Look into Citigold from Citibank. You should not have to pay any transection fees when you draw money out of the atms from citibank in foreign countries.

On the main street in Luang Prabang there are money changers who can change small amounts of dollars into kip. The exchange rate is the same as you get from an ATM, and no fees. We just changed as we went, sometimes 4 times a day. They all have the same rate within a few kip of each other.

But there are few citibank branches in SE Asia, certainly none in Laos or Cambodia, only one, I believe in Bangkok.

I have a card that does not charge me for use of foreign ATMs and even reimburses me for any charges the ATM levies. I also have another card that doesn't charge for use of foreign ATMs (but I still have to pay the fee teh ATM charges). You can find these, sometimes from credit unions, sometimes from a brokerage, sometimes from a major bank with which you do a lot of business.

mohan, are you saying a Citibank ATM will take money out of your checking account from another bank -- say Wells Fargo or BofA and not charge you anything to do that? Even if so, your own bank probably would charge you. Or are you talking about those who have a Citigold bank account can withdraw money for free -- meaning they have a Citigold account with a minimum deposit of $100,000?

are you talking about those who have a Citigold bank account can withdraw money for free -- meaning they have a Citigold account with a minimum deposit of $100,000?
Unfortunately that is what it takes to be a citigold member.
Someone here said E trade reinbursed her all the bank fees. When I called Etrade sometime last year, not only did they not offer that to me, the reps said E trade did not offer atm activity in S.E. Asia. I called three times, spoke to 3 different reps, was told the same thing. I figure well both my brokerage and bank accounts at Etrade were inactive for 3+ years and I only had $1 or 2 in that account to keep it open, so I proposed that I would inject more money if the terms were favorable, but the answer was the same. In retrospect, I should have asked for a manager. But Neo, you can try calling them and other banks, there must be deals out there. Please do share with what you find.

No Citibank branches in Laos. Sounds like you are best off to use the ANZ Atms and withdraw 2 million kip at a go. Hotels and many restaurants will accept credit cards at a 3% surcharge. Don't try thi in rural areas though.

I remember mohan, that ETrade wasn't helpful to you. "reps said E trade did not offer atm activity in S.E. Asia" While that is literally true, ETrade does allow you to use bank ATMs world-wide fee-free and they reimburse what the local ATM charges. That said, I expect there are minimum deposit requirements, though I don't know what they are.

VB, I thought you said there are no ANZ ATMs in LP. NeoPatrick is, I believe, only going to LP.

Yes, Kathie has it right. I will only be in Luang Prabang in Laos and only for three days, so no matter what, ATM charges will not exactly break me!!

By the way, my account of Bank of America supposedly gives me two free foreign ATM withdrawals per month, but I'll be doing more than that my 2 and a half months in Asia.

Neo,

One other choice is to withdraw Thai Baht in Thailand and at the Bangkok Bank ATM you can withdraw up to 25,000 Baht(about US $780) PER transaction and up to 500,000 Baht per day. Baht is widely accepted in LP and I got pretty good rates or made direct purchases or payment with Baht.

Paying with Baht in Laos is the equivalent to paying, (or attempting to pay), with Canadian $ in the US. Have the courtesy to follow official Government policy and pay in Kip whenever you can.

canadian money is often accepted along the border in the usa for purchases.....isn't LP near to the border with thailand?

"isn't LP near to the border with thailand?"

Actually no.

Bob,

If you draw a straight line on a map and measure the distance it's about 60 miles. That's very far away!

Quite correct Hanuman, 100km is quite far away, especially as the roads are not straight and as the average Lao does not travel that far. Well done!

Mind you, it is only a 9 hour trip by slow boat to the Huay Xai border, so I guess thats not that far. Or you could fly to Krungthep, of course.

Anyway, NeoPatrick, have no fear about taking $100USD bills. All money changers and banks will take them, provided they are in reasonably good condition.

447km by road 280 along the Mekong, just to be exact.