much higher to compensate. It’s worth Googling what the current exchange rate should be before comparing it to what the “no commission” store is advertising. More often than not you'll find it’s higher than it should be. Don’t let the lack of commission fool you!



Hack #4: Ask to be Charged in the Local Currency Often times at a store or restaurant in a foreign country, you will be given the option to have your card charged in either your native currency or the local currency. While it may initially seem like a better idea to use USD if given the option (so you know exactly what you're paying upfront), in reality it’s not a great idea. The majority of banks offer a bad conversion rate and then charged fees from both your bank and your credit card company on top of that. By sticking with the local currency, you can avoid most of the fees and you may even get a better exchange rate.

