aaJoe wrote:
> > > The only place you'll get dollars out of an ATM
> > > is in a country that has adopted the US dollar as it's official
> > > currency (like El Salvador).
>
> What about Panama? Costa Rica in San Jose?
>
> > FWIW, there are some other places you can get US dollars out of an ATM.
> > Peru, for instance.
>
> What about an AMEX office? Could they cash your check and give you US
> dollars? (In a major city of course)
>
I honestly don't undertand why you want US dollars instead of local
currency. Many places in Honduras won't touch anything other than new
crisp bills, anything worn or torn will not be accepted. If you are not
in a tourist area it is even more difficult to use US dollars. If you
use US dollars to pay for things, you'll get change back in the local
currency, not US dollars, and the exchange rate won't be favorable from
a merchant.They want a profit when they change it at the bank.
I haven't seen an AMEX office in three years of living and traveling
around Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Honestly, most people use
ATM's because it is less hassle to find them than it is to find the
AMEX office, cash is dispensed in local currency so you won't need to
convert, and you won't have to worry about counterfeit US$20 - of
which there is a large amount floating around in Central America.
> > Meanwhile, on the original question, I don't think I've ever been asked
> > for an onward ticket when crossing a border. Years ago, I used to carry
> > around an MCO (Miscellaneous Charges Order, which was like an air ticket
> > but unassigned to any particular airline or any particular destination).
> > I'm not sure these even exist any more. But in any case, I was never
> > asked to show it.
> >
> > And my understanding is that, if the question were to arise, showing a
> > credit card would be taken as sufficient sign that you had access to funds
> > to leave the country.
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