Buying Euros

ageandjo

Where is the best place to buy Euros?

alanrowell

From an ATM in a country that uses the Euro

pin

Nationwide with ATM is the best. Second is ATM with your debit card, but CHECK charges with your bank.

After that Thomas Exchange Global on Victoria Street.

After that Travelex, but buy online (however CHECK debit / credit charges with your card provider). Remember Travelex will price match (ie get Travelex to match the TEG rate).

Bob63

For most of your Euros, assuming you go to a Euro zone country, then an ATM is the way to go. However, if you want some for when you arrive which is always a good idea, then buy from the Post Office because they don't charge commission.

Now, repeat after me... "Never ever buy currency at the airport"!

Mike

Cumbrian_Male

Where are you going to and where do you arrive into the country?

cheesy.mike wrote:

For most of your Euros, assuming you go to a Euro zone country, then an ATM is the way to go.

agree for ALL euros.

cheesy.mike wrote:

However, if you want some for when you arrive which is always a good idea, then buy from the Post Office because they don't charge commission.

Mike

disagree I would still use an atm as their will most likely be one in the airport or rail station, depending on location.

and definately get a Nationwide Flex account

When I was in Amsterdam in Feb. I got between €1.46-€1.48/£ on my transactions. If I had bought euros before going €1.40 was best rate at the time.

Bob63

Cumbrian_Male wrote:

disagree I would still use an atm as their will most likely be one in the airport or rail station, depending on location.

I disagree with your disagreement!

Try arriving in a foreign country at 11:00pm to discover that every outlet in the airport is closed and the ATM is out of order. As a regular business traveller this has happened to me more than once - one time too many in fact. That is why I always arrive in a country with enough of the local currency to get me a taxi to my hotel. For some countries, Russia for example, it is impractical or impossible to buy the local currency in the UK so in those cases I arrive with a recognised currency such as US dollars or Euros which most taxi drivers are happy to accept.

Mike

pin

Buying Travelex online (and picking up at the airport) rates are better than buying through the Post Office or even Marks and Spencer.

Spud_2

M&S Money is currently a better exchange rate than Post Office, it also appears to be eligible for cashback on Quidco - 3% back which I think seems pretty good. It's commission free and free delivery for any orders £500+.

I don't understand why so many of you say ATM best when presumably most debit cards you get charged per withdrawal, in my case 1.5%? Is it because the exchange rate is good?

Bob63

Spud wrote:

I don't understand why so many of you say ATM best when presumably most debit cards you get charged per withdrawal, in my case 1.5%? Is it because the exchange rate is good?

I guess it comes down to how you define "best".

Best = cheapest - then yes shop around, buy in advance

Best = convenience - ATM every time for me.

Best = security - again the ATM wins because I'm not carrying huge amounts of cash around with me. I only ever have smallish amounts that don't cause me huge grief if I lose them or get mugged. Imagine taking £1500 of euros on holiday and losing them on the first day.

Mike