When has to be down to luck, even if you check on currency rates daily. For where, there is a choice. High Street shops, Banks, the Internet or even the Airport.

Last year I purchased my dollars over the internet with Sainsbury’s Bank. A good rate at the time until my credit card statement arrived and they charged me £25 as it was treated as a ‘cash advance’. However to be fair they did refund the payment, but beware of the credit card. Purchase by the debit card is probably the answer. In the High Street I have just purchased dollars for my Texas tour from the Money Shop (paid cash) as their exchange rate was much better than the banks and Thomas Cook / Thomson.

I await comments from other travellers as this will be beneficial to the ‘first timers’.

Regards

Malcolm

yes never pay for your currency by credit card as it is treated as a cash advance, always use debit card

i usually buy mine on line from either international currency express ( ICE ) or Travelex as rates slightly the best though need a minimum of £500 to get free delivery, funny enough Travelex have a currency sale on now untill 11am tomorrow which had prompted me to buy some australian dollars for november and then was going to get some more later on but the rate dropped convientaly this morning from yesterday making it slightly less even with an extra dollar per pound so shall look early tomorrow to see if rate goes up again, it probably won't, if not i'll wait a bit and the thing is if you leave it too close your holiday you end up having to purchase at lower rate and the time soon creeps up

i would always have sterling should you run short and just change that and use credit card for any shop purchases etc

ps i once got caught out at the post office using the credit card and the staff didn't tell me

regards

Dave

I either get my money from the post office or direct from the bank...I don't look around to much.perhaps I should?

Cindy

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/holiday-money/#results 

I too do not shop around - just get the currency fron the bank or post office and take the rest in Sterling which I change as and when I need it. I have found that you always get a bit of a better rate when changing the currency in the country you are visiting.

Jaya

One of the big questions we have to ask ourselves before we go on holiday, is when and where to buy our foreign currency.

When has to be down to luck, even if you check on currency rates daily. For where, there is a choice. High Street shops, Banks, the Internet or even the Airport.

Last year I purchased my dollars over the internet with Sainsbury’s Bank. A good rate at the time until my credit card statement arrived and they charged me £25 as it was treated as a ‘cash advance’. However to be fair they did refund the payment, but beware of the credit card. Purchase by the debit card is probably the answer. In the High Street I have just purchased dollars for my Texas tour from the Money Shop (paid cash) as their exchange rate was much better than the banks and Thomas Cook / Thomson.

I await comments from other travellers as this will be beneficial to the ‘first timers’.

Regards

Malcolm

Hi Malcolm,

I load a FairFX travel card with Euros (dollar cards also available if required) and take a small amount of cash, then draw out cash from a machine when I arrive. They do not always charge for the card, and withdrawals are 1.50 euros a time. Tesco usually have good cash rates.

Regards

Sylvia

One of the best in the UK last time I got some euros were Superdrug (beat M & S, Thomas Cook, etc) and one of the worst is now the Post Office. Never get your money at Airports they are a rip off.

Depending on your credit card it sometimes pays to use it instead of cash, yes there is a a slight percentage charge but they are calculated on the real exchange rate and not the tourist rate so still works out better.

Malcolm

I either get my money from the post office or direct from the bank...I don't look around to much.perhaps I should?

Cindy

Cindy,

Post Office rates were ok about 3 years ago now they are a long way from all the others on the high street, Thomas Cook, Thompsons, Marks & Spencer, Superdrug, etc all offer significantly better rates.

Mick

Thanks for that, I shall have a good look around next time, I did get my USD for Florida from my bank but that was just for ease of my finances!!!!!

Cindy

Pete ..........

Thanks for the tip. I had never thought about using Superdrug to get the currency and will bear this in mind when I start travelling again. Even though I do not always have time to shop around for currency it is always nice to get a little bit more.

Regards

Jaya

Mick

Thanks for the tip. I had never thought about using Superdrug to get the currency and will bear this in mind when I start travelling again. Even though I do not always have time to shop around for currency it is always nice to get a little bit more.

Regards

Jaya

Jaya,

I was the same until somebody told me aou them, think they are new to the currency game so offering good rates to attract customers. M&S are good but they certainly beat them last time i got some euros and dollars.

Mick

Was better than superdrug (1.15) and much better than M & S (1.137).

Bob

Hi all, most countries have ATMs that will accept your debit card without any hassle these days. I have been told by my bank there's no need to inform them regarding using my Visa Debit card abroad, as it should work anywhere. However, it is different regarding Visa Credit Cards or Mastercard - you definitely need to ring them up and let them know when and where you are going - especially if travelling to Africa or the Far East as otherwise the automated security safeguards may kick in and block the transaction. Check up to see which countries you'll be travelling in - some tours have day trips over the border into another country e.g. when in Zambia there is the option of a day trip to Botswana and I gather the Thailand tour involves a short hop over the border into Laos (sounds great!). So if you see a wonderful souvenir you could be badly disappointed to find your credit card stopped and you have no cash! Although once again, it always pays to have US dollars on any long haul tours as they are almost universally accepted. Hope this helps.

Bob

Bob,

Rather than phone up I go into the branch and the lady on the help desk goes online and does it for me for both my credit cards and debit card (all at Lloyds TSB).

Not yet told mei on't need to inform about the debit card which is Visa.

Mick

I guess it is best to inform the banks about both credit and debit cards just in case they are used fraudently whilst abroad. I usually just take plenty of cash and a credit card in case it is needed for emergency use.

Jaya

Just note, got some Euros today from a shop called Cheque Centre at a rate of 1.155.

Was better than superdrug (1.15) and much better than M & S (1.137).

If you are near an Asda with a currency kiosk, order online before 2pm (paying with debit card no extra). You get a better rate than from the kiosk - one of the highest online collect prices - and can just pick up a day later when you do your shopping. Suits me.

So when I visited Poland earlier this month, I decided to try the same tactic. Needless to say I was delighted to be offered 4.82 zlotys to my pound instead of the 4.42 on-line in the UK a couple of days before departure. An almost 10% better deal.

I have no experience of the more ‘popular’ countries since then but my next experience will be with my first JY holiday to China in October. I shall certainly be trying the same tactic again.

Of course, if you follow this tip, do be careful with security of your wodge of cash while travelling. Well, of course you would. But worth emphasising. I sealed mine in an envelope and kept it in my carry-on, shoulder bag. When flying to Budapest earlier in the season, I had warmer clothes on travelling so the envelope was safely zipped up in an inner pocket of my anorak.

Otherwise, I have found the best deal was with my local American Express Travel Services bureau. And if you’re a subscriber to Martin Lewis’s excellent (free) weekly email, also check out ’s currency and travel pages and forums.