Be careful Be safe!
What I am going to talk about is based on our live experience on the second day of the trip in Bali so I hope this will help someone who travels and tries to exchange currencies in overseas. We were staying in Kuta, one of the most popular touristic areas in Bali. As we expected that we will get better exchange rate in Bali, we changed only minimum amount of money in Sydney so we needed some Indonesian rupees to get some food and fruits. There are hundreds of exchange offices in Kuta so it would not be any problem to change Australian dollars to Indonesian rupees. However, there are many challenges to overcome not to get ripped off and get correct amount of money so please take a note on my tips for your own safety.
Be very careful with and better avoid hereunder.
1. Shop with a small desk placed deep inside of the shop or a shop located in a deep and narrow lane : Many offices put the signboards with far better rate on the busy street but actually located far from the main road. Do not even try to go in. You will never get promised rate. Thing only you can get from them will be unsafe feeling with less changes.
2. Too many guys around : If you see too many guys are around the office, better avoid entering the office. You will feel like getting into the war zone surrounded by enemies and I promise you that you will never get the correct amount of money.
3. Destruction with smaller notes: If the person start counting smaller notes such as 20, 000 Rp ($1.80) to exchange your money, better grab your money back and run. They will trick you while you are counting the notes and you will end up getting less money than you are supposed to get.
4. Touching the money all the time : If the person touches the money again and again, it is time to run. Because they are ready to confuse you and rip you off.
5. Moving hands fast and recounting money repeatedly : No explanation needed. Just leave. That will be the best thing you can do.
6. Dropping casually a few bank notes from the hand to the drawer behind the desk : When they count money, look at the hands properly. Some notes that supposed to come to your pocket can go back into their drawer.
7. Keep an eye on your money : Keep your money properly. Don't let the person to have the money before you get the correct local currency. You never know when it can be disappeared in front of your eyes.
8. 'No commission' doesn't mean no commission : Before you enter the office, ask them if the sign 'no commission' is real. If not, better find another one.
9. Exceptionally high exchange rate : Too good to be true never be true. Do not even try.
We ended up changing our money with a guy who has been having the business for over 20 years at the same place near the beach. The best way to exchange money is finding a reliable person and use him or her repeatedly. Be careful and be safe.
No Commission????
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