Question Best way to get Indonesian rupiah cash?

[Dan]

Ngurah Rai airport exchange booths are the less favorable on the island, hotels apart, they are SYSTEMATICALLY 200IDR more expensive per Euro than what you find in Sanur or Ubud (not speaking about Kuta scammers).
In my case, I often need to change more than 2000€ per trip, so I ask my driver to stop me on the road to Sanur where the best exchange rate is offered. It pays me the transfer to Tulamben.
For sure if you only need to change 100USD don't bother.

Right, I'm talking about changing $100 and just for miscellaneous expenses that don't accept USD and for getting you to your final destination (e.g., Raja Ampat). If your final destination is Bali, then I'll ask the driver to take me to a bank.

I'm not a typical American. I have an account in Bank Central Asia (BCA), including their ATM card. So, if I need some Rupiah, I just go to any BCA ATM machine anywhere in Indonesia. If you often go to Indonesia, like I do, you can open an account in BCA using your passport and put your 2000 Euro in your BCA account, (saver than carrying those boat load of Rupiah in your wallet) then you'll get the best exchange rate anywhere in Indonesia with your BCA ATM card. I can pay local dive operators electronically using their token called Klik BCA. I have been doing this way for over 10 years.

 

[Luko]

I have an account in Bank Central Asia (BCA), including their ATM card. So, if I need some Rupiah, I just go to any BCA ATM machine anywhere in Indonesia. If you often go to Indonesia, like I do, you can open an account in BCA using your passport and put your 2000 Euro in your BCA account, (saver than carrying those boat load of Rupiah in your wallet) then you'll get the best exchange rate anywhere in Indonesia with your BCA ATM card. I can pay local dive operators electronically using their token called Klik BCA. I have been doing this way for over 10 years

Good to know, I'll remember that, however since you cant' withdraw more than a few mil IDR at local ATMs I tend to avoid them (I have a REVOLUT card and could use its withdrawal allowance up to 400EUR).
For instance I pay my local guide more or less 15mil IDR on each trip, I don't use a formal "dive operator" and he doesn't have any card device : hence I still need cash (I won't even mention there is hardly ATM around. ).
I think I will try to use TransferWise more and more now.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Good to know, I'll remember that, however since you cant' withdraw more than a few mil IDR at local ATMs I tend to avoid them (I have a REVOLUT card and could use its withdrawal allowance up to 400EUR).
For instance I pay my local guide more or less 15mil IDR on each trip, I don't use a formal "dive operator" and he doesn't have any card device : hence I still need cash (I won't even mention there is hardly ATM around. ).
I think I will try to use TransferWise more and more now.

I'm quite interested in TransferWise. What can you tell me about it please?

 

[Dan]

Good to know, I'll remember that, however since you cant' withdraw more than a few mil IDR at local ATMs I tend to avoid them (I have a REVOLUT card and could use its withdrawal allowance up to 400EUR).
For instance I pay my local guide more or less 15mil IDR on each trip, I don't use a formal "dive operator" and he doesn't have any card device : hence I still need cash (I won't even mention there is hardly ATM around. ).
I think I will try to use TransferWise more and more now.

I have transferred up to 60 mil IDR to my dive operator electronically through klik BCA. Your local guide doesn't have an account in BCA? Carrying 15 mil IDR cash is a bit risky, don't you think?

 

[Luko]

I'm quite interested in TransferWise. What can you tell me about it please?

Called Wise now, you can transfer instantly a whole array of currencies and link through the smartphone Wise app directly to your correspondant bank account. Currency exchange rate and fees are minimal, money is débited on your credit card.

That's how i managed to transfer IDR to my Tulamben guide during the COVID times, one of my photographer friend had her card swallowed by an ATM in Bali, I informed her about the Wise app so she could pay her local guide as well. Piece of cake.

Your local guide doesn't have an account in BCA?

BRI saja

 

[drrich2]

one of my photographer friend had her card swallowed by an ATM in Bali,

That's an interesting issue in its own right. How common is it for an ATM to 'eat' somebody's debit card? How many credit and debit cards 'should' somebody have, and how much home currency 'just in case' (given that many people don't have ready local access to IDR)?

Richard.

 

[Grantt]

Wise is solid, I have been using it for a few years to send money to my fiancé in Bali.

The ATMs can be spotty. I generally try to stick with the ATMs at the two biggest malls. Both are guarded to prevent tampering. I would still recommend having two cards, though I have never personally had any issues.

 

[Cert1967]

I have transferred up to 60 mil IDR to my dive operator electronically through klik BCA. Your local guide doesn't have an account in BCA? Carrying 15 mil IDR cash is a bit risky, don't you think?

At this moment

BCA IDR, Buy = 15,645, Sell =15,665

Xe rate, 1 USD = IDR 15,667.545

Maybe open a BCA account?

 

[Dan]

At this moment

BCA IDR, Buy = 15,645, Sell =15,665

Xe rate, 1 USD = IDR 15,667.545

Maybe open a BCA account?

View attachment 752684

Why not? Worry about $1.44 loss for exchanging $1000?

Look around for BCA ATM in Indonesia. They are easy to find and a lot of Indonesians use BCA.

 

[Cert1967]

Why not? Worry about $1.44 loss for exchanging $1000?

Look around for BCA ATM in Indonesia. They are easy to find and a lot of Indonesians use BCA.

I plan to do so

Thanks for the suggestion