travel money

kmp80

im off to fuerturventura in a few weeks was just wondering about travel money, is the exchange rate better or worse than here in the canaries?

worried_jim

change it when you get there- always a better rate.

benjus

Depends what you're comparing with.

Exchange rates on the UK high street are typically awful, but if you're thinking of using one of the ultra-competitive places in London that come on top of the Travel Money Maximiser, I suspect they will beat the rates in the Canaries.

For the best possible rates, use a fee-free card like Halifax Clarity in an ATM when you arrive.

ManAtHome

I was in Caleta last winter and the best rate (local brit bar) was around the same as the 'walk-in' rate at the Post Office - Hotels and Bureaux were worse.

As post #3 - cards can be best eg Clarity, Santander (123) and a few others (see main site). Even second-tier cards like Saga, Nationwide (old Flex), and pre-paid cards will also beat the cash rates.

stephb34

kmp80 wrote: »

im off to fuerturventura in a few weeks was just wondering about travel money, is the exchange rate better or worse than here in the canaries?

Depends if the euro rate goes up or down compared to what it is here now. Today on the high street 1.235, few weeks time in Fuerteventura who knows.

kmp80

Thanks everyone, I have read a bit about those types of card although im a little unsure bout them as not sure if they are accepted everywhere. someone did recommend taking my normal visa debit card and taking money out the cashpoint in euros, I was goin to take my debit card for emergencies. it is caleta de fuste im travelling to x

NiftyDigits

kmp80 wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I have read a bit about those types of card although im a little unsure bout them as not sure if they are accepted everywhere. someone did recommend taking my normal visa debit card and taking money out the cashpoint in euros, I was goin to take my debit card for emergencies. it is caleta de fuste im travelling to x

They don't need to be accepted everywhere, if you can use them to withdraw cash at the ATM.
Your first time abroad?
What debit card do you have?

Using a Kalixa Pay Prepaid Mastercard today for purchases would net you a rate of 1.2564€ to the £.
There is a fixed fee for cash withdrawals abroad, so take out a decent chunk. Withdrawing 370€(the max per withdrawal) on arrival today would net you an overall rate of 1.2464€ taking into account the withdrawal fee.

Far better than anything you would get for exchanging cash there.

So use for purchases when you can and use the cash that you have withdrawn if the card is not accepted. Sometimes Prepaid cards are rejected because they choose Debit card on the terminal. If it fails, tell them to choose Credit.

kmp80

Thanku, havnt been abroad for around 3 yrs. I didn't even know about those sort of cards then, I just have a normal lloyds debit card at the mo x