Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

JJuniper

Just back from holiday with 60 euros I want to change back into pounds. Can anyone tell me where I can get the best rate for this.

Many thanks in advance.

cepheus

Find someone else who requires Euros and exchange it privately! If you plan to go again within the next few years, you may as well keep it!

If your really desperate try this

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/buy-back/#results

However, I'm not sure if any of this is over a convenient counter without travelling somewhere. This is the problem, you will nearly always end up with residual cash coming back, this is where the exchanges make their money.

janefo

hi
need some advice please. my son returns from oz next week after 10 months backpacking. he has just got his tax back and has 2000 dollars to convert. any suggestions for best place to do it??
thank you
jane

cepheus

janefo wrote: »

hi
need some advice please. my son returns from oz next week after 10 months backpacking. he has just got his tax back and has 2000 dollars to convert. any suggestions for best place to do it??
thank you
jane

Same place I guess

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/buy-back/#results

gingernick

Hi, I'm sure I read somewhere ( cannot find where now! ) that if you use your Mark & Spencer credit card to purchase some Euros at an M&S Bureau de Change you do not get charged for the transaction. Did I dream it???

dzug1

gingernick wrote: »

Hi, I'm sure I read somewhere ( cannot find where now! ) that if you use your Mark & Spencer credit card to purchase some Euros at an M&S Bureau de Change you do not get charged for the transaction. Did I dream it???

You don't get charged for a credit card transaction

You still pay their fairly average exchange rate markup for the transaction

stphnstevey

stilltheone wrote: »

Ask Sainsburys if they charge extra for this kind of transaction. The rate that you receive might be the bank's rate rather than the VISA/MasterCard rate.

I am going to buy some dollars in the UK before travelling now, rather than using a cash machine over there

Normally Credit Cards treat buying foriegn currency as a cash advance, so I phoned up SANTANDER as wanted to use my SANTANDER ZERO card for this. They said there would be no fee, but interst would be charged on the transaction.

I asked specifically if I payed off the AMOUNT IN FULL at the end of the month, would there be any interest charge. He went and checked and said NO.

However I am still not convinced as I am sure most cards charge you interest from the day of the cash advance till the day you pay it off?

Has anyone any experience with this using this card?

stilltheone

stphnstevey wrote: »

I am going to buy some dollars in the UK before travelling now, rather than using a cash machine over there

Normally Credit Cards treat buying foriegn currency as a cash advance, so I phoned up SANTANDER as wanted to use my SANTANDER ZERO card for this. They said there would be no fee, but interst would be charged on the transaction.

I asked specifically if I payed off the AMOUNT IN FULL at the end of the month, would there be any interest charge. He went and checked and said NO.

However I am still not convinced as I am sure most cards charge you interest from the day of the cash advance till the day you pay it off?

Has anyone any experience with this using this card?

.....

There is no interest free period on Cash Transactions and Balance Transfers.

.....

covermeincurrymylover

hi, just to confirm - if I have a santander zero card is that cheaper for cash withdrawals than using a prepaid fx card? I'm going to america in just under two weeks probably will spend £600-800. cheers (I'll use the zero for transactions)

I don't want to take cash over with me as I'll be staying in the Bronx for a month...

Edit again: sorry, I've had a cheeky idea. what would happen if I put cash into my credit account before I went...i.e if it was positive balance. would that mean I didnt get charged the 27% apr?

park_gate

covermeincurrymylover wrote: »

hi, just to confirm - if I have a santander zero card is that cheaper for cash withdrawals than using a prepaid fx card? I'm going to america in just under two weeks probably will spend £600-800. cheers (I'll use the zero for transactions)

Yes the Zero card will be better than the prepaid provided you meet Santander terms and conditions.

I don't want to take cash over with me as I'll be staying in the Bronx for a month...

Edit again: sorry, I've had a cheeky idea. what would happen if I put cash into my credit account before I went...i.e if it was positive balance. would that mean I didnt get charged the 27% apr?

I recently got a Zero card and sat down with a magnifying glass to read the small print and there is nothing against pre-loading. Didn't you read the small print?

Terry