Question:
What About Credit Cards, Cash, Exchange Rates, and Money Changers?
Answer:
Most small shops, warungs/restaurants, and tour companies run on cash only. ATM machines are rampant on the island, most having the Cirrus and Plus connection. You often get a very good exchange rate via ATM and it is convenient. Money Changers are all over the island, although not all of them are trustworthy. Try and stay away from the small storefront Balinese money changers (the guys with handwritten signs and made-up rates). The larger establishments, or those that say ‘authorized money changer’, will be a safer bet. In a dire situation, you can always do a cash advance at a local bank, but it will cost you 18-20% from your bank PLUS another % from the Bali Bank. As far as exchange rates go, if you have travelers’ checks, their rates are different than CASH, and the smaller the bill, the less the rate. $5 is worth less to a money changer than $100, and the rate they will give you will reflect that. Visa and MasterCard are the cards of choice in Indonesia. Remember to inform your credit card issuing bank about your intended trip or else you will risk getting your credit card accounts frozen from ‘unexpected activity’.