The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area

Finishrich

Probably not, but it depends how much money you want to change back.

Personally I've never changed foreign currency back to sterling. Anything that's left over just gets kept for the next trip.

pin

heatherw_01 wrote:

Is the buy back plus from travelex worth the £3.50?

In a word, no. You will probably lose out on the exchange rate.

freya18th

I was going to get my euro's through Travelex and get them to price match Thomas Exchage Global. But the other half says get them straight through TE Global. They do a next day postal service registered.As anyone out there used this service, it is going to be quite a lot of money as we have to pay for the apartment when we get there.There is a big difference in the rate to what they are giving locally. Also, does anyone know HOW to order the money from them online as there does not appear to be a link on their website to do this??

Finishrich

Can you not pay the apartment by credit card. As of today the Nationwide CC exchange rate is $1.90 which is better than Thomson Global £1.88 & Travellex $1.84.

freya18th

Hi finishrich We cannot pay by card they want euro's we are going to Benidorm the rate today was 146.00 which I think is very good. Just hope if we do deal with Thomas Exchage Golbal we can chose the amount of the different notes we want.Where did you find the Nationwide cc rates

cwej

pin wrote:

In a word, no. You will probably lose out on the exchange rate.

If you think BuyBackPlus is not worth it because you will lose out on the exchange rates, then you don't understand currency exchange unfortunately.

It is pretty much GUARANTEED it will save you money if you bring anything more than £20 worth of whatever currency you purchase back with you, because of the spread between the buying and selling rates...

---

What is the obsession with Travelex guys? I can guarantee you from personal experience in the market that if you are in Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted that in EVERY SINGLE CASE if you are buying foreign currency at the airport that Travelex's competitors have better prices than they do. They are the cheapest if buying online (but remember if you don't have a Nationwide card you are forced to pay by card which means you'll be charged in nearly every case, even on debit cards) - but at the airports TTT Moneycorp, ICE and Amex ALL give cheaper results. Don't be lured into the Neon signs of Travelex.

And believe me - if you speak to the competitors about each other's rates at the airports, then they will match and beat till the cows come home... Travelex are the least likely to budge, because they don't need to - just reading this thread has proven how unfortunately everyone is lured into Travelex's pretty false 'price promise'. They have the LOWEST rates in every airport, GUARANTEED.

pin

What is the obsession with Travelex guys?

When most people here talk about Travelex, they are talking about buying through Travelex online. I think most people are are aware that most travel exchange places at the airports, including Travelex, are very poor.

cwej

But many have said 'well I haven't got time so I'm going to get it at the airport, when is Travelex open?'... The word of advice is DO NOT use Travelex once you get to the airport - use absolutely ANY other operator, they are ALL cheaper.

pin

Have updated my foreign money list:

Hi, Here is my list of top places on how to get money to spend abroad:

1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / Nationwide Credit Card or the Audi credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).

2. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

3. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

4. Thomas Exchange Global in central London - pay and pick up at store.

5. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

6. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

7. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

8. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. Co-op Travel (they use Curreny Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

10. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convinient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

11. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 4 - 11, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the priviledge of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: Travel Money: The List & The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!!

tobys_mummy_2

Jewels wrote:

Have read through thread. Dont know if anyone can help. Going to Malta in 4 days (Great- only booked yesterday!) .
I tried to order my cash to collect as Ive done on privious trips from M & S , however they phoned back, just before closing to tell they could not get malta currency till next week.
Only have 2 cards -visa and DC
Please can anyone recommend best action?
1.Do I risk using my debit card (mortgagetrust) in ATM on arrival there, bit wary after ive read some of the threads and no one has mentioned malta.
2.Buy currency at airport?
3.Find someway to order cash on internet to collect somewhere (Ive tried 2 already but they cannot be collected at the airport were flying from)
Any advice welcome.
Thanks anyway !!!

order from travelex and arrange to collect it from the airport.