My "Oh Shit" Moment

No money, mo' problems

Laura, New York
|
June 8, 2020

When I went to India for the first time, I was lucky to have small bills on me because the day I landed, the Indian government said they were banning the use of certain big bill denominations! This was in a supposed effort to stem corruption.

For the duration of my trip, I saw never-ending lines at banks across the country, of people trying to exchange their larger, discontinued bills for legal tender. I was able to get by with what I had for a while, but I still had to be very mindful of my cash supply for a while since ATMs were out-of-order across the country due to overuse.  Eventually a tour guide facilitated a trip to the bank, so I didn't have to ration my dwindling cash supply anymore. But even the bank visit still required lots of paperwork and waiting. It was truly unexpected.

I don't expect the local government to announce such a sweeping economic change every time you travel, of course, but having a variety of bills in either the local currency or your home currency to exchange upon arrival is always good practice. 

lesson learned

  • If possible, bring some cash in the currency of the country you're visiting with you before you arrive, in both big and small bills. 
  • If you can't get local currency before your trip, at least try to bring some cash in your home currency.
Have you ever traveled without any money?
about the author
Molly Chhiv
What's up! This Cambodian kid is an outdoor addict, adventure blogger, & your personal HYPE GIRL. Through the outdoors, I've learned self-confidence, independence, & mental strength. My mission through The Adventure Diet is to share the power of the outdoors with you. I want to empower you with tips, tools and inspiration to get outside with confidence and find yourself.

So if you're ready, let's get out there and do this sh*t!

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