Buying euros at Stansted

davidg1982

Hi guys,

New to MSE!

I'm off to South of France next week, flying from Stansted and wondering if it's worth getting my currency there, or doing it beforehand?

Also, does anyone know what the cheapest/recommended way to get there is?

I live in North London, on the northern line (for my sins)...

Any help appreciated.

David

dzug1

If travelex have an office at Stansted then buying in advance for collection can be advantageous - provided your debit card doesn't add on a fee.

Otherwise - buy before you get to the airport. On the spot rates t airports are generally horrendous

Or use an ATM when you get there - even with charges it's not that bad

A National Express bus from Golders Green station is probably your best route to get there

phatbear

Alas we no longer have a travelex at stansted.

Def dont buy there here.

Personally I get my foreign currency from travelex in my local tescos, quite a few have little booths in them now and I've found them to be the best.

davetrousers

Crikey guys use the MSE Travel Money Maximiser

Macca1983

Online is the best place to use if you want the best rates.

Use airports only as a last resort, if you haven't time etc but even then depending on how much you change you might be able to haggle a better deal, especially if there is competition in the airport with another company.

BillTrac

For crying out loud DO NOT USE TRAVELEX!!

I had to go over to France on Monday. While wandering around the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone noticed Travelex desk. Out of curiousity looked at the rates. Was surpised that they didn't actually show the euros per pound, but insdtead displayed what a euro was worth.

Now I bought my money last Friday at 1.18 euros to the £ with 0% commission. Turned out when asked, that Travelex exchange rate was 1.06 to the £. AND they wanted commission on top!

Even my local Thomas Cook gave better exchange than Travelex.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

There is a plce on victoria street SW1 that we always use.. cant remember the name of it now though

benjus

If you can face a trip on the Northern Line, the Travel Money Maximiser will recommend a number of places in central London giving the best cash rates you're likely to find anywhere.

dzug1

BillTrac wrote: »

For crying out loud DO NOT USE TRAVELEX!!

I had to go over to France on Monday. While wandering around the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone noticed Travelex desk. Out of curiousity looked at the rates. Was surpised that they didn't actually show the euros per pound, but insdtead displayed what a euro was worth.

Now I bought my money last Friday at 1.18 euros to the £ with 0% commission. Turned out when asked, that Travelex exchange rate was 1.06 to the £. AND they wanted commission on top!

Even my local Thomas Cook gave better exchange than Travelex.

There's two different points here:

If you buy from travelex online and pay in advance their rates are good - maybe not the best, but good enough to be worth considering

If you just turn up and buy on spec they are awful as you found