Access to money from America!

Youngest78

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody had any tips about currency etc. We are travelling to the states in a week or so. The problem is that I don’t get paid until we are away. Now, obviously I would like to get access to the best possible rates of exchange for the dollar and get some cash and travellers’ cheques before we leave to get the best deal, but since I won’t have the funds up front – and don’t have any means of raising them otherwise – then I’m a bit stuck.
Does anybody have any tips of how I might be able to make the most of my money from my account while I’m there? (I’m imagining drawing out from an ATM to give me lousy returns…)
We’re flying to San Francisco by the way, should it matter….

Thanks

Piggo_2

Hi you should check into how much your bank charges to use debit card overseas and whether they use the wholesale exchange rate when dealing with the transaction. We often find that the 2.5% charge from the bank for using your card overseas works out the same as buying currency at the retail excahgne rate before going as the bank uses the wholesale exchange rate for the transaction.

moronic50

If you have to withdraw from an ATM do it in large amounts (near your hotel preferably). That way you can just take one hit on the fees and spend the cash as need be.

There is one thing you could possibly do. By the sounds of it you wont have your travel money until the last minute. If possible you could order your money online with travelex (the night before flying, only need a 4 hour notice for dollars) to pick up at the airport the day you fly.

When you do that, use Martins currency comparison device. Make a note of who would have given you the best rate and what it was. Then take travelex up on their best rate guarantee and get a refund (will be a cheque in the post) on the difference. Done this a couple of times and it's worked a treat!

Enterprise_1701C

I believe the Travelex Money Cards (sorry can't recall the name!!) allow you to do a bank transfer onto the card - Assuming you have access to the internet you could do that while you are away.

johnnyroper

buy a travelex cash passport globe (think thats name) then you can transfer on to it via internet banking assuming you have access while away?
the card can be obtained at short notice and picked up from a travelex shop.

claire16c

Piggo wrote: »

Hi you should check into how much your bank charges to use debit card overseas and whether they use the wholesale exchange rate when dealing with the transaction. We often find that the 2.5% charge from the bank for using your card overseas works out the same as buying currency at the retail excahgne rate before going as the bank uses the wholesale exchange rate for the transaction.

Thats what I do. I put most stuff on a credit card and then if I really need cash for anything small I get some out of an ATM.