Flying to China: Money changer suggestions for Victoria? Tips for China?

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  SomeGuyOnOzB on 13/09/2016 - 14:10

  bump

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  otcsan on 14/09/2016 - 10:21

  +1

  We always use Anying Whitehorse Rd Box Hill. Need to ring first to check if enough cash on hand but they give a pretty good rate. Also I recommend backing up with some US dollars, as easier to change and handy if you have some left over, instead of having an excess of Chinese yuan on your return.

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  Schumi5 on 15/09/2016 - 22:50

  +1

  Have found EVERFOREX has some really good rates. They have branches in box Hill and Glen Waverley but again you will have to call to see if they have any CNY as they don't always have it.

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  [Deactivated] on 16/09/2016 - 08:52

  whereabouts in China are you visiting?

  have been there a couple times and had no issue making withdrawals from atms

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    SomeGuyOnOzB on 16/09/2016 - 19:36

    A couple of major cities and a couple of minor ones. I'm not planning on having much but I had read some people said atms can run out of cash in China, due to low stocks, and then don't get renewed for a few days.

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  Ryugen on 17/09/2016 - 17:40

  +1

  Not sure about exchange places but can give you general hints/tips for China. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask, I stayed in China for 2 straight years and my wife is Chinese (I'm Chinese too but I'm pretty much looks only by now haha)

  Cash is still going to be the preferred payment of choice over there. Big / chain stores will probably accept Visa/Master but they have their own credit system that the majority of eftpos places take, Union Pay. Any major bank ATM will allow the use of international cards for withdrawals. I had no problems withdrawing with Citi with Bank of China, SPDB (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank) and Bank of Communications as these are quite major banks. You might have a different experience with each provinces regional bank so try not to use those. If you just have no idea, the 3 I mentioned are your safest bet and also CMBC (China Minsheng Bank).

  Running out of cash…I've never seen that happen in my time there, nor have I heard that being an issue. It could be prevalent in heavy tourist areas? Saying that, I've gone to your high traffic areas like Nanjing St, Shanghai and Beijing shopping streets where people line up for 30+ mins for atm access, did not notice any shortage of bills. I couldn't comment on this one, only that I've never seen it before.

  There is no tipping in China, just like Australia. They will neither ask nor expect it. If they do, something is off.

  Be very careful with your tour choice, and if possible avoid locally on the spot booked tours. Most of the cheapo options ($99AUD for 8 nights guided tour?) are what they call shopping tours. Very little actual touring, most of it spent shop to shop in the tour companies affiliated shops. Some real horror stories there.

  The rule "Pay for what you get" applies 150% while you are in China.

  What cities are you going to be heading to? How do you plan to get around?

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    SomeGuyOnOzB on 17/09/2016 - 18:47

    Thank you :)

    I'm doing a tour with TripADeal. There will be a few shops we are forced to go to (silk factory, pearl, … chinese medicine) which is listed as part of the tour, but we are visiting the Great Wall and have a number of places listed to see, that we want to go to.

    I hadn't heard of shopping tours or $99 AUD guided tour.

    The tour I'm doing has flights, accomodation, transport, guides and some meals included.

    There are a couple of free afternoons but we plan to do some of the tour options and visit the local shopping centre (we read the description on trip advisor of what we could find there).

    Running out of cash - I'd read that on TripAdvisor, though I think it was someone who had studied there and found the ATM near the university kept running out.

    I think I read that we can get cash from hotels which is probably convenient and maybe safer, if at a poorer exchange rate.

    One thing though, the TripADeal people have written in our itinerary, that this is purely voluntary, but we could be tipping the driver and tour guide, $10 AUD a day.

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      Ryugen on 21/09/2016 - 10:50

      +1

      As I mentioned, tipping is not prevalent in China for service and hospitality but would be more as a gesture towards the driver/tour guide. Or a way to gouge more money off you, if you want to be pessimistic.

      Never tried getting money from hotels, can't comment on this one.

      With hotels, if you are doing some of China by yourselves keep in mind that not all hotels can take foreigners. Only hotels with a foreigner license can actually take people checking in with international passports. I asked a hotel steward once why this was and they said it's the governments way to ensure foreigners don't stay in sh!tty hotels and then complain how sh!t China was. All hotels that have a foreigner license have to have a standard that the government checks / also pay for the license as well. There is no way to check if a specific hotel has the license, just have to try and make a reservation. Anything you can book on Expedia/bookings.com etc will be fine, this is a tip more for trying to walk into a hotel and book.

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        SomeGuyOnOzB on 23/09/2016 - 09:33

        Wow, I didn't know that about government regulated standards :)

        With regards to my trip, the whole thing is being organized through TripADeal, including accomodation.

        But I'll bear that in mind for the next trip … or get a tour operator to handle it all.

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    SomeGuyOnOzB on 17/09/2016 - 19:09

    I know this is off topic but, I heard some people saying we need to bring breathing masks etc for Beijing and Shanghai.

    Did you find that?
    What types would you use?

    Thank you :)

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      Ryugen on 21/09/2016 - 10:42

      +1

      Very hit and miss with those two cities. I was in Beijing twice and Shanghai once and all visits was with clear skies. Rarity but it happens. Face mask? Unless you have asthma / breathing issues/ lung problems I wouldn't worry TOO much about it, you'll survive. I tried to use them but felt like I couldn't breathe with them on.

      I wouldn't bother bringing them though, can always just get them there if you find it too bad. Type, whatever feels the most comfortable so you would actually wear it. Two main ones are like fabric reusable/washable or the papery disposable ones.

      What I will say is that spending prolonged periods there, your immune system will slowly degrade. It's just extremely dirty to breathe, even on clear skies. When I first got to China I rarely got sick in Australia. Towards the end of my stay, it was much easier for me to get sick.

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        SomeGuyOnOzB on 23/09/2016 - 09:34

        Thank you for the tips :)

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    SomeGuyOnOzB on 18/09/2016 - 12:02

    Do you find exchange rates (Australian dollars buying Chinese Yuan) to be better here, or in China?

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      Ryugen on 21/09/2016 - 10:44

      +1

      Can't help much here sorry, I earned Yuan and spent Yuan. I had to withdraw money a few times for emergencies (lack of funds on a holiday) and never bothered to check exchange rates. Just placed all trust in Citibank hahaha.

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  SomeGuyOnOzB on 12/10/2016 - 21:53

  Thank you so much everybody.

  I got a good rate from Anying, though they said I'd have to pick up a week later.

  I then spoke to TravelOz Money in Doncaster who agreed to match it and had the money in stock.

  I … forgot to check out EverForex … looks like I have to try them next time!

  Everforex 5.1612
  Anying 4.9446
  TravelOz 4.7 something
  Travelex 4.2 something