Traveling with cash

[marcdonald]

Have you ever gotten hassled carrying cash?  I'm flying out of the US with about $5-$9k in new $100 bills or so.  Will I get problems? Tsa/customs dlckheads.  They might try to steal it.

[simguy_jp]

I have never carried that much, 3K the most and never had a problem. Personally I would be a little nervous with that much, do you plan on opening a bank account in Pattaya?

[The Sculptor]

you're allowed up 10 thousand us dollars on exit.  100 dollar bills are the usa's largest export; you will have no issues if the bills are in good shape.  you don't have to show them to anyone; they don't set off detectors either; this seems a non-issue unless you make a point of mentioning how much cash you're carrying

[marcdonald]

$5k isn't a lot of cash for me.  I like to carry backup in case my atm doesn't work or business is slow.  Rest is kept in my bank account.

[nice to visit]

Not sure how anyone will know or care as long as you are under the $10K limit. It is not excessive and you can justify it as holiday money.  I think there can be more of problem if you have very little money and they need convincing as to how you will support yourself.

[Sick Water Buffalo]

Have you ever gotten hassled carrying cash?  I'm flying out of the US with about $5-$9k in new $100 bills or so.  Will I get problems? Tsa/customs dlckheads.  They might try to steal it.

 

Money belt when going through places you feel you are at risk of thievery. Personally, I'm not concerned about US security/customs - I don't believe someone is hiding inside the X-ray machine and able to rifle through the innards of my backpack in the few seconds it goes through the scanner.

Definitely wear it when taking taxi or bus to Pattaya, any time you may be separated from your carry-on bag while traveling.

 

As Sculptor says, you are allowed $10k USD leaving the US without needing to fill out a form; and you can bring $20k USD into Thailand without having to fill out a form. 

[SemperFiGuy]

Have you ever gotten hassled carrying cash?  I'm flying out of the US with about $5-$9k in new $100 bills or so.  Will I get problems? Tsa/customs dlckheads.  They might try to steal it.

That's Waaaaaay too much to tuck in your shorts!  :-)  Why not put about 6,000 in your bank and use your debit card to pull it as you need it?  (Make sure your bank knows you'll be abroad first).

[mr21]

 

This is the first thing any thief/lowlife will look for on a tourist...very conspicuous. I prefer this one and can wear it through metal detectors because the buckle is made of plastic:

 

[QuotaMan]

No offense intended to the OP, but is this thread really about safely traveling with cash, or a way to 'brag' about carrying so much cash around?

 

5K may not be a lot to him, but it sure is to a lot of us.

[Sick Water Buffalo]

This is the first thing any thief/lowlife will look for on a tourist...

 

This goes on the inside of your clothes.  Yes, it won't dissuade a thief who is able to pat you down and search you in some secluded area, but if it's just a sidewalk stick-up mugging, you just hand over whatever bit is in your pocket/wallet and the robber takes off.

 

The benefit of it is to keep your cash/cards/passport on your person instead of a bag which can be snatched or rifled through, which is what OP seems to be concerned about.

[iluvasians/latins]

Whatever your intentions are with that much cash, have a great time.  No need for that though.  ATMS work just fine.  Find a bank at home that does not charge the 180 baht fee for each transaction.  Safes in your hotel can be easily be broken in to.  Just let your bank know where you are travelling to.  I have had as much as 3 thousand on me at one time in 100's.  It was in a money envelope the bank provides.  I left it in my carry on bag as it was scanned.  No problems.  Don't travel like that anymore.  I do have a least 2 debit cards from my banks and credit cards if needed.  I always use ATM's attached to a bank, "that is open," when I withdraw cash.  Just in case the machine wants to swallow my card from a malfunction.  "Never has happened."  Just being paranoid here a bit.  Travel light.  No worries. 

[dstan2015]

I usually split between two wallets, one on me and one in the carry on. So at least if one gets taken I still have the other. The carry on with the wallet has been through security in many airports around the world. I do keep an eye on it though. As far as hotel safes go, I had my stuff in one and it failed. I called the hotel desk and they sent someone up. He did not use a bypass key, and was in the safe in about 30 seconds. I view hotel safes like laptop locks, more as a deterrent than as actual protection.

[drspider]

Below 10K= No problem inbound or outbound

[Harvey707]

Not sure how anyone will KNOW or care as long as you are under the $10K limit. It is not excessive and you can justify it as holiday money.  I think there can be more of problem if you have very little money and they need convincing as to how you will support yourself.

 

In the UK we have "money dogs" trained to sniff out Cash on Travellers.  Have seen more and more at Heathrow over the years........In uk only £1000 before questions can be "asked" to origin unsure about USA

[themosch]

bringing cash with you is indeed the best option, up to 20K $ into LOS is no problem. i Always take large amounts into LOS as credit cards are a total rip off, last use of my visa card for 65K Baht withdrawel cost me 180 Baht atmfee + 1200 Baht visa handling fee + 1 Baht/€ less exchange rate as changing cash in LOS. Sending through my Belgian bank to LOS is also a ripp off with 1600 baht handling fee each time no matter which amount.

[zellmik]

Although it happens from time to time (http://rt.com/usa/tsa-stealing-from-travelers-358/), the heightened risk of all the surveillance installed at most checkpoints probably discourages most thieves. 

 

You can protect yourself by knowing what valuables you have and where they're packed, and doing a quick inventory check after you pass the checkpoint but are still in the security area. If you find something missing, you'll probably be able to track it down.

 

Of course, if that amount of money is insignificant to a traveler, theft of it may not be that painful, either. 

[One hung low]

I travel for 3-4 months, I don't have a bank that doesn't charge for ATM fees, I'll be fucked if im paying the banks any more than I have to.

I I travel with $8-9 k in different currency's, and deposit it my bank account upon arrival. Cargo shirt with zippered pockets.

Plastic for back up.

[momo5]

That's Waaaaaay too much to tuck in your shorts! :-) Why not put about 6,000 in your bank and use your debit card to pull it as you need it? (Make sure your bank knows you'll be abroad first).

Have you seen the shorts some punters wear? Their barfine would likely get lost in them ...

[thai2try]

I've never had a problem bringing cash through customs as I do every trip.

$7k was the most I've brought in one hit.

All new $100 notes.

 

Just as an idea to note, before I come over I go to the casino and swap all my holiday cash for fresh clean new $100 notes. I found I get better exchange in all areas of Asia with cleaner notes.

[Harvey707]

All the people saying I travel with this and that and never have a problem with Customs, miss the obvious point that they are not standing in front of them waving $10.000 or whatever  !!

If you do get randomly stopped and certainly at Heathrow its on a regular basis as I mentioned earlier you dont want to be having the monies detained pending further investigation just before you fly, as that may well be the only source of Money you have. Nightmare scenario of being offloaded, going home and somehow proving where the money came from originally.

[markytee]

In 12 trips to Thailand never been asked how much cash im carrying. coming to think of it, in the last 20 years of international travel never been asked to show the amount of cash im carrying by any customs.

[Harvey707]

In 12 trips to Thailand never been asked how much cash im carrying. coming to think of it, in the last 20 years of international travel never been asked to show the amount of cash im carrying by any customs.

 

And that's how hopefully it stays !!

None of us want to trigger an alert about hard cash which invariably will go further than Customs and Excise there and then

[momo5]

All the people saying I travel with this and that and never have a problem with Customs, miss the obvious point that they are not standing in front of them waving $10.000 or whatever !!

If you do get randomly stopped and certainly at Heathrow its on a regular basis as I mentioned earlier you dont want to be having the monies detained pending further investigation just before you fly, as that may well be the only source of Money you have. Nightmare scenario of being offloaded, going home and somehow proving where the money came from originally.

+1

 

Whether one gets asked about cash or not is irrelevant - for the U.S. there is still the legal requirement to declare cash and cash equivalents in excess of $10,000 per family per entry/departure. Not doing so can result in forfeiture of the money - and good luck on getting it back. This does happen.

 

There is no legal limit to the amount of cash one can carry into and out of the U.S. , as long as it is declared with the proper US Treasury forms , so why risk it by not declaring ? I've travelled with bearer bonds for my employer and it's never been questioned beyond 'who do you work for? What do you do for them?'

[ems]

I carry cash locked in a Yale Travel Safe and secured within my carryon bag.  The wire loop on the safe is feed through a secure point inside the bag.   Not easy for someone to separate valuables from my carry bag while going through security checks.

The safe is inexpensive extra security at around $25.

 

http://www.yalelock.com.au/en/yale/yale-au/Yale-Products/?productId=977246

 

 

[Trvlr]

Once you are in Bangkok, though there is reason for some caution. I say that because my perception is that there have been more muggings by taxi drivers, and I am sure many go unreported.

I prefer to take the airport bus as a safety measure. If it is too late for the bus, then I book a car through a well known agent. I would never take a taxi off the street from the airport if I have a great deal of cash on me.