|
|
Post by kellbenl on Apr 29, 2013 2:49:32 GMT
What are some of the recent travelers experience about the amount of cash (SAR) on hand you need on arrival. Looking at exchange rates here in the states and you are really getting jacked. I'm seeing rates of 3.35-3.45 SAR to the US dollar. Seems very low to me as bank rates are currently at 3.72 to 1. Do most people bring minimal cash say couple hundred for cab rides, groceries etc and the use credit card or debit cards until they are set up with a local Saudi account. What about changing money once you arrive in country, are the rates better over there than here.
Thanks to all for your advice
Ben
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Apr 29, 2013 3:08:34 GMT
Bring some with you, but bring checks from your U.S. bank, you can write a check for 2000USD at an exchange rate of 3.73SR to $1. You write the check in USD and they give you SRs. With your Aramco ID at the bank on the compound.
|
|
|
|
Post by TrainingProf on Apr 30, 2013 22:53:45 GMT
VP,
Can you do this as soon as you get your Aramco ID or do you have to wait until you get your Iqama?
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Apr 30, 2013 22:58:47 GMT
I only use my Aramco ID. I have never been asked for my iqama.
You can have your department supervisor/manager sign your check and you can cash it for any amount. Merry helpful when needing a large sum for something like buying a car.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hadia on May 1, 2013 10:17:28 GMT
When we got ready to leave the US, we ordered a few thousand SR from our bank to carry with us, and let the bank know we'd be traveling to KSA and would like to use our debit cards there. We used our US cards without a problem, and can withdraw up to SR 3,000/day. We don't happen to care about the $12 transaction fee when we withdraw money. For us, it was the convenience factor, and not wanting to deal with cashing paper checks and dealing with bank hours or troubling anyone for a signature. As soon as we got a Saudi bank account set up and the direct deposit pay split between countries, we started using the Saudi debit cards instead.
We spent a lot of money those first couple of months. The commissary is overpriced for grocery shopping for a large family, but as new arrivals we were stranded a bit transportation-wise, and ended up buying a lot of staple items there that would have been better purchased outside the camp. It adds up quickly, even in just a few days. A few hundred riyals wouldn't have been enough for us.
|
|
