small denominations?

tacita

i think i spent WAY too many years working for tips, because this silly little question's been nagging at me...

ok, so i know i'm not supposed to bring rupees into the country with me, but i just canNOT arrive in another country without the proper currency in my pocket, just a bit. (i'll secrete them somewhere!) so i bought 1000 rupees today. (and, anecdotally, had to offer up my first defense of why i'd CHOOSE to go to india.) but the smallest denomination i culd get was two 500-rupee notes. this doesn't seem to put me any farther ahead than if i had none. (but i got them anyway.)

inasmuch as i'm being met at the airport (i hope), by someone dispatched from my hotel bearing my name on a placard, i'll want to tip him. but i've read here at this site that no one likes to take or break "big" bills. (aside: i tried to explain this to the money guy today, and he couldn't get past anyone thinking the equivalent of $6 was a "big" note!) grrrr......

anyway, i'm expecting pandemonium at the airport so how and where, exactly, can i obtain smaller bills for tips tha first evening? presumably, cash machines don't dispense anything smaller - or do they?

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machadinha

I assume you'll be dealing with that person later on, so you can slip him a tip later. Maybe try explaining but I wouldn't be too forthcoming with it, depends on the person and the situation.

You'll just have to break those notes at some point. People won't have change by default but may be remarkably creative about finding some if it's to their advantage.

Other than that, try the ATM machine or currency exchange on arrival regardless and see what it gives you. A 100 Rs. bill is a lot easier to break. 500 Is probably asking quite a bit yes. You might try breaking those bills at the currency exchange counter, don't know if this would work. It should at a bank (but it doesn't have to), which they technically are.

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tacita

thanks - all my problems should be so onerous, right? (too many years behind a bar, methinks.)

ranjan154

You may take help of any bank for smaller denomination

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tacita

true enough, except that i'll arriving in new delhi in the late evening, going straight to a hotel near the airport, and then flying out to bagdogra in the morning. i was wondering the best way to get small denominations under those constraints.

machadinha

I think the airport banks/exchange counters will be open 24/7 (or at least during incoming flights), but I may be talking poo again. Then again that was the only way to get some legal money before ATM's anyway.

ranjan154

No probs at all, hotel guys can help you..Or next best option is ATM . Like if you ask for Rs. 1000 in a ATM machine most likely it will give you one Rs 500 and other 5 notes of Rs 100. Unless Rs 100 notes are not enough in the machine

Nick-H

We took 15,000 from an ATM to pay a bill the other day. It had no 500s, and gave us the whole lot in 100s --- tedious!!!

Janice, first job at the airport.... go to the money exchange counter and change enough for at least the first few days.

You'll probably get a reasonable rate there, probably much better than a hotel will give. So even without that 1000 (what exchange rate did you get for that illegal transaction?) you won't walk out of the airport without cash.

They may give you 1000s, 500s, but should certainly give you 100s. Try asking for 100 in 10s, or at least a couple of 50s. If you can't get any 10s, then be generous and give the driver 50!

If you can buy something small on your way out then you'll get 10s --- you can give one to the guy who will inevitably 'help' you with your luggage. He'll be shocked and horrified and ask for hundreds or dollars or something silly: tell him to go rip off a tourist who doesn't have any sense! Welcome to India!!!!

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mph

Any chances to get Rupees in small notes at Heathrow Airport?
As Janice said earlier i also like to bring a small amount of the local currency when i travel...

Less than 24h til take off

SANJAY_DEL

A couple of Rs 500 bills is no big deal. Just buy a couple of chocolates or anything you may find useful at a counter nearby, and they'll be glad to give you the change.

Nick-H

Probably airport shops will be overpriced. I wanted to buy a bottle of water when seeing someone off from Chennai recently: the price persuaded me to stay thirsty until I got home!

However, even an overpriced bottle of water is a good idea as it is something you will be wanting pretty-much straight away.

You may or may not INR at Heathrow. As we keep saying it is illegal to take currency out of India, so, although moeny changers may have them, maybe they do not have a guaranteed supply. A GF of mine asked at a heathrow desk a few years back: they said, 'sometimes; haven't got any today.'

Casey

We were stuck with a 500 that the bank wouldn't change. It was easier to buy something with the note, and the seller will do the running around looking for change. The airport has a Coffee Time that was open at 2:00am that would probably be able to change the note if you purchased something.

dhans

Consume something (water, coffee, so it's gone) and then they will find the change.

Hans

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robotvoice

this should be the case. i flew into kolkata at midnight and the airport bank counter was open.