Who offers the best rates on travellers cheques?

nuzuki

Im after some UK & US currency travellers cheques, where can I find a good rate in the next 2 weeks?

Thanks very much for your help

dzug1

The travel/motoring link at the top of this page will contain the info you need

alanrowell

Where are you going that requires USD AND GBP travellers cheques?

Also are TCs the best option? Unless you are heading for the 3rd World TCs are rarely better than sticking a card in an ATM to get cash or using a credit card to buy things. In addition they can be a real hassle to exchange.

headpin

alanrowell wrote: »

Where are you going that requires USD AND GBP travellers cheques?

.............. In addition they can be a real hassle to exchange.

Not in the US or Canada where you can use them in shops, retaurants, etc the same as cash. You also have the added protection that they will be replace FOC if lost or stolen. I've found that by the time you apply the various loadings/commision etc on ATM's there is not a huge difference in the rate for most plastic unless you can find or have a card that still has advantageous conditions outside Europe..

KarenG

headpin wrote: »

Not in the US or Canada where you can use them in shops, retaurants, etc the same as cash. You also have the added protection that they will be replace FOC if lost or stolen. I've found that by the time you apply the various loadings/commision etc on ATM's there is not a huge difference in the rate for most plastic unless you can find or have a card that still has advantageous conditions outside Europe..

I agree that TCs in the USA are really easy to use and can be used as if they were cash .... but only if they are in $$$$$ and the OP's question refers to GBP & USD.

Don't take GBP TCs to the USA. You will not be able to exchange them easily!

alanrowell

headpin wrote: »

Not in the US or Canada where you can use them in shops, retaurants, etc the same as cash.

I've seen several postings on this and other sites that saty it's getting harder to do that, it's certainly a swine to do so in a USD using country like Ecuador

However I specifically referred to why OP was taking GBP AND USD TCs - unless OP is on a multi-country itinerary I can't think of a reason why they would want both currencies

headpin

alanrowell wrote: »

I've seen several postings on this and other sites that saty it's getting harder to do that, it's certainly a swine to do so in a USD using country like Ecuador

However I specifically referred to why OP was taking GBP AND USD TCs - unless OP is on a multi-country itinerary I can't think of a reason why they would want both currencies

Sorry , should have made clear I was referring to the use of US$ TC and not those in sterling.

nuzuki

Thanks for the helpful replies

An exchange bereau told me that GBP & USD travellers cheques have different exchange rates depending on what country you are going to. For instance if I took a USD travellers cheque to New Zealand they would charge a higher percent to change it than say a GPB travellers cheque. I dont know if this is true its just what ive been told.

I dont have a credit card only a debit card so I shall take some travellers cheques incase my card gets lost or stolen. The person I am travelling with has a credit card which can be usd for myself in emergencies. Do most if not all banks exchange travellers cheques?

I'm going on a multi destination trip, first to Singapore (2nights), then OZ (6nights), then NZ (14nights), Fiji (3nights) and lastly hong kong (2nights).

stephb34

What about these new cash cards that are available they're better than travellers cheques, Thomas Cook do 7 currencies so you could definitely get the new zealand one, maybe the australian$ one pop into one of their shops and ask their advice about them and what to take for the other countries you are going to they're all free except the sterling 1 but thats the same for travellers cheques, oh and make sure you ask for their best rate.

dzug1

If you are only taking TCs for emergency use then sterling ones will cost you least - 2 or 3%. Foreign currency ones can easily cost you well over 10% by the time you've bought them and cashed them in again at home.