Buying US dollars (notes) - best rates?

[blunt]

I am travelling to zanzibar in december, need to buy us dollars as they have very few atms and deal pretty much exclusively in cash (been there twice before) so just wanted to know if anyone can recommend the cheapest place to buy us dollars (notes)? I see standard has the best rates but if anyone has done this exercise recently have you found any better places including commission etc?

 

[Sensorei]

Zanzibar is awesome. I've been quite a few times. There is a big Barclay's bank in Stone Town where you can draw shillings and the banking conversion fees are surprisingly low and actually worked out slightly cheaper than buying $ and then converting to shillings in Zanzibar. I usually just buy $ at OR Thambo and look for the best rate there.

Where are you going to be staying?

Since you've been there before you'll know that at the bigger resorts you should find out first what currency they prefer you to settle your bill in. Some Italian run resorts charge crazy currency conversion rates to € and cash is better unless you want ridiculous 4/5% credit card fees.

If you're staying at locally owned places in Stone Town or Nungwi I find it always works out cheaper to pay in shillings.

If you need to hire a car so you can explore the island I know a reliable guy who will meet you at the airport with a 4x4 for $30 a day.

 

[muzee]

Negotiate with your own bank or try bidvest bank.

 

[blunt]

Zanzibar is awesome. I've been quite a few times. There is a big Barclay's bank in Stone Town where you can draw shillings and the banking conversion fees are surprisingly low and actually worked out slightly cheaper than buying $ and then converting to shillings in Zanzibar. I usually just buy $ at OR Thambo and look for the best rate there.

Where are you going to be staying?

Since you've been there before you'll know that at the bigger resorts you should find out first what currency they prefer you to settle your bill in. Some Italian run resorts charge crazy currency conversion rates to € and cash is better unless you want ridiculous 4/5% credit card fees.

If you're staying at locally owned places in Stone Town or Nungwi I find it always works out cheaper to pay in shillings.

If you need to hire a car so you can explore the island I know a reliable guy who will meet you at the airport with a 4x4 for $30 a day.

Thanks Sensorei,

Staying in Kendwa - prefer it to Nungwi (the beach). I think withdrawing from stone town is probably a good idea.

From my times in Zanzibar seeing all the road blocks I generally prefer to take a taxi

 

[chrisc]

Castle Foreign Exchange in St George's Mall. By far the best rate. I have been buying forex from them since they opened a few years back and have saved thousands of Rand due to the better rate

 

[blunt]

hmm ok cool thanks will def check them out then