How to buy travellers cheques or foreign currency

Frank1in

Hi I m still new to this forum and could do with some advice,

I have the read all the previous threads but I am still confused.

I am going to Spain in about 6 weeks - i don't have a credit card and i think its too late to apply for one now and get it before i jet off.

Where is the best place to get Euros at the moment?

Plus, when I ve been on holiday before I ve been asked if I want travellers cheques in pounds or to convert them into Euros there and then.
I m thinking it s best to convert them into Euros then you don't have to worry about fluctuating exchange rates?

any help would be much appreciated as all this money savvy business is still really confusing for me!!

thanks
Frank1in.

josie

I am going to Spain in about 6 weeks - i don't have a credit card and i think its too late to apply for one now and get it before i jet off.

Where is the best place to get Euros at the moment?

I'd still apply for a credit card - you should be able to get one in 6 weeks, I'd have thought, otherwise why not use your debit card? If it's Delta Visa then it's accepted anywhere Visa is.

Post Office usually have good rates.

josie

pin wrote:

Never been charged to take money out of ATMs in the US. I know that Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo don't charge though.

There are loads of ATM machines in New York. You should be fine there.

I was charged £1.50 to withdraw cash from the Chemical Bank/Chase Manhattan in NYC

pin

josie wrote:

I was charged £1.50 to withdraw cash from the Chemical Bank/Chase Manhattan in NYC

Did you use a Nationwide Debit Card?

mars_2

josie wrote:

I am going to Spain in about 6 weeks - i don't have a credit card and i think its too late to apply for one now and get it before i jet off.

Where is the best place to get Euros at the moment?

I'd still apply for a credit card - you should be able to get one in 6 weeks, I'd have thought, otherwise why not use your debit card? If it's Delta Visa then it's accepted anywhere Visa is.

Post Office usually have good rates.

One word answer. " Abroad " You will get a much better rate when you get there. If the rate here is for example 1.35 the rate over there will be closer to 1.40

cozzy_2

I need to spend in New Zealand however the Nationwide won't give me a credit card because they say I live in the Isle of Man, What is the best way to spend now? Any ideas anyone. Thanks Cozzy

grumbler

Check tavel agencies around. Some of them may offer Amex Travellers Cheque Card with some introductory bonus. This card is not good without bonus though.

Amex Travellers Cheque Card
AMERICAN EXPRESS LOAD & GO CARD
75 Euro/$ bonus on exchange with Amex Travellers Cheque Card
Amex Travellers Cheque Card Promo - up to 250 US$ or EURO free.
$50 free with travellers cheque card
Travellers Cheque Cards - What's the catch
.....

lfc84

cozzy wrote:

I need to spend in New Zealand however the Nationwide won't give me a credit card because they say I live in the Isle of Man, What is the best way to spend now? Any ideas anyone. Thanks Cozzy

I live in Isle of Man and have a Nationwide Gold credit card. I have never been given that as an excuse for not being given a credit card...apply via their website.

Moses

interested wrote:

Could someone let me know why it is that you can go to three outlets offering commision free and get three different qoutes I was offered 78p a euro and 73p a euro which is a difference of 70euros on £800 And the only explaination i got from the teller was that rates come in daliy and she has to charge what she is told from head office. Well surely there is some kind of charge then, if the rates can be so different.

All banks are shops; they all have to make a profit to exist, as with any other business. They all try to disguise the fact they are after our cash. There is no such thing as a freebee. The net figure is the one that interests us we have to accept that they make charges.
https://www.travelex.com always seem to come up trumps by ordering online, there is one drawback that I have found and that is you are limited to payment methods. I have paid by Debit card as this is also a Visa card. Visa International makes a 1.5% handling charge. ( I suspect banks have a vested interest in Visa International & Mastercard or maybe not ???)
The only way around this as far as I can find out is to pay by Switch or Maestro.
The last transaction I made on a £1000 exchange deal I still saved £35 against the next best deal, the Post Office even after my Visa charge of £15

beelywoker

Hi,

Anyone know the best place to get travellers chqs for USA at the moment (need to buy them, as apose to using a debit card - as I'm skint and need to use my credit card!)

I've looked on http://www.xe.com/ucc/ - and the current exhchange rate is 1.74895 ... however, I can only find 1.6996 using the websites mentioned in this threads.


Many thanks, beelywoker