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Don’t ever change your money at the first bureau de change. Some of them will pay very little for your money. The ones which pay more for each dollar, euro or pound are located in Copacabana (Princesa Isabel Street or at the beginning of NS Copa Street).
I backpacked around Europe last summer and held onto my handbag for dear life at all times. As a poor student carrying around over 500 Euros, I couldn't take any chances. At one point I ran out of money and used my UK debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM, only to receive frantic calls from my bank to see who had been using my card at a bank in Rome.
This summer I made a similar trip around the US and I came across the concept of prepaid cards. I loaded my dollars onto it before I left and it was like having a local debit card. I could even withdraw cash from it at an ATM. When I ran out of money I just sent a text message to the card account and bought currency to put on the card in just two minutes. I think the card is also available in Euros.
It's now as much of a holiday staple for me as my sun tan lotion and flip flops.
Departing from Marrakech airport:
Once you pass through airport security you can only use your dirhams to spend on food in the cafes.
All the other shops including the duty free shops are NOT allowed to accept dirhams and only accept hard currency such as euros.
If you did have excess dirhams you can change these in the airport before you go through security.
Especially when the cigarettes are so cheap in the duty free shops, you'd be kicking yourself if all you have is dirhams to spend.
Marrakech airport
In my experience, online currency ordering via www.travelex.co.uk gives you the best rate (they also have a best rate guarantee). Order online and pick up at the airport. Just be wary that some debit card providers charge a 'cash advance' fee - however, Switch cards do not incur such a fee. My tip would be to order via www.baa.com/worldpoints and get the same great rate but also collect worldpoints (which you can use for frequent flyer miles or discounts). Remember to present your card when collecting the currency.
I am in Varna every other month. I have a villa some 20 minutes up the motorway. I feel safer in Varna than ever I could in the UK. I walk the streets at night and do so quite happily. I have never been hassled by a Bulgarian. After spending half my life in Egypt where hassle is the order of the day, I walked out of my hotel on my first morning in Bulgaria and couldn't believe it. I was totally ignored by everybody, including the local street dog. Bulgarians are polite, courteous and let you do your thing, but if you need any help they will go out of their way to help you.
Money changing is against the law in Bulgaria. When approached by a street money changer, just say, "No thank you". They won't hassle you, because they don't want to draw attention to themselves. I have not heard of changers snatching money and running off. What they would do is give you out-of-date Bulgarian or Russian money that is worthless or count out 10 notes into your hand in full view. It is only later that you find you only got six notes.
Change your money in the city centre, where you get a much better rate than at a seaside resort. And lastly, don't change your money in the UK, especially at the airport where the exchange rate is really bad, for you. I love Bulgaria, I love Varna, and I love its people. They are like the British used to be. Courteous, well-mannered, polite and a credit to their country.
Change money on arrival in the airport currency exchange due to a better rate.
We found it tricky to exchange money whilst we were in Laos (combination of national holidays, weekends and initially staying out of town). So we ended up having no cash. Stupidly we didn't take a lot of dollars with us.
Wish we had: everywhere takes them and it saves queuing in hot banks.
They are honest, fast and give a good rate. Forget the banks who limit the amount, may charge commission, and take ages. These guys are straight, fast and, I guess, regulated.
The money changers in Kowloon and other areas are not, in my experience, as good.
It'a small street between two main roads near the Macau Ferry Terminal, the tram runs down it in one direction.
Beware of the border crossing at Poipet. There is a scam to tell you that Cambodia no longer uses the dollar and to get you to change your money into Reils for dodgy exchange rates. It is not true. Also there are ATMs in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and a few other places.
Being a less popular currency, rates in England are not very competitive. If you can, wait until you are in Turkey and there you will be able to get more Lira for your pound.
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