Best Bitcoin Exchange for Gambia
The smallest country in Africa is not an everyday holiday destination. Away from mass tourism, it has a lot to offer both the adventurous traveller and the holidaymaker in need of relaxation: The landmark of Gambia, the Arch 22, immediately stands out with a height of 35 metres above the capital Banjul. The imposing triumphal arch is a venerable reminder of the time of the military coup. Those who take the trouble to climb the monument over the spiral staircase will be rewarded with a breathtaking view over Banjul. Still influenced by the colonial times, the city is considered as a destination worth seeing.
The cultivation of tradition has a high value in Gambia, in many places one can get to know the typical, traditional village life very closely. The Holy Crocodile Basin of Kachikally in Bakau is a special feature of the superstition of the locals. Over 70 holy Nile crocodiles are allowed to move freely here. Anyone who caresses one of them should be blessed with many children. Untouched tropical jungle, mangrove swamps and forests full of palm trees give the animals and birds a home here.
In order to be able to enjoy the entire diversity of Gambia, it is a prerequisite to obtain effective information before the trip and to equip the travel fund with sufficient means of payment. How and where in Gambia it is possible to withdraw cash in local currency, what fees apply, and many other information relevant to the traveller to Gambia on the subject of means of payment, local currency, credit cards, etc. can be found in the following section of the article.
Dalasi (GMD) – the national currency in Gambia
Overview Banknotes Gambia DalasThe Dalasi, divided into 100 Bututs, is both the national currency and the official means of payment in Gambia. Dalasi is available in coins and banknotes, whereby Bututs are rarely used and hardly ever used in payment transactions.
The denominations are shown in the table below:
- Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 Bututs and 1 Dalasi
- Notes: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 Dalasi
The import and export of foreign currency is possible up to an equivalent value of 10,000 US dollars. Although this is the official figure, you should not rely on it. It can happen that the local customs officers do not comply with this.
Changing money in Gambia
A change into the national currency can be made in Gambia directly at the airport, in official exchange offices or also in banks in the capital Banjul. It is important to remember to exchange money in good time, as there are only a few ways to exchange money outside the cities.
Banks in Banjul are usually open from Monday – Friday from 08:00 to 16:00. Even on Saturdays banks can be visited between 09:00 am and 13:30 pm. Euro, US Dollar or British Pound Sterling are easily exchanged for Dalasi. You should refrain from an exchange in the hotels and shops in Gambia. In some cases, high fees are charged for exchanging money in the local currency. Likewise one should refrain from the exchange on the black market. This is prohibited by law, will be prosecuted and punished by the police.
Traveler’s cheques cash in Gambia
Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at the major banks in Gambia. In general, traveller’s cheques are returned worldwide and are sometimes not accepted at all in other countries. However, a service fee is often charged for the exchange of travellers’ cheques, which is why travellers’ cheques are more suitable as an additional means of payment. As in most travel countries, credit cards are suitable as a secure means of payment.
However, traveller’s cheques can still occupy an important place in the travel cash register as an additional means of payment, as security in the event of loss or theft of the money card, which is always associated with a temporary blocking of the card concerned. In addition, traveller’s cheques have the advantage that they are replaced immediately in the event of loss.
Cashless payment in Gambia
Even in small Gambia you can pay with a credit card without cash. Mainly possible in the capital, in hotels, shops and restaurants. The acceptance of the credit card as a means of payment is steadily increasing. When using the card, one should only bear in mind that there can be high fees for this. The point of acceptance often first converts the invoice amount into British pounds sterling and then into euros. This not only results in a worse exchange rate, but also in extra charges.
Irrespective of this fee, the credit card institute charges a fee for cashless transactions abroad. This foreign assignment fee is usually between 1 and 4% of the amount ordered. It is much cheaper for the traveller to pay the bills directly in cash. The credit card is then helpful for the purpose of withdrawing money in Gambia for the subsequent cash payment.
Withdrawing money in Gambia
The acceptance of the EC card for withdrawing money in Gambia is very limited. ATMs where it may be possible to withdraw money with the EC card are located at Standard Chartered Bank, Ecobank and GTBank. Since one should not rely on the acceptance, it is recommended to have always a credit card in the travel cash. With it it is much easier to withdraw money in Gambia.
Irrespective of the amount withdrawn, the house bank charges a foreign service fee for the use of a non-bank machine for each withdrawal made. The amount of this fee is usually between 5 and 10 euros. Due to the limit of disposal when paying out, it is unavoidable to visit a vending machine several times during a longer stay, which is reflected in the final settlement of travel costs in an unnecessarily large sum on the expenditure side.
Unnecessary because travel credit cards are also available whose providers generally do not charge this fee. It is also recommended for all those who already have a new V-Pay card. The functionality of V-Pay cards is very limited outside Europe, so it is advisable to have at least one credit card in your travel fund. If you are in possession of such a card, you can delete the expenditure column with the foreign deployment fees in the travel balance, there are no foreign deployment fees charged by these providers worldwide.
Withdraw money in Gambia by credit card
In contrast to EC cards, credit cards experience a much higher acceptance for withdrawing money in Gambia. Especially visas are accepted in Gambia. ATMs are located in the Standard Chartered Bank, Ecobank, GTBank and in the TBBank, whereby only the Visa credit card works at the TBBank. It should be taken into account that – similar to the EC card – the responsible credit card institution usually charges a foreign exchange fee for each withdrawal, both at the ATM and directly at the bank counter.
In contrast to the EC card, this fee is not a fixed amount. The foreign exchange fee for the use of common credit cards is between 1 and 4% of the amount withdrawn. Also this fee for the foreign assignment can be very easily avoided with the decision for a free travel credit card and thus save up to the end of the journey cash money, which can be used for more beautiful things.
This travel credit card is a meaningful means of payment extension not only for the travel fund. It also increases flexibility for cashless and online payments in Germany. Due to their broadband usability, these types of credit cards are currently the most effective and cheapest way of withdrawing money worldwide free of charge in the respective local currency. Information on this can be obtained from the credit card institute.
The few providers of one of the mentioned travel credit cards are listed in the following link. These few banks offer a free credit card, for which there is no foreign service charge both abroad and at domestic foreign banks. Thus this credit card variant qualifies not only for a journey to Gambia, but also for further journeys around the globe or as a cost-saving companion for everyday life. A credit card also increases the flexibility of cashless payment, not only in shops, hotels or restaurants, it can also be used online, for example for travel bookings or air ticket purchases. The account implied in most card contracts of these providers is also free of charge. It can be used as a travel account or as a second home account.
The application procedure is uncomplicated. The application can be completed online and only needs to be printed out. For the sake of simplicity, the Post-Ident procedure can be used to identify the account directly at the post office branch. All you need is a valid identity card. The new credit card will then be sent home within a maximum of two weeks. This time should therefore be taken into account before you start your journey.
Safety when withdrawing money in Gambia
The small country Gambia does not have an above-average crime rate by African standards. Nevertheless, in some regions and in the poorer districts of the cities, thefts and sometimes robberies occur again and again. Unused cash, credit cards and identity papers should therefore be kept in a safe place such as a hotel safe.
In order to enjoy a carefree stay in Gambia, the security of the travel funds is of utmost importance. As everywhere, you should be careful when travelling with your EC or credit card. The concealed entry of the PIN and the separate storage of PIN and associated card are already helpful. To withdraw money in Gambia, it is advisable to visit ATMs that are located in visible, bright places.
If the card is misused, stolen or lost despite compliance with these security measures, the blocking emergency call must be contacted immediately. The number can be reached via the following link. The blocking emergency call can be reached around the clock and on any day of the week. The money card is blocked immediately and can therefore be protected against further misuse. You should always carry the number of the blocking hotline with you to have it ready immediately in an emergency. Taking into account the necessary security aspects and with the right combination of means of payment in your luggage, you can look forward to an eventful stay in small Gambia.
Another note that is relevant for all credit card holders on holiday: Before every trip abroad, the credit card provider should be informed about the planned use of the card abroad, otherwise it may happen that the card is blocked for security reasons due to suspicion of card misuse on the part of the provider. Finally, it should be noted that the cost of careful liquidity planning for the stay abroad is less than the annoyance and costs that can be avoided.