How much would you take?

I am going to Taipei, Taiwan for a work meeting soon.

I will be there for 5 days. Two of those days will be in a meeting from 8am-6pm.

The next day will be spent at a ceremony.

The day before the meeting is free for my own leisure time, possibly shopping.

So really, I have 1 1/2 days for fun stuff and shopping.

I know that I cannot buy clothes - asian sizes are way too small for me! The last time I tried something in Malaysia, I had to ask someone to help me take it off, it was too tight!

I do plan to visit the night markets.

Food is covered by work and the meeting will have food provided.

So the only thing I need is shopping and leisure money.

The currency exchange states that 1 NZ dollar = 21.19 Taiwan dollars. (TWD)

My boss thinks about $50 per day.

I am not a big shopper...

What do you think?

I'm not sure about Taipai, but a friend's husband goes somewhere in that vicinity (Hong Kong maybe) frequently, and he gets her really nice handbags for a great price. So don't forget to look for those.

Originally Posted by kluchetta

I'm not sure about Taipai, but a friend's husband goes somewhere in that vicinity (Hong Kong maybe) frequently, and he gets her really nice handbags for a great price. So don't forget to look for those.

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I wonder if he gets them from the night markets - I got DH a messenger bag from one of them for a great price too.

Good luck. Have a great time.

A few hundred plus credit cards? Have a nice trip!

Originally Posted by carolinalima

A few hundred plus credit cards? Have a nice trip!

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Can I trust myself with a credit card? No. I will take my debit card instead.

Originally Posted by Kiwideus

Can I trust myself with a credit card? No.

I will take my debit card instead.

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Wise woman! Set a max cap on what you can afford to spend before you go.

Find out what kind of exchange rate your debit card offers before using it. Sometimes it's very different from the real exchange rate, and not in your favor, either.

Originally Posted by Willowy

Find out what kind of exchange rate your debit card offers before using it. Sometimes it's very different from the real exchange rate, and not in your favor, either.

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I have something here that tells me all the costs. I probably won't use it unless it is an emergency. Thanks for the warning.

Originally Posted by carolinalima

A few hundred plus credit cards? Have a nice trip!

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I think this is a good advice BUT keep money here on NZ... so when you return, make a full pay of your credit cards.... you travel safe, no lot of money in your pocket and can buy... ....
About the rate of exchange you can check on internet how is the cotization and find the possible places that are near where you going to stay...
this is what I do....


good luck and have a safe trip Kelly!.. ..

You might also want to check the fraud protection that you have on your bank account just in case you do need to pay by plastic. Sometimes the credit card is the safer option in that you may have more protection against card fraud. It is easy to somebody to clone a debit card and then empty your bank account of cash, if your account is not protected against fraud it means that all can be lost.

Take it from me, it's a nasty experience!

Originally Posted by flisssweetpea

You might also want to check the fraud protection that you have on your bank account just in case you do need to pay by plastic. Sometimes the credit card is the safer option in that you may have more protection against card fraud. It is easy to somebody to clone a debit card and then empty your bank account of cash, if your account is not protected against fraud it means that all can be lost.

Take it from me, it's a nasty experience!

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Although people can steal your credit card too of course. I find that credit cards are better protected, at least here anyways. I hardly ever use debit anymore! People can overdraft your account with a debit card too, and you don't find out till it's too late.
Personally, I prefer to minimize the amount of cash I carry anywhere. I think a max of a couple of hundred bucks of local currency ought to do it for those few days you have free time.
Shoes shoes shoes, handbags and shoes.... Have fun shopping!

I would say $100 per day..so $500. If you don't spend it, fine..but I would take that much because you never know what you will want to buy in another land

I didn't think about the fraud issue - I forgot that happened to me in DC a few years ago!

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I would say $100 per day..so $500. If you don't spend it, fine..but I would take that much because you never know what you will want to buy in another land

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I decided that I will take 600 - 100 per day plus an extra, just in case!

Thanks guys!