Travel Money Maximiser Discussion Area

**woody123**

Caxton fx do a currency card at a very good rate, i haven't seen yet if you can actually get currency money delivered..

Fredx

Made a mistake by using Barclays Debit card to buy currency, so the amount we thought we were being charged was different to what showed up on the bank statement.

Contacted Barclays to say that the amount we thought we were paying and the amount we were charged were different - they explained their charge. We complained to a supervisor in their call centre that that none of this charge was mentioned when we were buying, we agreed to pay one figure but were charged a different, higher figure...they agreed to refund the charge! result!

lorraine66601

can anyone advise me i am going on holiday in june should i get my euros now or wait until just before i go??

alared

No one can really advise you,it`s pot luck.
The BoE are meeting this week and a rate cut looks likely (although I hope not)
The pound slumped again today against the euro on fears that the BoE will cut.
It`s about 1-2530 but that`s on the exchages and not what you get as a tourist.
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=GBP&to=EUR&submit=Convert

I was in the post office today aand they were offering 1-1996.

Only last Sept. I could get 1-45,now it`s crap

---

stay at home and holiday here.

Fredx

lorraine66601 wrote: »

can anyone advise me i am going on holiday in june should i get my euros now or wait until just before i go??

The exchange rate was at 1.44 Euros to the pound back in November last year. Since then it has steadily decreased to 1.26. If this continues to drop at the same speed to June it would be about 1.20...but that is always a big if, the rate could just as easily go up.

The other thing to consider is that once you have bought your Euros, that is just cash sat about doing nothing, when it could be in the bank earning interest.

We have bought our currency already for our holiday in June, but we were lucky enough to catch the Rand at a high point so it has already earned more in the currency rate change than it would have paid in interest.

Not advice I'm afraid, just things to think about. I am not by any stretch of the imagination an expert in this stuff.

niceday999

ash333 wrote: »

Right... Here we go.

I have a Nationwide Current Account, which I opened for use when I'm travelling to get the best rate for foriegn currency.

I was told when I opened it that that I could only have a Cashcard and to wait 6 months, and then go in and I'd be upgraded to a Visa Debit.

Just been in to see them to get the upgrade and been told "Computer says no".

2 Questions:
Will I get the same rate if I use my Cashcard (Cirrus) Abroad to withdraw money as I would with the Visa Debit card?

Will I eventually be upgraded? I was told that I needed to use the account to get the card upgraded, and so I left £350 in there. Is that insufficiant?

I was thinking of opening a Nationwide flex account for going to vegas in May.
Can you use a " cash card" to with draw money in the USA ( las vegas ) or does it have to be a Debit or Credit Card ?
Can you use it at any cash machine ?
Have seen different cash machines mentione don here BAnk of America etc , but not familar with USA at all.

LionKing

Hi,

I need to buy US dollars however i am travelling today. Too late to order via Travelex. Can i get as good a rate in the states instead £1=$1.92 or should i try to get from high st?

dzug

LionKing wrote: »

Hi,

I need to buy US dollars however i am travelling today. Too late to order via Travelex. Can i get as good a rate in the states instead £1=$1.92 or should i try to get from high st?

Get them here. Unless you are going to a major tourist area you will have trouble finding anywhere to change ££ in the USA.

RevdSusi

**woody123** wrote: »

Caxton fx do a currency card at a very good rate, i haven't seen yet if you can actually get currency money delivered..

I've just applied for one, and they offer 1.97, which seems good. They also do euro cards.

Does anyone know or have a preload card issued in the US that buys sterling or euros? All the cards I see seem to calculate the change when making a purchase and charge you to boot. I'd like to load $ on a card to buy £. Is that possible? Actually, I'd like my brother to load $ on a card for me so that I can get sterling when I'm in the UK by sharing.

adamrobson1979

I am about to spend 2 weeks in Jamaica, followed by a 3 month holiday in the USA.

Anyone any advice on the best options available for spending whilst i'm over there?

Thanks