Hi Im on the China Explored tour ex Beijing on the 31st October, how much would you guys recomend taking over in cash will be arriving 2 days before. Also would you advise travellers cheques or just my trusty plastic for the rest of the trip.
What would previous travellers recomend doing on the spare 2 days prior to the start of the tour?
Yours bewildered
Ross
Re: Chinese Currency
Hey Ross,
We recommend that you bring a mix of cash and travellers cheques. In China, the US dollar is the preferred foreign currency but English pounds are also very easy to exchange.
If you are arriving into Beijing airport, you should find an ATM in the baggage reclaim hall. It is located at the far left of this hall. I believe there is also another ATM in the arrivals area. Please ask your transfer person if you want to use this one.
There are other ATMs in most major cities which accept foreign Visa cards.
Most Banks of China branches will change Travellers Cheques and cash.
Your hotel in Beijing will also change travellers cheques and cash.
The amount of cash you take really depends upon what you wish to do in your two days prior to the tour. We recommend that you take
Re: Chinese Currency
We have just returned from the China Explored trip - which was great. In particular with regard to travellers cheques - be aware that only Bank of China will change them. and even then not all the time One of our group had them and even in Bejing he found it very difficult to change them. We took cash and had no problem with security and carrying it around with us. You'll find China dirt cheap - but when you get to HK - its a completely differetn story and for transport and food, prices are pretty near to European standards.
I'm sure you'll have a great trip.
Re: Chinese Currency
Take as little money as possible as it is best to change money out there, the exchange rate is much better. I survived with just using the holes in the wall. Most people had travellers cheques but they are a pain to exchange.