#84711 - 03/04/10 07:53 PM
Currency/Exchange
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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OK, last question for a while. I promise (i hope)!
What's the best strategy for going about exchanging money/currency for FP? I hear Capital One is the best thing but unfortunately I don't have a Capital One card anymore :( I heard Discover and AMEX are the next best and I do have a Discover card and a couple AMEX cards. I also have a Priority Club rewards card - not sure if that's worth using other than for any Intercontinental hotel upgrades, etc...
Do many places in Moorea/Bora Bora accept Discover and AMEX?
I also have an HSBC card FWIW.
In any case, what's the best thing to do in terms of getting XPF/CPF - should I do that as soon as we get to Papeete? And if so, where? Or is it better to pay for certain things in USD-cash?
Edited by jplee3 (03/04/10 08:05 PM)
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#84712 - 03/04/10 10:19 PM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: jplee3]
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travelintom
Member
Registered: 05/06/04
Posts: 390
Loc: california
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forget discover and amex.... only visa/mc will be accepted
change USD to XPF at airport on arrival. the bank will be open.
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#84713 - 03/04/10 10:55 PM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: travelintom]
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Suki (689)
Advisor
Registered: 10/29/07
Posts: 685
Loc: ELA US of A
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Change your Budwieser into Hinano and Koolaid into Tahiti drink dats da best exchange right now **********FP4LIFE************
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#84715 - 03/04/10 11:11 PM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: travelintom]
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jplee3
Junior Member
Registered: 03/04/10
Posts: 22
Loc: CA, USA
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[quote=travelintom]forget discover and amex.... only visa/mc will be accepted
change USD to XPF at airport on arrival. the bank will be open. [/quote]
Thanks Tom!
What's the next best Visa/MC after CapitalOne? I think I may only have Chase cards! ugh...
Actually, is it an even better idea to exchange USD to XPF at my local bank (Chase) here in the states before I go? Or is the airport exchange rate nominal enough to where it doesn't really matter. And should I depend mostly on my CC to get me around? I think for certain excursions they want actual cash at the end (i.e. private island boat tour, etc).
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#84716 - 03/05/10 06:02 AM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: jplee3]
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Jake
Member
Registered: 08/29/03
Posts: 311
Loc: Phoenix AZ
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The exchange rate at the bank at Faaa airport is usually among the best available. As Tom said they are open for all international arrivals. Capital One is the only CC we use for international trips. Their exchange rate is pretty good and they do not charge a foreign currency exchange fee which other CCs charge 3% or more for.
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#84717 - 03/05/10 06:11 AM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: Jake]
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hamara
Expert Advisor
Registered: 01/07/02
Posts: 2086
Loc: Washington/Moorea
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Also make sure you contact your credit card company before your trip so they don't freeze your card while your in Tahiti.
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#84723 - 03/05/10 09:43 AM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: hamara]
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Patti.
Expert Advisor
Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 1925
Loc: Las Vegas, NV
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If you don't have a Capital One card that doesn't charge a exchange fee...then it really doesn't matter which Visa or MC you use. If you have more than one, call them and see what their foreign exchange rate is....should be between 3-5%...if one is lower than the otehr, use the one that has the lowest rate. And again, don't worry about it. It's not THAT much money. If you spend $1000...it's around $30-50....$2000 would be $60-100. The only time it really adds up is when you book your whole trip on a foreign site and get slapped with the foreign exchange rate fee. Then you're talking several hundred dollars.
Even with the 3-5% rate, you will still probably come out ahead using CC's over cash....as the bank to bank credit rate is always better than the cash to cash exchange rate.
And will will almost always do better exchanging your money AFTER you get there than before. And the best rates are usually at the airport there in Papeete or at one of the local banks...NOT at your hotel front desk....and NOT at the exchange booths at LAX.
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#84725 - 03/05/10 09:49 AM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: Patti.]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 5337
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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Don't change your money in the USA; wait and change at the Tahiti airport bank (open for incoming flights, even in the middle of the night). Rate on Monday was 81 cpf per $1 USD, about 6 points lower than the bank rate posted on xe.com.
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#84968 - 03/24/10 04:31 PM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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BarbiJKM
Supreme Advisor
Registered: 02/14/07
Posts: 5337
Loc: Mesa, AZ
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Update on the exchange rate here in FP: In Papeete yesterday, the bank rate was 88.4cpf/$1USD , and the consumer rate was 85.199 at Banque de Polynesie, slightly higher for traveler's checks. This is the highest we've seen since arriving on 2/28, and was a slightly better rate than what was offered at Banque de Tahiti in town. The airport bank is generally a few points lower, but has a cheaper exchange fee (475f compared to 1100f in town).
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#84995 - 03/26/10 09:27 AM
Re: Currency/Exchange
[Re: BarbiJKM]
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DenverJoe
Expert Advisor
Registered: 09/10/02
Posts: 1491
Loc: Denver, Co.
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The bank rate today is 89.01cpf/$1USD.
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