Most accepted credit card in Australia.

[Globaliser]

I know this will all be a matter of personal experience, but mine is much more like SailingVol's.

 

I've just looked through my Mastercard statements covering my two trips to Australia this year. There are only two entries: one is for a winery at Lake George (near Canberra) and the other is my tax refund (which I sent to the Mastercard because I lose fewer frequent flyer miles that way!).

 

This accords with my recollection, which is that I hardly ever come across anywhere in Australia that doesn't take Amex.

[Aussie Gal]

Globiliser,

 

Unfortunately you would find that if you lived here, Amex would be refused countless times. As I mentioned, I carry both cards and my Visa has more entries on it than my Amex. We find Swimming Pool shops, Pharmacies, Hardware shops, Gift shops etc. refuse to accept Amex. We cannot pay our Gas or Electricity bills with Amex, our Health Insurance or even our Car Registration with them. Water Rates are another item to be added to the list. If we pay our phone bill with Amex we are charged for the privilege.

 

The list goes on and on. Perhaps you have only been dealing with touristy shops in Sydney which recognize that Amex is widely used in the U.S. and therefore feel the need to accept it.

 

Jennie

[kehlx2]

Well I spoke in person with my local bank yesterday & they sure burst my bubble....:( I CAN get Aus cash with no charges ahead of time--that will be fine...but I had hoped to use our debit card & get cash locally using ATM..they told me "conversion charges of 3-6%--ATM fee locally AND my own bank's ATM fees--will be at current rate (of course I'd expect that)--so they said it can really add up & I'd be liable for ANY amount charged on it if I lost the card or someone used it--so it would be better to use a credit card. So I guess I am asking for any for sure information on this from those who have used their debit card?(in a foreign country) Or should I plan to not use it just use CreditCard only?

Also what currency do I get for Aus (ok--know that one) is it the same for Tasmania? Does NZ have their own currency different from AUS? Then I will call for cash from our bank once I know which country uses what. THANKS...hope I don't sound totally stupid on this....got our documents today--so it is offical--we ARE going!!! :cool: :D

[Aussie Gal]

First of all Tasmania is part of Australia. It has always been for the past 200 odd years and yes in Australia we all use the currency. I would get a mixture of $50, $20, $10, and $5 notes, depending on how much you need. We also have $100 notes which are widely used.

 

New Zealand has their own currency and even though it is similar to ours it is different. I would probably go the same way with the denominations.

 

When we took money out of our Debit card in Scotland a few years ago, we were charged a fee, depending on how much we took out. We felt it wasn't worth losing money like that and since then we have always taken cash of the country we are visiting and our credit cards.

 

Enjoy your cruise and our country.

 

Jennie

[kehlx2]

First of all Tasmania is part of Australia. It has always been for the past 200 odd years and yes in Australia we all use the currency. I would get a mixture of $50, $20, $10, and $5 notes, depending on how much you need. We also have $100 notes which are widely used.

 

New Zealand has their own currency and even though it is similar to ours it is different. I would probably go the same way with the denominations.

 

When we took money out of our Debit card in Scotland a few years ago, we were charged a fee, depending on how much we took out. We felt it wasn't worth losing money like that and since then we have always taken cash of the country we are visiting and our credit cards.

 

Enjoy your cruise and our country.

 

Jennie

 

Jennie thank you very much--I thought Tasmania & Aus were part of same country--but having never paid too much attention before planning this cruise I wasn't sure..Hope I didn't offend anyone as for sure I would never want to do that. So I will plan on getting cash for both countries..this helps alot & will use credit card when it is more costly. (besides..then I get more miles) :D ..I am so looking forward to traveling in your country & so looking forward to our tour Great Ocean Road in your city.

Thanks again for the information.

[Globaliser]

Unfortunately you would find that if you lived here, Amex would be refused countless times. ... Perhaps you have only been dealing with touristy shops in Sydney which recognize that Amex is widely used in the U.S. and therefore feel the need to accept it.

Funnily enough, no. When I'm in Sydney, I'm more "at home" than truly visiting in the tourist sense. So I use my credit cards in the same way that I'd do if I were at home in London.

[sultan_sfo]

We have used our ATM card and it is absolutely the common and accepted way to get local currency in any foreign country. Your information does not sound correct. We have been charged the wholesale rate. Our bank charges a flat $5 ATM transaction fee that includes foreign ATM charge. And regarding the ATM card getting lost, to either draw cash or use ATM card as a debit card requires your PIN number. And also, from Hong Kong, I was able to call the Bank's ATM 1-800 US number using a phone card. Obviously, it was not a free call but I got connected as if I were calling from the US. When I told them I was calling from Hong Kong, they gave terrific service if resolving the problem of drawing cash in Hong Kong. I do use the precaution of using only the ATM at a bank in case the ATM swallows up my card. At least, then my ATM card is not in some grocery store machine.

 

If I get foreign currency in the US, apparently there is no fee but the rates are so poor Banks and foreign exchange sellers make up for it that way.

 

But do NOT use credit card for cash withdrawal.

 

/Sultan

 

Well I spoke in person with my local bank yesterday & they sure burst my bubble....:( I CAN get Aus cash with no charges ahead of time--that will be fine...but I had hoped to use our debit card & get cash locally using ATM..they told me "conversion charges of 3-6%--ATM fee locally AND my own bank's ATM fees--will be at current rate (of course I'd expect that)--so they said it can really add up & I'd be liable for ANY amount charged on it if I lost the card or someone used it--so it would be better to use a credit card. So I guess I am asking for any for sure information on this from those who have used their debit card?(in a foreign country) Or should I plan to not use it just use CreditCard only?

...

 

:cool: :D

[kehlx2]

We have used our ATM card and it is absolutely the common and accepted way to get local currency in any foreign country. Your information does not sound correct. We have been charged the wholesale rate. Our bank charges a flat $5 ATM transaction fee that includes foreign ATM charge. And regarding the ATM card getting lost, to either draw cash or use ATM card as a debit card requires your PIN number. And also, from Hong Kong, I was able to call the Bank's ATM 1-800 US number using a phone card. Obviously, it was not a free call but I got connected as if I were calling from the US. When I told them I was calling from Hong Kong, they gave terrific service if resolving the problem of drawing cash in Hong Kong. I do use the precaution of using only the ATM at a bank in case the ATM swallows up my card. At least, then my ATM card is not in some grocery store machine.

 

If I get foreign currency in the US, apparently there is no fee but the rates are so poor Banks and foreign exchange sellers make up for it that way.

 

But do NOT use credit card for cash withdrawal.

 

Oh no I'd NEVER use a credit card for cash--they charge interest from the date you draw it..actually the bank sounded a bit paranoid--saying with phone cameras nowdays & such to put my hand over the numbers when giving them the card..but our bank might just be high for ATM use anyway--so guess I will go with cash & will try for cash if I need it..but once on the ship won't have any problem..shot even if it was $10--we'd loose that in 5-10 minutes in the casino...:D so I won't worry too much but try to use the cash..thanks tho for your info. Yes right now the exchange for $100 is 94.17 thru our bank(which right there would probably be 100 for 100--if using ATMs)--am thinking when I went into conversion sites the rate showed much better--but then again--no matter where I get it will not be good rate I suppose...course the US money is doing very bad...we used to make a good deal traveling out of Canada with our friends--now they get the better deals.

[Aussie Gal]

Globiliser,

 

I don't know where you are using your Amex but on the average Visa is accepted absolutely everywhere here whereas Amex is only accepted for 50%of charges.

 

Here is an example. I was shopping in the city on Friday and I went to one of the biggest DVD, CD and Video Games shops in the country and when I went to pay for my goods with my Amex I was going be charged an extra percentage for the privilege, whereas if I paid with my Visa there was no extra charge.

 

Here in Australia, merchants can charge customers extra if using certain credit cards.

 

With all our Christmas shopping, my Visa account is more than double my Amex account and that is not from my choosing as I get far more F.F. points if I use my Amex. It is because merchants prefer Visa and Mastercard.

 

Jennie

[cands]

Globiliser,

 

I don't know where you are using your Amex but on the average Visa is accepted absolutely everywhere here whereas Amex is only accepted for 50%of charges.

 

Here is an example. I was shopping in the city on Friday and I went to one of the biggest DVD, CD and Video Games shops in the country and when I went to pay for my goods with my Amex I was going be charged an extra percentage for the privilege, whereas if I paid with my Visa there was no extra charge.

 

Here in Australia, merchants can charge customers extra if using certain credit cards.

 

With all our Christmas shopping, my Visa account is more than double my Amex account and that is not from my choosing as I get far more F.F. points if I use my Amex. It is because merchants prefer Visa and Mastercard.

 

Jennie

 

Jennie,

I agree with you 100%.

You certainly could be lucky while visiting with just an Amex, but most probably you will be 'caught short' or slogged with extra charges at some stage. It always pays to have a Visa or Mastercard at the ready!

 

Just thought, as a neighbour, I'd give you some support here.

 

Cheers,

Steve. (In Ashburton).

[Aussie Gal]

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks for that. I do try and use my Amex everywhere but as you know, it is so often knocked back.

 

Jennie

[aussi cruiser]

Hi Jenny I agree with you about using Amex in Australia. All though we have a bussiness Amex card and use it in bottle shops and supermarkets (Coles and Safeway) we always carry our visa card just incase.

 

Cathy

Melbourne Australia

Star Cruises East Coast Australia 2001

Oceania Insignia Venice to Barcelona 2003

Oceania Nautica Stockholm to London 2005

Princess Diamond Mexico 2007

[Globaliser]

I don't know where you are using your Amex but on the average Visa is accepted absolutely everywhere here whereas Amex is only accepted for 50%of charges.

...

It is because merchants prefer Visa and Mastercard.

I know, and I know why; and I don't doubt you for a moment. But I simply haven't normally had any problems using my Amex when in Australia. It may be that you and I are normally be shopping in different shops, but I am not normally going to "touristy" places. (In fact, about the only touristy shop I go to is Ken Done's merchandise shop in the Rocks.) To make sure that I'm not just fantasising, I've now gone back to look at the previous two trips to Australia (either side of Christmas 2005) and the same thing happened: dozens of lines on my Amex statements, a total of one on the Mastercard.