Budapest money

phatbear

Dhrucku wrote: »

Get the Forints in the UK. It's just easier and you can get a good rate.

I work in the city and get the best rates around at Thomas Exchange.

Their current rate is sitting at 428.0.

utter class "i work in the city" i take you mean you work in a starbucks in the city

best rates are to be had, as niftydigits has stated, in country at an ATM with the proper piece of plastic in your pocket.

enjoy budapest me the better half are arriving on Monday for a 3 night trip

eDicky

greenface wrote: »

Always seems a little hit and miss finding the best rates abroard against a safer and easier way here.

Dhrucku wrote: »

Get the Forints in the UK. It's just easier and you can get a good rate.

It's not like that at all. All the high street travel agents, bureaux and Post Office are sitting there waiting for mugs to walk in and accept their exchange rates at a huge spread from the mid-market, and tripping them up with even worse rates if they appear naïve enough and have not 'ordered online' (eg Thomas Cook). So it's hardly 'safer' and 'easier' to buy currency in the UK, and it can definitely never approach the rates you will get by using the right card(s) at your destination.

Turgonuk

I suggested avoiding Euronet ATMs because they charge a transaction fee (about €5)' whereas the banks do not charge anything. Also I think the banks don't offer the currency options, just HUF which is less confusing.

NiftyDigits

Turgonuk wrote: »

I suggested avoiding Euronet ATMs because they charge a transaction fee (about €5)' whereas the banks do not charge anything. Also I think the banks don't offer the currency options, just HUF which is less confusing.

First I've read about this transaction fee.

Unless it was introduced since this April, this receipt appears to refute your claim:




The receipt on the right is for the ...gullible.

benjus

phatbear wrote: »

utter class "i work in the city" i take you mean you work in a starbucks in the city

Don't see what's wrong with saying that. There are simply many more places to exchange currency at half-decent rates in central London than elsewhere in the country.

That doesn't change the fact that you'll get a better rate using the right card in an ATM in Budapest, but if someone does insist on exchanging cash before travelling, London (whether the City, the West End or other central areas) is probably the best place to do it.

greenface

from memory from last year I got £200 worth from the uk (travel money shop)and then £200 from Budapest atm and the difference wasn't much . about a beer or two .used my Santander card . was going to use my Thomas cook money card but it wouldn't accept it ., I had to to a factfinder where to get the best deal in Budapest and the easiest way to go about it. I remember almost getting ripped in a Turkish travel money shop in 2009 which is why I say its sometimes easier to take enough with you and know how to get more . im not arsed about saving a few quid if I can lose a lot more. Again please don't call people potential idiots. thanks

NiftyDigits

greenface wrote: »

from memory from last year I got £200 worth from the uk (travel money shop)and then £200 from Budapest atm and the difference wasn't much . about a beer or two .used my Santander card . was going to use my Thomas cook money card but it wouldn't accept it ., I had to to a factfinder where to get the best deal in Budapest and the easiest way to go about it. I remember almost getting ripped in a Turkish travel money shop in 2009 which is why I say its sometimes easier to take enough with you and know how to get more . im not arsed about saving a few quid if I can lose a lot more. Again please don't call people potential idiots. thanks

You clearly don't realise the irony of your post....as you are exactly the type that we describe.
"Thomas Cook money card", Santander debit....the worst options. You clearly haven't learnt a thing from the time that you have spent here.
You can't have been reading what has been written. Really? Are you teasing us?
How can we wake you from your slumber?
If you walked in to a Travel Money shop, there is no telling how poor a rate you would receive. If you reserved it online, you would get a crashingly poor rate of 401.65. This compared to a rate of 442 with the right plastic at an ATM. That is around a 10% difference. That is £20 on £200. Quite a few beers in Budapest, don't you agree?
Whilst perhaps you "can't be asked' to improve your lot, most would not be happy to throw away 10% of their money on the advice of someone who "can't be asked"..... Patently ridiculous.

billyolly

I have a Nationwide flex plus account will this give me a good rate at ATM s?

billyolly

I have a Nationwide flex plus account will this give me a good rate at ATM s?

NiftyDigits

billyolly wrote: »

I have a Nationwide flex plus account will this give me a good rate at ATM s?

Yes. Currently 442.74. Take note not to accept any kind of conversion from the ATM. Just Forints.
That card isn't quite as good for making purchases abroad. Just ATM withdrawals. Do you have the Select card?