Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:24 am Post subject:
tabana wrote:
Can I visit that place?
Find some white lipstick and you'll fit right in.....
Quote:
Great. Thanks.
I didn't know that. I thought they would charge more. I need to pay cash at the onsen. Go figure.
Yeah we had to pay cash too....lots of smaller business don't take credit cards but business hotels should so it's no problem....hell when we went to Japan we paid our stay both at the Grand and Park Hyatt when we reserved the rooms...that way we didn't have to sweat it....but that's not always an option, I know.
Quote:
That's why I was looking to get more money. I could always "buy" money with my credit card, at the airport.
Well play it by ear and see what works for you.
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Credit Cards
Best for: Large purchases such as airline tickets, hotel bills, car rentals and restaurant meals
Pros: The biggest advantage to using credit cards while traveling overseas is that credit card purchases are exchanged at the interbank exchange rate, usually the best rate you can get for currency exchange. While most credit card issuers charge currency conversion fees each time you make a purchase in a foreign currency (generally 1 percent from Visa or MasterCard plus an additional 1 - 2 percent for themselves), these fees are typically lower than those you'd pay to cash traveler's checks or convert U.S. dollars at a change bureau. And, if you have a Capital One card, you won't pay any fees at all -- Capital One is the only major issuer that doesn't charge its own currency conversion fee or pass the one from Visa and MasterCard on to the consumer.
Cons: Many restaurants, stores and even hotels won't take credit cards, so you'll need to have some cash on hand at all times. While you can use credit cards to get cash advances at ATM's, bear in mind that they'll be subject to any finance charges your credit card company imposes -- which can add up very quickly. Plus, if you're not home by the time the bills come in and don't have someone paying them, you'll be hit with hefty finance charges on these advances.
Joined: 13 Oct 2004 Posts: 8550 Location: California Country:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:04 am Post subject:
Don't use your credit card for a cash advance unless you absolutely need it.
Also, it's too late for you, but the best card to use in Japan is the JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) one. It has the lowest foreign conversion fee among the major ones. I think is 1.99% vs. 3.99% I paid with Visa. It is probably better than the cash exchange rates, but your mileage may vary.
Since I didn't want to carry that much cash with me, I put the money in my Citibank account, and then withdrew from a Citibank ATM. There aren't that many in Tokyo, but there was one next to the hotel we stayed at. No ATM fee, and a pretty good exchange rate.
While you can use credit cards to get cash advances at ATM's, bear in mind that they'll be subject to any finance charges your credit card company imposes -- which can add up very quickly.
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:02 am Post subject:
tabana wrote:
Thank you again.
Looks like I would've made a mistake.
No sweat....
When I went to Japan I had already paid for my hotel with my credit card and I went to my bank and had pretty much all the yen I needed before I even took off.
Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 2331 Location: in South Atami Country:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:15 am Post subject:
Tu_triky wrote:
No but travelling in Japan it might be difficult for you to find an ATM that works with your American bank debit card....
reminds me of my weekly trip to the one and only Citibank when I stayed in Nagoya. My cards worked only at Citi and some post office ATMs (and a few department stores).
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:16 am Post subject:
EstherM wrote:
reminds me of my weekly trip to the one and only Citibank when I stayed in Nagoya. My cards worked only at Citi and some post office ATMs (and a few department stores).
Yeah I know it's tough to find a place where you can use your foreign bank cards.....
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