Reasons to Exchange Currencies

All of this is very interesting if you plan to go into international economics, but what if your interests are more personal? What if, say, you want to take a vacation this summer to Thailand or England or France or Japan, and you want to be able to buy a few souvenirs while you’re there? Do you need to take anything more than American dollars?

The answer really depends on where you plan to go. Some countries accept United States dollars as currency – Mexican businesses and merchants, for instance, often allow you to pay them directly in American dollars without having to convert first to the country’s official currency, the peso. In cases like that, you’re saved the trouble of having to look for currency exchange rates and local currencies before you go. Check with a travel agent or read a travel guide to see if the locals will accept American dollars.

Many places, such as England or most of Europe, for example, rarely accept American dollars as legal tender. In those cases, you’ll have to either convert some cash before you go or visit an exchange table when you arrive. Many tourist oriented currency exchange tables artificially inflate exchange rates in order to make a profit, so you’ll probably be better off going with a more official and less “profitable” source. Check into the currency exchange rates before you leave.