The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area

freya18th

Hi Tee Pee, Thomas Golbal Exhange you pay by internet banking plus £5 postage for next day delivery. There is an email address form on their site they will give you all the details when you ask.

QT2006

Can someone explain how you can the best exchange rate for (cash) prior to going on holiday. ie. I need some US dollars before hand about £200 worth?

pin

QT2006 wrote:

Can someone explain how you can the best exchange rate for (cash) prior to going on holiday. ie. I need some US dollars before hand about £200 worth?

[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]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!!

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QT2006

Cheers pin, travelex online seems to be the best bet, how do u get them to beat Thomas Global's rate?

nutmegman

I fly to Cyprus in Sunday, I did apply for Nationwide account, however I dont have my pin number yet. Let hope it arrives tommorow.

If not I have the following options;

1, Travellers cheques
2, draw from my Natwest current account
3, draw from my Lloyds TSB current account
4, draw from the wifes HSBC current account

Thanks in advance and any other ideas welcome

QT2006

QT2006 wrote:

Cheers pin, travelex online seems to be the best bet, how do u get them to beat Thomas Global's rate?

?? anything

swizzle_2

Hi

I am flying to Nz and will be stopping off at Dubai and Melbourne airport- will need a small amount of cash for each place to cover drinks-snacks etc.

Which is best way to say get £20 of each?

Am I best ordering it before I go and being able to change it back free any thats left? or draw from ATM with my Nationwide debit card?

If I do draw from the ATM do I need to find out for example how much $20aus is before- don`t want to be drawing £200 instead of £20!

Thanks

pin

QT2006 wrote:

Cheers pin, travelex online seems to be the best bet, how do u get them to beat Thomas Global's rate?

I have answered this question a few times.

Ordinarily I would spell it out again, but am hungover. Have a dig around the forums (including this thread) and you will find the answer.

pin

swizzle wrote:

Hi

I am flying to Nz and will be stopping off at Dubai and Melbourne airport- will need a small amount of cash for each place to cover drinks-snacks etc.

Which is best way to say get £20 of each?

Am I best ordering it before I go and being able to change it back free any thats left? or draw from ATM with my Nationwide debit card?

If I do draw from the ATM do I need to find out for example how much $20aus is before- don`t want to be drawing £200 instead of £20!

Thanks

Best bet is the places at the airport will take debit card. So just pay using your debit card, that way you won't need to take out excess cash.

Otherwise, while you may be hit re curreny exchanges, just pay in pound sterling.

swizzle_2

But will I be able to buy a cup of coffee with a debit card?

Larger stuff are ok. but small stuff?