Obtaining TTD while in Tobago
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:53 pm
Hi all,
I've browsed through the forum to research my best options for obtaining TTD while in Tobago, but couldn't find the answer to my specific question. I live in Canada which is essentially Fleeceville when it comes to the transaction fees that banks charge for foreign currency transactions, whether we use a credit card for foreign purchases or we use our bank debit card at a foreign ATM. We get charged a 2.5% transaction fee plus a $5 flat fee per transaction. Getting a large amount of TTD by buying it here in Canada from one of the 5 banks is also expensive - the rates aren't very good. Plus I don't want to carry a ton of cash with me, So, my plan is to buy a small amount of TTD here (say TTD 2000), and for the rest I intend to use Western Union online money transfer which charges a much lower fee ($9 + 1% per transaction). These would be instantaneous transactions ie I could make the transaction online and just collect the cash at an agent. I can send upto CAD 999 per transaction. I believe there are about 7 Western Union agents in Tobago (going by their website). In theory, it sounds pretty easy. Does the reality match up?
Does anyone have any experience sending money to themselves via Western Union and collecting it hassle-free (ish) from one the agents in Tobago?
Many thanks!
Sujata
I've browsed through the forum to research my best options for obtaining TTD while in Tobago, but couldn't find the answer to my specific question. I live in Canada which is essentially Fleeceville when it comes to the transaction fees that banks charge for foreign currency transactions, whether we use a credit card for foreign purchases or we use our bank debit card at a foreign ATM. We get charged a 2.5% transaction fee plus a $5 flat fee per transaction. Getting a large amount of TTD by buying it here in Canada from one of the 5 banks is also expensive - the rates aren't very good. Plus I don't want to carry a ton of cash with me, So, my plan is to buy a small amount of TTD here (say TTD 2000), and for the rest I intend to use Western Union online money transfer which charges a much lower fee ($9 + 1% per transaction). These would be instantaneous transactions ie I could make the transaction online and just collect the cash at an agent. I can send upto CAD 999 per transaction. I believe there are about 7 Western Union agents in Tobago (going by their website). In theory, it sounds pretty easy. Does the reality match up?
Does anyone have any experience sending money to themselves via Western Union and collecting it hassle-free (ish) from one the agents in Tobago?
Many thanks!
Sujata