How to buy travellers cheques or foreign currency

grumbler

Mary6 wrote:

...Get cash from P O in UK and use Cards in Australia?...

Why 'and'? I think the question should be 'OR'...
The andswer depends on the cards you are going to use. Read, for example, Holiday Money to Thailand thread.
Did you read Martin's 'The cheapest way to spend overseas: save 6% ' article? If you have time apply for Nationwide cards and forget about buying currency or TCc forever.

See also:
singapore & new zealand dollars$
Electron visa, or traveller's cheques?
Australia - using Nationwide debit card for cashback??

Search (Guide);)

Mary6_2

Thank you grumbler. I will take two cards.

Red_Elle

Thanks for all the info on NW debit card Grumbler.
Am off to USA in about 3 weeks (getting married ) and was going to get AMEX Travellers Cheque card, but am going to get NW now.
Only concern is in losing the card/machine taking it.

grumbler

Red_Elle wrote:

Only concern is in losing the card/machine taking it.

It is worth having both Nationwide credit and debit (or cash) cards. I have three: credit, debit and cash cards. Credit card - for purchases, debit card - for purchases and cash withdrawls. Don't keep them together and you will always have something in case of emergency. Also any other debit or credit card and some British pounds can be used as a backup.

arnold_2

One thing to watch is that not all countries take Visa as much as they take Mastercard/Maestro. Therefore, the Nationwide and Liverpool Victoria aren't 100% dependable abroad because they only offer Visa (aside from the Nationwide cash card but Cirrus can't be used over the counter in banks therefore isn't a 100% reliable fallback itself).

If you live in Northern Ireland, you can get Euros free in a couple of ATMs (using your Nationwide card). Are there any other Euro machines elsewhere in the UK?

The only downside of these particular machines is that, although they are in the UK, they appear to be setup as though they were abroad in terms of cards accepted (ie they won't take Link) and charges applied.


Arnold

stephb_2

I applied for a Nationwide Credit Card for my holiday, but despite signing up way in advance and ringing up on numerous occassions to find out what was going on, the card never arrived. I am now going away in three days and have been kindly informed by the people at Nationwide that it won't be coming anytime soon as my details have magically vanished (despite having received a credit card agreement).

So if you need a credit card before 2050, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Steph

evilhomeruk

realaledrinker wrote:

Apologies if this has been noted before but I obtained £500 of Euros yesterday at M&S using my &More card.

*TREATED AS ANY OTHER PURCHASE - NO INTEREST CHARGED ON THE CREDIT CARD IF PAID OFF IN FULL BY THE DUE DATE & I TRANSACTED ON STATEMENT DATE THEREFORE 55 DAYS INTEREST FREE CREDIT!!

Did you do it online, over the phone or at an M&S bureaux?

I only discovered this last week because I thought this lovely perk had died when they switched from chargecard to credit card. The bureaux in Leeds warned my wife about charges when using the &More card to pay for currency, but as you've discovered you don't. I rang M&S and confirmed it this morning before I found your post, but I was so tongue-tied I forgot to ask whether it applies to M&S bureaux

I've also applied for a Nationwide credit card but I don't think it will get processed in time for my holidays (Xmas eve).

maxmolly

If you plan to pay by debit card then I found a link to get it delivered free on the next day with the following link (with commission free AND good rates):-
https://www.onlinefx.co.uk/fx/Stores/1stholidaystore/Store.asp?SID=136&DID=1

Happy holidays!!

campervanman_2

I am just wondering what is the best way for my fiancee to exchange her US Dollars (cash) to Sterling?
Thanks

Happy New Year

Matt xx

grumbler

Go to Post Office or Marks&Spencer ...

Get Nationwide debit and credit cards - and never buy foreign currency in future (unless you travel to some very exotic places without ATMs).