Two years ago, someone on my blog told us to exchange US Dollars for Japanese Yen at a booth opposite Duty Free in Waikiki. The exchange rate was definitely better there than at a bank, so we were grateful for the advice.
As you may know, David and I plan to see Hong Kong and Macau in early May. I was told by a clerk at Bank of Hawaii that I must give them a week in mid-April to order Hong Kong Dollars for us.
Now, I wonder if anyone knows where we can get a good exchange rate for Hong Kong Dollars, or is the bank the only place to make the exchange? Does the booth opposite Duty Free also sell Hong Kong currency?
I intend to get a mixture of currency. Besides Hong Kong Dollars and US Dollars, I plan to get Yen to buy snacks during our stops at Narita Airport in Japan. I sure hope all goes well and we don’t run out of dough!
Please advise!
March 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm |
I don’t know if it works for these currencies, but when we travel we always use our bank card in a cash machine at the airport where we land. There’s usually just a 1% service fee on your card.
March 19, 2010 at 5:11 pm |
Never heard of that method until now. Has anyone seen such a machine in Hong Kong and Japan airports???
March 19, 2010 at 8:33 pm |
We’ve done our exhange at the airport in Narita. I wonder if this place in Waikiki has better rates. When you say Daiei, do you mean Don Quixote now? This is in Waikiki? Is this a kiosh?
March 19, 2010 at 8:51 pm |
SORRY, DAVID SAYS HE GOT THE YEN FROM THE KIOSK IN FRONT OF DUTY FREE, NOT DAIEI!!!!
March 19, 2010 at 8:42 pm |
I just looked it up on line and saw this one advice.
“Definitely wait until you get to Japan. There are exchange counters for cash and travellers checks right outside of the customs counters in all airports. You can use your ATM card in Japan – the post office ATM’s are the easiest and most plentiful…here’s a link to Japan Post information. http://www.yu-cho.japanpost.jp/e_a0000000/aa200000.htm The charge you are levied by your bank or credit card company for getting cash varies so you need to check directly with them.”
That’s pretty much what we’ve done. We exchange our dollars for yen at Narita airport. My cousin said you could get a charge card at Marukai that would enable you to make exhanges without being charged a fee. I don’t know about that but we did get the card to check it out.
Actually you’re not exhanging a lot of money so it doesn’t really matter a ton, hunh?
March 19, 2010 at 8:48 pm |
We plan to buy $100 worth of yen, so no problem. What I really need to know is where to buy HK dollars.
March 19, 2010 at 11:03 pm |
You’re gonna transit thru Tokyo?
What types of souvenirs do you plan to buy here?
March 19, 2010 at 11:05 pm |
(Oh, and sorry…I don’t know where the better place to exchange currencies is. I seldom travel outside of Japan…so I have only exchange money a few times).
March 20, 2010 at 2:18 am |
Yes, there are no direct flights to HK from Honolulu, so we must stop at Narita and change planes.
As for souvenirs, probably not. We each will spend $50 on food going and coming for a total of $100.
March 20, 2010 at 1:39 am |
This trip sounds so exciting Gigi. I’ve read with interest all the advice about currency exchanges. Have a great weekend.
March 20, 2010 at 2:54 am |
The use of bank cards sounds like an interesting choice.
1st Day of Spring!
March 20, 2010 at 7:20 am |
We were in Hongkong in 2008 and went to a ATM where we changed Honkong dollars. Quite easy! I hope you’ll have a great trip!! Thanks for your visit.
March 20, 2010 at 10:55 am |
Sounds like a challenge. I haven’t been out of the country for decades so I’m not familiar with exchange rates.
March 20, 2010 at 10:59 am |
We always use credit cards and debit cards when we travel. We’ve never been anywhere where it was difficult to get cash that way or charge meals and other purchases. Traveler’s checks are out. Lots of banks won’t even look at them. It’s probably a good idea to take some yen and Hong Kong dollars with you, though, if you want to pick up a paper or buy snacks.
Our major economy is that we are not shoppers and generally return from trips with photos and a book or two.
March 20, 2010 at 11:14 am |
Thanks for the tip. We will need Hong Kong Dollars for ground transportation especially. I just called our local bank about their fees for exchanging currencies in Hong Kong. They charge $4 per transaction plus whatever VISA charges for the conversion fee. So it seems wise to bring a lot of HK dollars with us to avoid all that.