The Ultimate Guide to Spending Your Money in 42 Countries This Summer

GOBankingRates examined tipping etiquette, exchange rates, strength of the U.S. dollar, cost of a dinner for two and other money factors around the globe

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GOBankingRates

May 17, 2016, 07:15 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To help make upcoming summer travel easier for the millions of Americans vacationing overseas, GOBankingRates surveyed some of the most popular travel destinations to create a guide to spending money abroad.

To access the Ultimate Money Guide for Traveling Abroad, visit:
http://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/ultimate-guide-spending-money-countries/

The following eight factors were surveyed in 42 countries:

Tipping etiquette
The average cost of a dinner for two
The best places to exchange currency
Exchange rates
Strength of the U.S. dollar
ATM availability
Acceptance of credit cards
Acceptance of the U.S. dollar

"If you're planning a trip overseas, consider a destination where the dollar goes further so you'll get more bang for your buck," said Cameron Huddleston, Life + Money columnist for GOBankingRates. "It's also important to keep in mind whether the country you plan to visit accepts U.S. dollars because you could end up in trouble if you discover you're out of the local currency as you're about to pay for something."

Some stand-out findings:

A dinner for two will cost an average of $104.72 in Switzerland, over 11 times what it would cost in India ($9.05).
Peru, Belize and the Bahamas, among others, widely accept the U.S. dollar.
For Americans looking to travel to a place where tipping isn't expected, Asia is the best bet.
Although ATMs are prevalent in the majority of the countries surveyed, they are difficult to find in Cuba and are not provided on many of the smaller Greek islands.

Countries that accept the USD:

Bahamas
Belize
Costa Rica
Jamaica (at major shops and hotels)
Mexico
Peru
Singapore (at major shops and hotels)
Vietnam (at major shops and hotels)
Zimbabwe

Countries where tipping isn't traditional:

Brazil
China
Finland
Japan
Malaysia
New Zealand
South Korea

Traveling to Europe this summer? Check out our printable spending cheat sheet, covering everything from tipping etiquette to ATM availability in 16 European countries: http://www.gobankingrates.com/personal-finance/ultimate-spending-guide-europe/

About GOBankingRates

GOBankingRates.com is a leading portal for personal finance and consumer banking information, offering visitors the latest on everything from finding a good interest rate to strategies for saving money, investing for retirement, and getting a loan. Its editors are regularly featured on top-tier media outlets, including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Business Insider, Daily Finance, and more. It specializes in connecting consumers with the best financial institutions and banking products nationwide.

Contact:

Katie Johnston, Media Relations
GOBankingRates.com
[email protected]
310-297-9233 x116

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SOURCE GOBankingRates