Changing money in Cochin

Saharalass · Jul 27th, 2009, 22:14

Does anyone have any recent experience of changing money in Cochin? Firstly at the airport (a Sunday afternoon arrival) - any chance of a money exchange being open - don't want to rely on an ATM just in case of card problems and secondly, any good/bad bank experiences in Cochin itself? Any point changing sterling to dollars here or are they both as easy to exchange?
Thanks folks!

atala · Jul 27th, 2009, 22:29

Cochin has international arrivals so it definitely will have banks in the arrival hall with 24/7 service. Even domestic airports will have that facility, but international ones could not work without. In addition Cochin Airport was built with mainly private money, and is the youngest larger Airport in India. So expect it to be modern and easy. (I took a flight from there up north 2 years ago.) I also got money from a modern bank downtown one early Sunday morning (ATM though). No problem at all, even larger amounts. A taxi-driver from Ernaculam railway station brought me there. Any random bank. Any currency welcome, although better with official money-changers rather than banks. Banks tend to add red tape to such procedures.

CMS · Jul 27th, 2009, 23:05

If you arrive at Cochin international terminal the money changers are on the other side of the baggage hall past the exit. Just look their way and they'll motion you to "come over"! All the rates are the same. I changed Euros at Thomas Cook without any hassle and there never is. They gave me a small folder that had an offer of no commission on my next change (there probably won't be another one as I live in Cochin with only occasional trips out) and perhaps you could find the same offer on their website: www.thomascook.co.in? I've always used ATMs for getting money out of my foreign accounts and they're everywhere. I've only found one that didn't "like" my card in five years and I simply made a mental note of that bank and didn't try them again. There are ATMs outside the terminal buildings as well (international and domestic are side-by-side). If you want large notes from an ATM (1000's) the only ones that seem to dispense them are SBI and their associated banks--the largest the others dispense are 500's. Have fun.

Saharalass · Jul 28th, 2009, 19:17

Thanks folks!

Saharalass · Jul 28th, 2009, 19:17

Thanks folks!

Rachwins · Aug 4th, 2009, 21:26

Ooh just what I needed to know, thanks! I'm arriving at 8am on Saturday morning, was worrying I wouldn't be able to get anything for breakfast!

Jul 27th, 2009, 22:14	#1
Saharalass Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 4	Changing money in Cochin Does anyone have any recent experience of changing money in Cochin? Firstly at the airport (a Sunday afternoon arrival) - any chance of a money exchange being open - don't want to rely on an ATM just in case of card problems and secondly, any good/bad bank experiences in Cochin itself? Any point changing sterling to dollars here or are they both as easy to exchange? Thanks folks!

Jul 27th, 2009, 23:05	#3
CMS Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: India & Cyprus Posts: 32	No Problem If you arrive at Cochin international terminal the money changers are on the other side of the baggage hall past the exit. Just look their way and they'll motion you to "come over"! All the rates are the same. I changed Euros at Thomas Cook without any hassle and there never is. They gave me a small folder that had an offer of no commission on my next change (there probably won't be another one as I live in Cochin with only occasional trips out) and perhaps you could find the same offer on their website: www.thomascook.co.in? I've always used ATMs for getting money out of my foreign accounts and they're everywhere. I've only found one that didn't "like" my card in five years and I simply made a mental note of that bank and didn't try them again. There are ATMs outside the terminal buildings as well (international and domestic are side-by-side). If you want large notes from an ATM (1000's) the only ones that seem to dispense them are SBI and their associated banks--the largest the others dispense are 500's. Have fun.

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Jul 27th, 2009, 22:29	#2
atala 8 years in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 978	Cochin has international arrivals so it definitely will have banks in the arrival hall with 24/7 service. Even domestic airports will have that facility, but international ones could not work without. In addition Cochin Airport was built with mainly private money, and is the youngest larger Airport in India. So expect it to be modern and easy. (I took a flight from there up north 2 years ago.) I also got money from a modern bank downtown one early Sunday morning (ATM though). No problem at all, even larger amounts. A taxi-driver from Ernaculam railway station brought me there. Any random bank. Any currency welcome, although better with official money-changers rather than banks. Banks tend to add red tape to such procedures.

Jul 28th, 2009, 19:17	#4
Saharalass Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shropshire, England Posts: 4	Thanks folks!

Aug 4th, 2009, 21:26	#6
Rachwins Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 3	Ooh just what I needed to know, thanks! I'm arriving at 8am on Saturday morning, was worrying I wouldn't be able to get anything for breakfast!