In article , Odysseus wrote:
> The guidebook I read say that in Zimbabwe most people prefer foreign
> currency. It also said that if you pay by credit card you may not get an
> unfavorable exchange rate.
>
> I concluded that in SA, I can follow my usual practice of paying with
> Mastercard or Visa and getting my cash from ATMs. For Zimbabwe (Victoria
> Falls), I should bring US dollar traveler's checks.
>
My experience, one week in Harare last August: we could buy nothing
with VISA credit cards. We searched very hard, with the help of
resident families there, to find a place to cash an American Express
travelers check. We finally were able to cash a $100 check. . no more.
It is essential to bring euros or dollars to change to Zimbabwe money.
Of course, when you leave you cannot change back. It is a truly
unbelievable situation there.
Travel agents listed a wide assortment of tours. When we asked to book
one, it turns out the only tour actually available is Vic Falls. They
might take VISA for that. . . we didn't try it.
Harare major chain hotels (at least one we talked to) may cash some
traveler's checks or use credit cards, but only for their guests. We
were staying with friends.
Collect more recent advice on Zimbabwe or you may get into a serious
financial bind there. I hope someone posts recent news that Mugabe has
gotten the economy working again, but what we saw was badly broken.
---Ken |
