Cheap Travel Money Discussion Area

yokie10_2

Hello has anyone used the Azimo.com money transfer?

Travelling to Argentina and googled other blogs which suggested using Azimo to get the blue rate exchange as opposed to the national exchange rate.

eDicky

yokie10 wrote: »

Hello has anyone used the Azimo.com money transfer?

Travelling to Argentina and googled other blogs which suggested using Azimo to get the blue rate exchange as opposed to the national exchange rate.

I think that information is out of date, currency exchange controls were lifted in December.

amysun

Hi, I'm looking into currency exchange options for our holiday in May to Gran Canaria. Previously I have only got cash, but I'm considering taking some euros in cash and pre-loading some euros onto a prepaid card.

FairFX looks good and it's featured on the "Prepaid Travel Cards" page. However, I just found another prepaid card which isn't featured on this page and I think it probably should be. It's an Asda Money Currency Card. On the Asda Money website it gives me the option to exchange currency and order either cash or this currency card. It looks like the same thing as the Fair FX card. However, the exchange rate (when I checked) was slighted better at Asda than FairFX and Asda says there is no fee for withdrawing cash from an ATM! FairFX charge €1.50!

Has anyone had experience of this card or is there someone who knows more about currency exchange who can tell me if it's a good deal?

FairFX will let me use up any remaining balance in the UK for free after my holiday. I looked on the Asda currency card FAQs, under "How do I withdraw unspent funds?" it says "You can cash out any unspent funds on your Card at an Asda Travel Money bureau, withdraw them at a cash machine displaying the MasterCard Acceptance Mark, or by calling 0800 260 0355. Alternatively, you can use the remaining balance on your Card to pay for goods and services wherever MasterCard is accepted.". This doesn't specify if there would be fees but it seems to suggest I could use it up in the UK for free just like the FairFX card.

N9eav

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If you utilise the right method(plastic), you are looking at US$1.45 currently. Why so primitive in outlook? Do you need the US$ in the UK?

I am off to USA in 2 weeks. I use plastic a lot, but need folding money too. I am resigned to the fact that its not going to reach 1.50, but I did get 1.43 at a local travel agent on Saturday.

NiftyDigits

N9eav wrote: »

I am off to USA in 2 weeks. I use plastic a lot, but need folding money too. I am resigned to the fact that its not going to reach 1.50, but I did get 1.43 at a local travel agent on Saturday.

Folding money you get from the ATM. Didn't anyone tell you? You'll still beat US$1.43 even if you go to an ATM that charges a US$1 or 2 if you withdraw a decent amount each time using the right plastic.

Get Revolut card. Once physical card received, top up account. Arrive in USA, go to non fee charging ATM. Withdraw cash. Receive current rate of US$1.448. Welcome to the twenty first century.

NiftyDigits

amysun wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking into currency exchange options for our holiday in May to Gran Canaria. Previously I have only got cash, but I'm considering taking some euros in cash and pre-loading some euros onto a prepaid card.

FairFX looks good and it's featured on the "Prepaid Travel Cards" page. However, I just found another prepaid card which isn't featured on this page and I think it probably should be. It's an Asda Money Currency Card. On the Asda Money website it gives me the option to exchange currency and order either cash or this currency card. It looks like the same thing as the Fair FX card. However, the exchange rate (when I checked) was slighted better at Asda than FairFX and Asda says there is no fee for withdrawing cash from an ATM! FairFX charge €1.50!

Has anyone had experience of this card or is there someone who knows more about currency exchange who can tell me if it's a good deal?

FairFX will let me use up any remaining balance in the UK for free after my holiday. I looked on the Asda currency card FAQs, under "How do I withdraw unspent funds?" it says "You can cash out any unspent funds on your Card at an Asda Travel Money bureau, withdraw them at a cash machine displaying the MasterCard Acceptance Mark, or by calling 0800 260 0355. Alternatively, you can use the remaining balance on your Card to pay for goods and services wherever MasterCard is accepted.". This doesn't specify if there would be fees but it seems to suggest I could use it up in the UK for free just like the FairFX card.

Revolut...

JMFD

amysun wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking into currency exchange options for our holiday in May to Gran Canaria. Previously I have only got cash, but I'm considering taking some euros in cash and pre-loading some euros onto a prepaid card.

FairFX looks good and it's featured on the "Prepaid Travel Cards" page. However, I just found another prepaid card which isn't featured on this page and I think it probably should be. It's an Asda Money Currency Card. On the Asda Money website it gives me the option to exchange currency and order either cash or this currency card. It looks like the same thing as the Fair FX card. However, the exchange rate (when I checked) was slighted better at Asda than FairFX and Asda says there is no fee for withdrawing cash from an ATM! FairFX charge €1.50!

Has anyone had experience of this card or is there someone who knows more about currency exchange who can tell me if it's a good deal?

FairFX will let me use up any remaining balance in the UK for free after my holiday. I looked on the Asda currency card FAQs, under "How do I withdraw unspent funds?" it says "You can cash out any unspent funds on your Card at an Asda Travel Money bureau, withdraw them at a cash machine displaying the MasterCard Acceptance Mark, or by calling 0800 260 0355. Alternatively, you can use the remaining balance on your Card to pay for goods and services wherever MasterCard is accepted.". This doesn't specify if there would be fees but it seems to suggest I could use it up in the UK for free just like the FairFX card.

I've used FairFX before without any issues. Not sure if it's the best at the moment.

Revolut I'm hesitant about because the app you have to use to manage your account needs a ridiculous amount of permissions.

Megan_dnls

Hi,

I'm currently in Argentina and will be here for the next 5 months. Money-wise I'm using my Lloyds bank debit card and withdrawing money from the local ATM (the most I can withdraw at one time is about 70 pounds). Now, the transfer fees aren't huge, but there is also a 2 pound cash fee every time I withdraw.

Could anybody advise me on a cheaper way of taking out money? Would it be possible to take out a credit card while I'm here and is that something worth looking into?

NiftyDigits

Megan_dnls wrote: »

Hi,

I'm currently in Argentina and will be here for the next 5 months. Money-wise I'm using my Lloyds bank debit card and withdrawing money from the local ATM (the most I can withdraw at one time is about 70 pounds). Now, the transfer fees aren't huge, but there is also a 2 pound cash fee every time I withdraw.

Could anybody advise me on a cheaper way of taking out money? Would it be possible to take out a credit card while I'm here and is that something worth looking into?

Revolut is one option.

murphydavid

Megan_dnls wrote: »

Hi,

I'm currently in Argentina and will be here for the next 5 months. Money-wise I'm using my Lloyds bank debit card and withdrawing money from the local ATM (the most I can withdraw at one time is about 70 pounds). Now, the transfer fees aren't huge, but there is also a 2 pound cash fee every time I withdraw.

Could anybody advise me on a cheaper way of taking out money? Would it be possible to take out a credit card while I'm here and is that something worth looking into?

Not sure if this will work but may be worth a try. It also depends if you have someone in the UK who will forward mail to you. ie If you dont have credit problems you could probably apply for a Halifax Clarity credit card on the internet provided you can give a UK mailing address to which the card would be sent. Then it would have to be forwarded to you. All other halifax transactions are done on the internet probably from anywhere. the Halifax ATM limit is 500 that is £500 in UK and $500 in USA and 500 euro in Europe> Don,t know about Argentina. Once you have the card you can inform Halifax where you are so they won't have a problem with it being used where you are. Mind you some ATMs can be limited and can charge independenly of your bank. Also you can use the Halifax Clarity in most shops anywhere in the world (USA and Europe anyway) so there is often no need to get cash just profer the card to the shop and tell them to charge to it in local curency and the Halifax does the rest.