Best Place to Get Currency in the High Street?

black-saturn

I'm going for a weekend in Rhineland Germany soon and I have about £400 cash in hand to change into Euro's. Wheres the best place to get it at the moment?

You will all get thanked for your responses :j

ejmna1

At the moment M+S
n

pin

Can you get down to London (Victoria Stree to the precise)?

Thomas Global Exchange seem to be the cheapest by far.

black-saturn

ejmna1 wrote:

At the moment M+S
n

Do you mean Marks and Spencer? Do they do foreign exchange?

mr_fishbulb

I used to go to the post office becuase it was (still is?) comission free, but now girlfirend has a amex platinum so we get comission free in amex exchanges.

black-saturn

pin wrote:

Can you get down to London (Victoria Stree to the precise)?

Thomas Global Exchange seem to be the cheapest by far.

Sadly no I cant but thanks anyway.

pin

Another option is Travelex online (buy online, pick up at airport). They are the best after Thomas Global Exchange.

If this works, put your cash into your bank account and pay via Travelex online that way. However do watch out to see what your card provider (best bet pay by debit card) will charge for this (some do and some don't).

Other option, use your debit card to get money out of an ATM when in Germany?

Sheel

Other vote for M&S from me

You can use the store locator to find out which branches near to you have a bureau de change.

Louisa_Jane_2

I always use Marks and Spencer - they are the cheapest in Milton Keynes, plus if you have a More card (M&S credit card), you can buy the money with the card and are not charged the extra fee/ interest rate.

black-saturn

Thanks for your replies.

Sadly according to that site the nearest M&S which does Bureau De Change to me is in Norwich which is going to cost me £7.50 to get to by train.

So it looks like I will be sticking to the Post Office unless anyone else has any other suggestions?

terence8888

I think you are much better off getting the Euro from ATMs with your debit card (not credit card otherwise you'll most likely to incur a lot of charges) when you are in Germany. The high st beaureau de change are generall a HUGH rip off. I never use them. You can check the real exchange rate (i.e. interbank rates) on the net (try bloomberg.com), the high st outfits often "spread" this price by 10-15%, that's 40-60 quid in your case!) I also love the fact that they will say commission free but the prices you'll be charged are so ridiculous that really make me sick!

But do check the charges with your bank though but I bet it's better than the high St outfits.

Finally, try to take as much Euro out in 1 go (of course you have to be comfortable lugging that amount of cash around). Banks often impose a charge per use.

Good luck!