going to puerto rico gran canaria monday

Samalex

ok going there Monday with wife and 2 kids any idea what amount of spending money I will need on a SC holiday for 14 days?

also what's best to take euros or Traveller cheques or what?

I see MS are a good deal 1.40 eu to the pound
any tips for me would be welcome

Stu:j

ManAtHome

Bank card will give you around same exchange rate - most places I normally take a hundred or so in Sterling (emergency cash) + card. Not too keen on Travellers cheques, but depends where you're staying - more useful than cash if it's a bit dodgy... Good idea to take a hundred quid in Euros for drinks, taxis, deposits etc until you find the banks/cash machines though.

At the moment, rates are likley to be 1.44 less 2.5% by card, so slightly over 1.40 and you don't have to hide heaps of cash.

My opinion - PR is one of the best places on GC, sure you'll enjoy it (just avoid the holiday club touts/scum).

Saint_Chris

Oh you will have a great time.

As for cash who knows how much people spend.

We usually take euros then use our visa credit card to get cash out then pay it of when we come home.

The beach is fantastic a lovely beach.

There are some great restaurants on the beach.

There is then the comercial shopping centre. Downstairs are shops and some restaurants, upstairs are the bars and more restaurants. Right at the back is a eat all you can chinese. So if the kids like this then your sorted.

A must for a day out is a boat ride to puerto morgan. Boat trip is around 20 mins and it is a pretty little village.

Just by the beach there is a nice little swimming pool area for the kids. Also there is a crazy gold and a fun-fair park area.

But a word of warning and the only one i will give you. Is when walking from the beach to the shopping centre, the mcdonalds is at the beginning of this, beware of the african ladies.

They can be a bit pushy and may grab your child and put a wrist bracelet on them, then they want cash from you. This is the only word of warning.

Enjoy your holiday and make sure to let us how you get on.

Samalex

cheers for the info.

bank cards i have are Clydesdale bank will they be ok there in the atm`s?

will also have my visa as well but thought that the charges on bank cards maybe high

kids looking forward to it and tonight i have to show them where they are going so looking for loads of pics for them when i get home from work
again thanks

last time i was abroad i took TC and local money never used my cards but that was before the Euro

stenny_2

Was over end of last year.
Beach is fantastic, but hiring the sun beds could be rather expensive for a family, 5 Euro pb if i remember correctly, so remember take a beach shelter for kids and something to park on.

Coming away from the beach, if u follow the path to the right heading towards town, the spar (next to open pool) i found was the cheapest supermarket.
It was only around £1.50 for a litre carton of wine including a litre carton of sangria mix. Beer very cheap as well, if your having a drink, have a few be4 u go out cause thats wer the restaurants make thir money.
Stock up daily from this Supermarket on way home, rolls n stuff keep ok in fridge. This way it will save you alot, we only ate out in the evening, and like Saint_Chris said, chinese is very cheap and you help yourself (best one we found was at very top of mall at left end).

Going out (On plane and thats if you smoke) watch if they still have the deal on, 200 english ciggies £15 400 £20, also Duty free at Glasgow airport ( sounds like wer your flying from)(i know they still have this deal on) 2 X ltr branded whiskey, vodka etc only £15.

My friend just left on Monday, she was advised best taking BC, i'll ask her in the middle of week how she's getting on with it.

Do you know which hotel your staying at?
One thing, if your up the hill it will be taxi's everyday!

You'll have a gr8 time!

Factor25

Hava a look at

https://www.rab.c.fotopic.net/
https://www.bryanandchris.fotopic.net/

and https://www.canaryforum.com

go into the forum and there is a thread on best restaurants etc. Im going in October and use this to make a list of places to go beforehand and we've never had a bad meal yet. Hope that helps.

jaytar

Agree with all the other posts. I've been to PR for the last 4 years and will be there again in September.

If you need to change cash use Christina's, its near the taxi rank in the Commercial Centre it always has the best rate, usually about 1.46 eu to the pound.

Have a great time.

paulie558

A word of warning,if you are near the commercial centre the open plan discos go on until around 4-5 in the morning.They sound really loud because of the layout of the valley.The first 2 times we went we were in the bars ourselves so it didnt mattter.
Hire a car,they are dirt cheap,then go to Maspalomas beach or into the mountains or one of the little quays.
There is a man made beach about 3 miles to the west,really good.
As previously said,avoid the hagglers,also walking past each restuarant in the CC can wear you down each night,they all want to drag you in.
Lovely island though

Samalex

altamar apts is where we will be staying.

dont drink or smoke so no probs

ok on the BC Stenny

my visa card charges 2.5 per purchase and similar on bank cards abroad now i am not sure what to do, May just order 1000quid of euros and use cards as an emergency better being safe than sorry. so much for the visa being usable world wide didnt know they charged as much as that.

fly out from glasgow monday kids are looking forward to it

thanks all off back to work:)

stenny_2

just got feed back,
BC are ok, they will offer to convert for you, you just need to remember to say NO or they will charge you.
She found a side shop offering 148Euro to the pound.

VERY HOT she says!!

I so wanna go!!!!!!

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Encantador

Too late now but the best way for cash is to have a Nationwide Flexaccount, I have one just for hols, put £50pm (or whatever amount) in by standing order, by time hols come round a chunk of spends is already there. Put some more in (if you need it) and away you go.

NO charges, take your own money out of any machine with Visa sign. Make it a joint account and take 2 cards just in case. The machines usually give you the ££ equiv, the only thing you can`t do is check your balance, so unless you can get online, you have to keep a check on what you take out.