euro exchange

vido

Making this a local question as we don't have access to the mainland banks and bureaux available to most people on the forum and I think it may be of use to a lot of local people heading for Europe this summer.

Anyway I've an upcoming family holiday to Majorca and as I haven't been abroad for a few years was wondering where is best locally for euros.

My wife banks with First Trust and can withdraw Euros directly from ATMs in Belfast city centre - is this a good option?

I appreciate the fluctuations in international exchange markets but is it a good idea to take sterling abroad and exchange locally in resort?

Or is it best to exchange money locally and take it abroad?

Any constructive suggestions, ideas and help would be much appreciated.

ballyblack

maybe avoid the post office

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1662095

vido

Yea - I know they advertise 'No Commission' and a lot of people think this must be great but as in life there is no free lunch - they just give you a lower exchange rate to compensate.

Anyhow thats the sort of input I was hoping for so thanks for that ballyblack and keep 'em coming

tommie

Avoid the Post Office like the plague.
If you`re near Newry the best deal around is in the Buttercrane

http://www.bureaubuttercrane.com/

ballyblack

You need to check the foreign cash charges with First Trust both here & abroad

its usually about 2% of the amount withdrawn using your debit card abroad

The rate changes daily but is always much better than the Post Office rip off

You can check the mid price rate of the euro here(your bank will be a couple of pence below this)

http://www.xe.com/



.

vido

Thats a good rate compared to PO tommy 1.165 compared to 1.131, unfortuately I'm in Belfast so hoping to get something close to that here.

Not planning on using First Trust Debit Card abroad ballyblack, wifes considering withdrawing Euros at ATMs in Belfast City Centre and was wondering if they are commission free and what rate is compared to across the counter transaction.

vido

Just noticed Thomas Cook are 1.148 and commission-free so that looks like the target at the moment

ballyblack

The live mid price at 9.46 am today is

1.17652

so Thomas Cooke is taking about 3p

jellynose

Try EuroXChanger in Castle Court. I have always found them hard to beat.


Phone (0) 28 9024 3848

vido

Thanks for all the suggestions guys - some helpful advice there, haven't tried Euroxchanger yet but best local rate I can find is with Thomas Cook. If you're in S Armagh the Buttercrane looks really competitive. Really easy to get ripped off on exchange rate so anyone with expert advice/suggestions very welcome to add their tuppenceworth.

MercenaryMan

When I was buying currency last year the cheapest I could get it was through Travelex via MSE's rate finder. I bought online (it's cheaper) and picked it up at the city airport before my flight. I wasn't buying euros but it might be worth a look.