Travel currency.

[Rustynuts]

Another old question that keeps popping up.

Where's the best place to exchange money prior to going over to France? Last time we went we exchanged with an online deal and got a much better rate of exchange. Wifey always wants to go to the post office and pay their poor rates for the trip, but I got about £50 more in our pocket last time by going online.

[S3Bangs]

Rusty,

I know this might not be of much help, but this is what I use. Load it up anytime you like, can't beat the exchange rate and is free to get (Just do a like for like comparison with other places. they'll even pricematch if you can get it better elsewhere). No hidden costs, the only one I can think of is to withdraw from a cashpoint which is minimal and you won't need to do unless you really need the cash.

I have the Euro and Dollar cards and load them up when I feel the exchange rate is favourable.

For cash I tend to use this as they've always been favourable for me

[Rustynuts]

That's a feckin good idea. I was toying with the idea of taking out the Nationwide credit card again (free to use in other countries see) but I don't really like credit cards, even though the wife does. I think that's the problem actually. So, without using the credit card we'd decided that cash was going to be the next best thing, then we know where we stand. But now you've mentioned the Currency card that could be a sound idea.

I used TTT Money Corp last time we went abroad for cash, and the feckers ripped me off for a charge which wasn't shown in their terms and conditions. It was only £7 or so but it's the principle. Also since then they've stopped doing the "Cash by post" system and you now have to collect from Gatwick or Stansted. Great when you're sailing from Hull. And their rate is 5 cents worse than Kensington at the moment so they're worse than the bloody post office!

So, I think it's going to be the bulk of the money on the Currency Card and a couple of hundred cash from Kensington.

Only possible problem is diesel. Last time we went to France there wasn't an automated pump station which would accept my debit card or cash. Ended up accosting a passing french woman and offering her 40 Euros if she'd use her card to pay for 35 Euros of diesel at 2.00am in the morning somewhere south of Cherbourg. Luckily she was an agreeable sort and said yes. :notworthy:

[pingpongpo]

You don't need the nationwide credit card to get the free money out, I've got a nationwide debit card and it has the free overseas withdrawal perk.

You get a far better rate from the hole in the wall than any other place you could get the money from.

[Waylander]

Agreed. MY NAtionwide cards are the only things I use abroad and much cheaper than cash conversion.

Eg recent trip to state: best cash rate £1=$1.87

Paid with NCC and got £1=$1.98

[Rustynuts]

Rusty,

I know this might not be of much help, but this is what I use. Load it up anytime you like, can't beat the exchange rate and is free to get (Just do a like for like comparison with other places. they'll even pricematch if you can get it better elsewhere). No hidden costs, the only one I can think of is to withdraw from a cashpoint which is minimal and you won't need to do unless you really need the cash.

I have the Euro and Dollar cards and load them up when I feel the exchange rate is favourable.

For cash I tend to use this as they've always been favourable for me

Just ordered 2 cards this morning, one for me and one for the wife. Then gonna load 'em up as and when finance is good and hopefully we'll have the spends sorted in time for the trip.

Thanks for the pointer mate.

[bfc1912]

The exchange rate on those cards seems to be avout 2% below what you'd get on the Nationwide Visa card. Todays rate on their website is 1.2450, you'd get 1.27 with visa http://www.corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_services/consumer_ex_results.jsp?from=GBP&to=EUR&rate=0.0

[Rustynuts]

The exchange rate on those cards seems to be about 2% below what you'd get on the Nationwide Visa card.

Ah, but don't forget the Visa rate is tied to when you use the card to make a payment. In August (when we're in France) the exchange rate could well be 1 British Pound = 1.20 Euro, whereas if I bought my Euros today then my rate would still be 1 British Pound = 1.245 Euro. It's a gamble whichever way you go, but I only applied for the card today, I didn't actually put any cash on it. If the rate jumps in the next few weeks I'll load it then, and if it drops then I'll wait. It's a better rate than buying Euros in cash anyway, and a whole lot safer.

[scooby_simon]

I just use the hole-in-the wall when I get somewhere.

Usually have a few Euro / CHF / USD and AUD flaoting around the house.

[mb]

I just use the hole-in-the wall when I get somewhere.

Usually have a few Euro / CHF / USD and AUD flaoting around the house.

Same here but only euro/USD spare...

Hole in Wall seems good value to me - in US last week and got 1.93444 on my cash + a 2.00 cash charge (Lloyds are meant to have stopped these I thought...) still airport rate was 1.85-1.87 so even with the 2.00 charge you only need to withdraw 100 USD to beat the airport rate + more convenient/safer than carrying lots of cash.

For purchases Amex converted at 1.92 without any additional charges which again seems OK

[S3Bangs]

The exchange rate on those cards seems to be avout 2% below what you'd get on the Nationwide Visa card. Todays rate on their website is 1.2450, you'd get 1.27 with visa http://www.corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_services/consumer_ex_results.jsp?from=GBP&to=EUR&rate=0.0

Aaah! Thats where you get them to price match. As Rusty says and as I do believe. If you don't have the money floating around, it's easy and convenient and virtually costs nothing.

I have foreign cash hanging around the house at any one time but use this for most of my purchases abroad and load it up when the rates are good. I loaded up a fair amount for dollars last time at $2.06 to a pound. Not bad if you ask me.