How to get Rupees at mumbai airport?? Help!

ZoeD · Jul 22nd, 2009, 18:51

Hello,

I dont know how i didnt know this earlier but im off to india tonight and have no exchanged money, i just found out its a protected currency or something so cant get it here. Is it relatively easy to get it at Mumbai airport at 1am? I have a global travel card that doesn't charge 2 get money out so if they have a cash machine nearby i can just withdraw some, but ill probably end up with large notes...?

Cheers,
Zoe

machadinha · Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:14

Yes, there'll be ATM's, as well as money changers/banks. You'll usually get a few 100 Rs. bills as well; or, in Mumbai, a 500 Rs. note which the bulk of it will normally consist of shouldn't be too hard to change or get rid of. E.g. a taxi into Colaba should be around 350 Rs. (possibly more at night, and I don't know what the pre-paid cabs from the airport take), so would be easy to pay for it that way, and you'll be the proud owner of your first 50 Rupees bill!

(Well, minus any optional tips.) Or, at the airport I imagine one could buy a bottle of water or something and pay with a 500 note. Etc.

Make double sure that card works in India (check whatever logos it has and see if you can find out on the web if those are accepted in India; or simply call your bank about it of course);* or you're gonna have to run out and get some traveler's cheques (or get them at your airport of departure, allow some time for this. I would hate to have to rely on one card anyway, and was very glad to have brought a second one last time, when the first turned out not to work even though it should have. Requires two accounts with different banks for it to work, of course. And then they might as well both not work I guess... Traveling with a partner who has a different card also comes in handy of course, in case of any real mishaps.)

* Also, you'll probably find you have to look on the ground for specific banks' machines that take those cards. Apart from cheques, carrying some foreign cash for the purpose also comes in handy to save you from any initial mishaps; also good to keep stashed somewhere else than your other valuables, in the very unlikely event you should get robbed whilst on the road, it doesn't take a lot of money in India to make it to your embassy. And I would otherwise use it for occasions where for some reason I suddenly had no access to money, indeed. E.g., an out-of-the-way place with the nearest bank at a three-hours' drive away, and such. Just one broken ATM in town, etc.

atala · Jul 25th, 2009, 23:14

For other readers new to India:
Most major airlines arrive from the West around or way after midnight in India. So that is major trafic time for airports and banks there. Nothing to worry: They are all open around the clock.

Jul 22nd, 2009, 18:51	#1
ZoeD Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham UK Posts: 46	How to get Rupees at mumbai airport?? Help! Hello, I dont know how i didnt know this earlier but im off to india tonight and have no exchanged money, i just found out its a protected currency or something so cant get it here. Is it relatively easy to get it at Mumbai airport at 1am? I have a global travel card that doesn't charge 2 get money out so if they have a cash machine nearby i can just withdraw some, but ill probably end up with large notes...? Cheers, Zoe

Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:14	#2
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	Yes, there'll be ATM's, as well as money changers/banks. You'll usually get a few 100 Rs. bills as well; or, in Mumbai, a 500 Rs. note which the bulk of it will normally consist of shouldn't be too hard to change or get rid of. E.g. a taxi into Colaba should be around 350 Rs. (possibly more at night, and I don't know what the pre-paid cabs from the airport take), so would be easy to pay for it that way, and you'll be the proud owner of your first 50 Rupees bill! (Well, minus any optional tips.) Or, at the airport I imagine one could buy a bottle of water or something and pay with a 500 note. Etc. Make double sure that card works in India (check whatever logos it has and see if you can find out on the web if those are accepted in India; or simply call your bank about it of course);* or you're gonna have to run out and get some traveler's cheques (or get them at your airport of departure, allow some time for this. I would hate to have to rely on one card anyway, and was very glad to have brought a second one last time, when the first turned out not to work even though it should have. Requires two accounts with different banks for it to work, of course. And then they might as well both not work I guess... Traveling with a partner who has a different card also comes in handy of course, in case of any real mishaps.) * Also, you'll probably find you have to look on the ground for specific banks' machines that take those cards. Apart from cheques, carrying some foreign cash for the purpose also comes in handy to save you from any initial mishaps; also good to keep stashed somewhere else than your other valuables, in the very unlikely event you should get robbed whilst on the road, it doesn't take a lot of money in India to make it to your embassy. And I would otherwise use it for occasions where for some reason I suddenly had no access to money, indeed. E.g., an out-of-the-way place with the nearest bank at a three-hours' drive away, and such. Just one broken ATM in town, etc. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Jul 25th, 2009, 23:14	#3
atala 8 years in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland Posts: 978	For other readers new to India: Most major airlines arrive from the West around or way after midnight in India. So that is major trafic time for airports and banks there. Nothing to worry: They are all open around the clock.