Heard that this weekend Thomas Cook will be doing a special £1 = $2

Inactive

MOLLYBRUSH wrote: »

Many thanks to OP, had to go to quite a bit of trouble to get this deal but cashier reckoned I saved over £300. Yippee!

You actually saved around £35 ( $70 ) over having them delivered for free by next day Special Delivery from Saga Travel Money, still a saving but hardly " over £300 " and of course you had to collect them.;)

g_attrill

voyager7 wrote: »

No, because you are getting a fixed rate of $2 to the £1 and it is highly unlikely unless something drastic happens in the market that you will achieve this rate via regular "tourist" rates which is close to what you will get using your Nationwide card (I have one too, but have yet to use it abroad)

On credit cards you get the Interbank rate, not the tourist bureau cash rate, which is normally arout 5% lower. I checked my Nationwide statement and back in January I made a purchase by card on the 17/1 and got 1.9724. Checking https://www.oanda.com the daily Interbank rate was 1.965, with a high of 1.97230, so I was definitely getting the best rate.

For getting cash, other than this deal, it is probably cheapest to withdraw it at a fee-free ATM in the US, the cash advance fee is 1.5% and although the interest rate is charge from the time the cash is charged (ie. even if you pay the bill immediately) people here recommend preloading the card with a positive balance before travelling.

Gareth

jojo1978_3

I used my nationwide card in the states last month and i achieved a rate of £1 = $2. Definately got the best rate.

edda

Couldn't find any local Thomas Cook open Sunday or Monday. So no deal for me.

bargaindoctor

just got back from exchanging £1000 at the $2 = £1. Wondering if I really got that good a deal esp since I'm not rally planning to spend all that money while I'm there!

Also saw the AMEX traveller cheque card for £5. Is it really that good a deal in terms of exchange rate vs withdrawing from my debit card. What about this nationwide card, is this a debit card that just offers good exchange rates?

slowen

Was not too fussed I missed the deal as I did not have the money to hand at the minute but only would have saved around $100 by going for the deal against the average dollar rate, if it would have been an extra few hundred $ I would have put them on my credit card and paid it off before my hols in August

morrow56

Anyone know if Thomas Cook will be doing this offer again in the near future

bargaindoctor

is this offer really that good? I did take it but feel like £1000 is way too much money now and will be left with spare US $ upon my return!

also any further thoughts on whether this AMEX traveller cheque card is worth it?

poppypopster

Blue_Lou wrote: »

This may be a silly question, but arnt I better off just using my nationwide card whilst abroad?

Yeah, must admit that was my thought, especially given other postings on here about getting a good rate on it.

I wouldn't want to carry that much around in traveller's cheques - it's too close to having cash - they don't even bother to check signatures - but then you could say that with cards over there - very lax!