Tips for € exchange

[Salu]

Anybody have any good tips about getting Euros for holidays? Online/Post Office etc. Best rates. Things to avoid?

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Salu

Anybody have any good tips about getting Euros for holidays? Online/Post Office etc. Best rates. Things to avoid?

Avoid using your credit card to get cash. I tend to get money from the cashpoint. But then again, I get it from a euro account

[DocDutch]

if you are with Nationwide then put the dosh into that account as they dont charge for withdraw.

Otherwise post office is quite good with rates normally. I would avoid taking alot of cash with you. I would just have say €150 on me and use cards all the way.

[Aragorn]

If you are flying, Travelex usually have the best commission free rates if you order in advance and collect from the airport. And they have a buyback option.

[altis]

Another vote for the Nationwide Flex account. Have a hunt around and you will find this, together with a Post Office credit card, to be well recognised as the best method of spending money abroad.

Just before the end of the tax year, when the place was busy with folks setting up ISAs, we went to our local branch of Nationwide and explained what we wanted. They were very helpful and took us through setting up an account. It's difficult to find such good customer service these days. Within a week we received our cards through the post and our PINs arrived soon after. They are Visa Debit cards. We loaded up our accounts and went to France. I took some cash out of La Poste and used it to buy lift passes and some boot servicing. On return I checked how much we had paid in sterling and found we got as near a damn it to the bank exchange rate - no 2.75% service charge like my credit card. Highly recommended!

If you want cash before you go try Travellex online and order it for collection at the airport. Don't just walk up to a bureau there - you'll get a worse rate.

[LondonRoad]

A colleague of mine reccomends chequepoint (i think that's what it's called). There seems to be one on every high street. I thought they only did cheque cashing for a large fee but they also do foreign exchange. I compared it to the post office last week and it was far better.

Going on hol myself in 3 weeks so I'm hoping there's an improvement in the rates

[bmxbandit]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

If you are flying, Travelex usually have the best commission free rates if you order in advance and collect from the airport. And they have a buyback option.

I found this to give the best rate also... 2 weeks ago

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

If you want foreign currency or travellers cheques buy then through the Travelex web site and pick them up at the airport. You'll get the best rate, you can buy up to 3 months in advance (i think) and if the rate radically gets better in the mean time you can cancel your transaction for free and buy them again at the new rate.

Alternatively get a Nationwide credit card, the rates they give you are better than exchanging money

[Paul M]

Another vote for Nationwide.

[PeteTheMusicGuy]

Post office is ok if youre buying in cash

I've got an account with the Bank of Ireland and when I go down to Dublin I'm not charged to take my money out in Euros

[v0id]

Don't forget to tell your bank/CC company that you'll be using your cards abroad, so you don't risk having them stopped due to fraud prevention

[Stephen]

What about the Travel money card from the post Office.

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/p...diaId=26800661

Looks like you can load it up with Euro's and there seems to be no charges for using it.

[altis]

Originally Posted by PeteTheMusicGuy

Post office is ok if youre buying in cash

Round our way, that's the most expensive way of buying Euros!

When in ROI I used to look out for an Ulster Bank hole in the wall. They have/had some association with NatWest and there wasn't any charge for my First Direct (HSBC) cash card. Things seem to have changed so my last withdrawl cost me something like £1.50.

Edit:
Whilst the Nationwide Flex is still considered the best debit card, the Abbey Zero is now the best of the credit cards:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car...nding-overseas

[Angua]

Motley Fool link Good comparison table.

Nationwide credit card is also fee free for purchases plus you have the credit card purchase protection with this as well.

[LSainsbury]

Lloyds bank customers get 0% commission and delivered to your door...

More info.