Handling cash conversions for a short trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt from India
My parents are traveling to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt for a short trip [2 weeks] from India. The travel agency they travel with wants them to convert Indian Rupees(INR) to US Dollars(USD) for their travel and convert to local currency (Shekels for Israel) and others when they arrive in the country they are visiting.
I'm not sure if this is the usual procedure. But I do not see much of an alternative as they don't use credit cards or international debit card so carrying cash is the only options.
Two question,
- Is it normal to carry US dollar to these places as it would be easier to convert them there?
- Would it be better to convert them to local currency to the country they are visiting directly from Indian rupees before reaching there?
Edit.
They will not be carrying anything over $1500 since all the hotel booking, food, and tickets have been paid for and booked by the travel agency.
The cash they will be carrying is only for personal use.
Best Answer
Its common to carry US$ and convert in local currency. Every mall will have plenty of places to exchange. But carrying around large sums of cash (for a whole trip) is very uncommon and dangerous. Depending on the amount they might have to declare it at customs and face a few questions.
I recommend a Credit card as a back up and for expenses like accommodation etc. or as mentioned travelers checks etc.
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Is the border between Israel and Jordan closed?
The Jordan River / Sheikh Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin/ Wadi Arraba crossings between Jordan and Israel are closed in both directions. As of December 2021, Israel has closed its borders to all foreign travellers as a safety precaution due to the ongoing pandemic.Can you cross the border between Israel and Jordan?
There are three border crossings between Israel and Jordan: the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal/Wadi Araba Crossing, the King Hussein Bridge (Allenby) Terminal and the Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein Crossing. Below get details on each of these crossings so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.Do I need a visa to enter Israel from Jordan?
Always make sure you have six months of passport validity in order to enter from Jordan into Israel, as well as a blank page which is required for the entry stamp. You can obtain a 3 month visa upon arrival for Israel through Sheikh Hussein Crossing.How do you cross the King Hussein Bridge?
How to get to King Hussein Bridge (Allenby) Terminal. As this border crossing is closest to Jerusalem, you can take the public bus or a taxi. From the Old City (Damascus Gate side) a taxi is approximately a 30 KM drive. Egged Bus 961 will drop you almost at the border, ending at Route 90.EGYPT \u0026 JORDAN | Ep1: Solo Backpacking Egypt
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Answer 2
You don’t say how much cash your parents are planning to take or how long they’ll be spending in each country. For security reasons a better option would be taking US$ travellers cheques and a small amount of each of the local currencies for convenience when your parents first arrive. In Egypt, it seems that US$ cash is recommended. https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/egypt/money-duty-free/ Hotels often ask for a credit card when checking in as a deposit against incidentals etc. so it would be worth asking the travel agent about this to avoid any awkwardness on arrival.
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