cheapest/best way to get small amount of euros?

martyp

McKneff wrote: »

£50 for 2 weeks spends :eek:

Have you seen the cost of living on the continent.

It's for work, all expenses paid
I'd just need the money for personal use if anything, all meals, travel, accommodation etc are all covered by the company...

catokelly

martyp wrote: »

I think I'll go with £100 instead and pick them up from Travelex at the airport on departure as that seems like a good deal. I don't have a Tesco near me with an exchange although I do have a Sainsburys with an exchange. They seemed to have a fairly good rate if you're a Nectar card holder although not really in the top 5 or so. I think you may get nectar points too?

With Travelex, make sure that you book the rate online in advance with the option to collect it at the aiport, if you dont order your currency until you get to the airport, the rates will be absolutely abysmal!!!

martyp

catokelly wrote: »

With Travelex, make sure that you book the rate online in advance with the option to collect it at the aiport, if you dont order your currency until you get to the airport, the rates will be absolutely abysmal!!!

I noticed that if the amount is less that £100 with Travelex they add on a £1.99 admin fee even if collecting.

Doshwaster

martyp wrote: »

It's for work, all expenses paid
I'd just need the money for personal use if anything, all meals, travel, accommodation etc are all covered by the company...

For £50 it's not worth spending much time or effort looking for the best deal. Either
a) walk into your local post office
b) wait until you get there and use the first cash machine you see.

martyp

Doshwaster wrote: »

For £50 it's not work spending much time or effort looking for the best deal. Either
a) walk into your local post office
b) wait until you get there and use the first cash machine you see.

Hi Doshwaster, thanks for the response. I think though that if I got £100 changed by ordering in advance at Travelex as opposed to going to the post office it would be a saving of at least £5 and worth doing...
I would be able to collect the money at the airport as opposed to driving to my local post office (the one that was within walking distance was closed down, my nearest is several miles away)
I'm with Cahoot so if I used a cash machine I would be stung with extra charges (as detailed on the using cards abroad stuff)

dzug1

martyp wrote: »

I'm with Cahoot so if I used a cash machine I would be stung with extra charges (as detailed on the using cards abroad stuff)

Not quite - they are not 'extra' charges, they are differently calculated charges, which may or may not add up to more than the charges the PO etc are making.

Travelex in advance is likely to be cheaper though. Walk in to the PO - little if anything in it.

Surprised no one's mentioned the cheapest way - buy from a friend who has returned from Euroland at a mutually advantageous rate.

McKneff

You must have wasted more than £5 of your time looking to save £5.

Doshwaster

dzug1 wrote: »

Not quite - they are not 'extra' charges, they are differently calculated charges, which may or may not add up to more than the charges the PO etc are making.

Indeed. Once you take into account the cost/hassle of buying currency, my preferred method is to walk straight to to the nearest cash machine as soon as I land at an airport. You may get a charge of a few pounds, but the exchange rate will beat any Bureau de Change and takes no time at all.

martyp

McKneff wrote: »

You must have wasted more than £5 of your time looking to save £5.

Time is cheap for me