MONEY: OK, there’s no getting around the fact that Australia is expensive when compared to the USA, and even the UK based on my recent sojourn.  This is especially true for daily spending on things we all take for granted like cheap fast food, coffee, booze and taxis.  To avoid sticker shock, I want to prepare for the worst so you can all just enjoy your time rather than having your mouth drop open when you’re told that’ll be a $4 latte!  American mates, it’s best just to work out the currency conversion as dollar-to-dollar when figuring if you can afford things (at the moment it’s about 0.91 cents US for every Aussie buck) as it gives a buffer for transaction fees and the slightly more comfortable feeling of getting back and having spent 10% less than you though 🙂

Not teaching any of you to suck eggs as I know you’ve all traveled but here are some tips that should help ease the sticker shock.

1. Try to minimize cash withdrawals as the ATMs can whack anything from $3-$7.50 as a one-time “you’re not our customer so fuck you” fee.  Aussie banks are pretty much all in cahoots on this so I’d recommend taking a chunkier lump sum and then splitting the dosh and stashing amounts away in various locations to avoid drama if a bag or wallet is lost or stolen (very unlikely but can obviously happen anywhere).
2. I recommend using an ATM at Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney airport as soon as you land from the international flight as sometimes the airport bus that transports you from the International to Domestic terminal has a charge ($5.50 in Sydney from memory) and sometimes don’t take cards.  This is a super stupid system and may be different now (I got caught out a few years ago with no cash and had to beg coins from other passengers to make my connecting flight which was a good look!) but just in case, be prepared with some of our hilarious, brilliantly colourful, “you can see exactly how much you’ve got even when drunk cause blue means $10, orange means $20 etc” and “don’t worry about putting it through the washing machine as it’s indestructible” currency notes.
3. Find out if your credit card company have a policy of not charging international transaction fees.  Chase United doesn’t, plus they have the awesome massive points bonus AND you can earn points while spending money on holidays.  If your provider doesn’t charge fees for overseas use, happy days!  If they do, consider doing a balance transfer to one that does, you can save a lot by using your credit card at every opportunity, however be mindful that some Aussie merchants have a minimum $10 charge before you can use plastic so you will still need to carry some cash for smaller purchases.