How much money do I take to South and Central America PDF Print E-mail
Written by daveg   
Wednesday, 02 September 2009 20:29
+1 on fake wallet! I actually use the fake wallet as my "day use cash wallet". It is loaded with old CCs and a laminated color copy of my DL. Most places in the US won't want to help you make a fake it, but in mexico, no problemo!

The other thing I only carried copies on me was my passport. I had a 2 sided laminated color copy of my passport. If you're really anal, make a copy of each border stamp when you get it and copy that.. never carry real passport, IMO.

In Panama city, I heard cops shaking down tourists asking for PPs. No one carries it and so they'd "fine" them. What you are legally allowed to do is carry a copy of PP and of entry visa stamp.


On the topic of money. I had this belt:
http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/sho...-Belt_10031314

It has a pocket sewn into the back. I dont think alot of ppl are wearing them yet. Hell, when I was robbed, I had to undo my belt so the robbers could steal my traditional money belt. They didn't realize that they just passed over about 500 USD for the money belt that had $50.

I carried a total of about $1500 cash split between me (about 500, in belt, and other secret pockets) and the rest was split between each hard bag. I wanted to have enough money in cash to where if there is a problem, I can buy a plane ticket home without accessing a bank.

Since I like to prepare as much as travel, I also had about USD 30 worth of every currency I would encounter. It is nice having small local money at the border when they try to tell you that it'll be 5Quetzales (almost 1USD) or $5... whichever you happen to have

But that is overkill, IMO. However, I'm just an overkill kinda person.


Re: ATM machines.. have atleast two bank accounts with each of those having two accounts.

Make sure each bank is a different credit card/ATM network. That's the problem Sr. Banana is talking about. The two networks are (master card)Star and (visa) Plus. I always tried Star first and it didn't work in all countries. My riding buddy's Visa(plus) worked in every single country. Visa.. its where you want to be!

The last banking tip has to do with the two x two accounts deal:
Link ONLY the checking account to your ATM card for each account. Keep $1000 or 2000 (whatever you can afford to lose) if you happen to have to go for a kidnapped walking tour of ATMs.

Keep the rest of the money in your savings/money market account that you can only access online. There is internet access EVERYWHERE.. def anywhere that has an ATM. So I'd keep minimal moneys in checking/atm account and the motherload split between the two banks.