Changing Money in Minsk

[happyguy]

Hello

I have been reading this board for a while now,but have not had anything to contribute.I have learn lot a from it.I just wanted to say thanks.

I am traveling to Minsk this summer to visit with this really great girl i met online.I do have a question and i hope someone might be able to answer it for me.Now i have read that when it comes to changing money over there i should bring new crisp bills and only change a little at a time.What i haven't heard is what is better to bring, small or big bills for changing?

Thanks

[Turboguy]

Bring 50's and 100's  new ones, no flaws at all, even a small crease mark and they won't take it.  You might want to bring a few 10's and 20's just in case you have to pay for something in dollars and they don't have change. 

For example if a cabbie quoted you $ 20.00 for a ride to your hotel a common ploy is they don't have change for the  $50 or $ 100 so you are stuck either overpaying or fooling around a lot.  The change places though don't like 10's and 20's that well. 

[happyguy]

Thank you for the info.Its a big help.

[dfb]

I agree with Turboguy on the 50’s and 100’s.  My first trip to Minsk I used AMEX checks in addition to cash.  Cashing the checks took planning because there were only a few locations that could accept them and they did not always have enough currency (including USD) to cash it.  Planning was important because the teller could be out on break or lunch (or just leave the post for what ever reason); a few times I was short on cash and had to adjust my plans accordingly.  Currency smaller than 50’s could be useful when purchasing in the market areas (non-gov buildings), but venders usually will give a discount for USD and accept Belarusian currency for the remaining amount.

[Turboguy]

I can agree with that.  The times I find 20's are the most useful is if you negotiate something like a cab ride between SVO1 and 2 for $ 20.00.  Usually the guy inside the airport speaks English.  If you accept the ride, the driver will not.  Hand him a $ 50.00 at the end of the ride and he just stands there and shrugs and says something that you are interpreting to be that he has no change.  Often the most Hastle free way is to just give him the $50.00, particularly when you are short on time for your flight.   Having some 20's and 10's for special occasions are useful.  Another time it comes in handy is you are at the airport waiting for your flight home.  You want a beer or a coffee but turned in your rubles.  Having smaller bills can be a big help.

[TheHorseman]

I also agree with Turbo about the change scam.  They do it everywhere, not just the taxis.  While riding on the train they will come around selling food and other items.  Even if you are using Rubbles they will pull the NO Change trick.

The minsk airport has a Currency change booth just like SVO. It's right by the exit door, or it was in 2003.  The airport is about 40 km outside the city so you might have to go $40 or more on the taxi.  My girlfriend set the price with the driver so I know it was fair, but it still cost me $40 from the bus station to the airport.

Turbo,,,,,, I can't beleive you payed that much at SVO for a 3 mile ride.  The bus runs every 15 minutes and only cost a $1.... LOL

[dfb]

In Minsk, outside of banks I was approached on a few occasions by individuals to “buy” my USD at a better rate then the bank or change counters.  I don’t know the exact risk of doing this, and I can’t remember if I actually did it.  My wife told me at the time that it was illegal for Belarus citizens to own USD.  In addition, my wife told me that it was common for Belarusian citizens to have a stash of USD at home, because of the general distrust of banks and the deflation of the Belarusian currency.

[Turboguy]

yes, I know about the bus and was heading for it.   To me a cab is more convenient with the bags and whatever and for $ 20.00 it is not that big a deal.  Now the $ 50.00 they started at, for that I will drag my suitcases onto the bus. 

[RussianGal]

...The airport is about 40 km outside the city so you might have to go $40 or more on the taxi. .

$40 is pretty expensive for that ride.  3 years ago we paid $35 for the transfer to the apartment in Minsk and that was through the agency. Later, I made a deal with that agency driver and he was giving us a ride for $25.

[happyguy]

I know this topic is kind of old,but i wanted to share what i learned about changing money there.I found it didn't matter what size bill i had or how crisp it was.There was never any problems with changing it.I must add that i didn't  change the money myself.It was done by my girl. So maybe if i had changed it there might of been problems.

[nzboy]

Great another minsk guy I was there for a month in july august Ive  never has any trouble changing money  their rates are always sharp .I mainly got cash from machine at belarus hotel .Guys reckon i was crazy using the same machine .But as I said if any thing goes wrong the hotel staff are right next to it . It has a less chance of scimming devices being put on it .A girl at uni lost 1000 bucks from her account being scimmed while i was there!