Best Way to Pay My Way through Malaysia

[Deactivated] on 27/01/2017 - 19:03
Last edited 28/01/2017 - 08:33 by 1 other user

I'm travelling to Malaysia around the middle of this year. I'll be visiting KUL and PEN.

I've looked into travel cards and not one of them in Australia offers MYR. I don't want to use a credit card because of 3% fee per transaction + rip off conversion rates. I can't get a foreign fee free credit card because I'm a student and most of them want an income of $40k+. I don't like carrying cash due to the risks and it's dirty but it looks like I might have to suck it up.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Bonus question:

What are some must do things in KUL and PEN?

Financial

Comments

  • rambutann on 27/01/2017 - 19:08
    +8

    You clearly haven't been on ozbargain long.

    Citibank plus debit card is all you'll need.

    • mskeggs on 27/01/2017 - 19:14
      +1

      This is the correct answer.
      FWIW, most normal credit cards offer better conversion rates and fees than travel cards.
      Also, reluctance to carry cash because it is dirty? Are you worried about dust on the notes soiling your clothes or something? Or do you think bacteria or viruses find plastic/paper a magical source of nutrients?
      How will you buy a street side satay or char kway teo or something without cash?

      • Kangal on 27/01/2017 - 20:06

        Nah, cash is king.

        Just be thoughtful with your possession. No need to get ATM Anxiety.

    • [Deactivated] on 27/01/2017 - 19:14

      No, I haven't been here long.

      I had a look into that and found this

      "We charge you an
      International Transaction
      Fee of 2.5% on the AUD
      dollar conversion of any
      transaction made in foreign
      currency. This amount
      includes a service and
      assessment fee payable
      by Citibank to the scheme
      (where applicable)."

      Am I missing something?

  • bluesky on 27/01/2017 - 19:28
    +1

    I can confirm the CitiPlus card works very well - I used it for fee-free ATM withdrawals there recently. Here is the link if you want to check out the card features or apply.

    As for what to do, check out this past thread that has some suggestions. And there are other threads as well, worth a search.

  • montorola on 27/01/2017 - 20:10

    Yep, the Citibank Plus is all you need.

    Don't be silly and take cash with you two. Make sure you take emergency cash and keep it locked in your luggage bag/safe just incase you lose your card/cash and need to survive.

  • xyee on 27/01/2017 - 22:28
    -1

    Depending on the sum you're going to spend, you'll get a better exchange rate when you swap your AUD to RM with the local money changers.

    Where are you staying? Hotel? If so, most hotels will have a safe where you can lock your cash up if you choose to do the above.

  • ramsheed on 27/01/2017 - 23:39
    +1

    Traveled to KL and through Sarawak last year and just withdrew cash in Ringgit as required from ATMs using the Citibank card. Doesn't get any easier than that. I was getting a better conversion than exchanging AUD at a money changer

    • xyee on 28/01/2017 - 01:09

      Not that I don't trust you but I find it quite hard to believe that Citi's exchange rate would be better than local money changers. Though you might have to look around for ones with the best rates. Note that AUD will be in demand, so you're in a position to negotiate the rates with them if you're talking a good sum.

      • Baysew on 28/01/2017 - 08:24

        You are missing the point.

        As OP states

        I don't like carrying cash due to the risks and it's dirty.

        Who wants to carry around heaps of cash, wandering around in the hope of finding a "local money changer" and haggling to obtain the "best" rate.

        • xyee on 28/01/2017 - 15:27

          I'm just laying out options. I'm not pointing a gun to OP saying he has to do it. Isn't Ozbargain about the best deals around? That's what I've offered. Take it or leave it. Besides, my reply to ramsheed was about citi's exchange rate compared to local money changers.

          Also, if you don't want to handle cash because it's dirty, then you're going to miss out on a lot of the local experience.

          So…thanks Baysew

      • bluesky on 28/01/2017 - 16:09
        +1

        I was surprised too. But it certainly can happen - see my comment.

        Although, I must admit, my comparisons were mainly made with money exchangers around the Bukit Bintang/KL Sentral/KLCC areas, which are kind of touristy. Not sure about non-touristy areas.

        Also, not sure if it is a consistent trend, or just now and then.
        But quite convenient, especially I found out since from OzBargainers, that the fee-free applies to most ATMs irrespective of brand.

  • ck16 on 28/01/2017 - 11:31
    +2

    I travel many times a year and can confirm the Citibank Plus Debit card pretty much gives you the interbank rate when withdrawing money. This is as good as it gets.

    Although not applicable you, currently the best credit cards for making purchases (not ATM withdrawals) are the 28 Degrees Platinum MasterCard and the BankWest Platinum MasterCard. Both cards don't sting you with fees and the conversion is roughly the same as the interbank rate. Just don't use the cards for cash withdrawals at an ATM because that's when you'll pay fees.

    Hope this helps!

  • 911r on 30/01/2017 - 18:33

    What about the 28 degrees card? Still no fees on that card as far as I know and the conversion rate is the best I've ever seen on a card. Use it there all the time.

    Bonus question answer: eat, eat as much as you can.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/01/2017 - 19:08
    +1

    Thanks all, I called Citibank and they confirmed the Citibank Plus account has zero overseas withdraw fees and zero foreign transactions fees for EFTPOS. Will be opening an account with them shortly.

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