Budapest money

NiftyDigits

sgun wrote: »

Its actually much better in Budapest to take sterling and exchange in a bureau of which there are many. Only if you don't mind carrying a wad of cash about though. You avoid all the ATM and conversion fees.


For the best rates go here:



http://www.valutacentrum.hu



You will find yourself staring at an unintelligible (because it is entirely in Hungarian) webpage.


Leave that '1' in the top box.


In the first dropdown menu pick your starting currency


in the next line, 'venni' means 'buy' and 'eladni' means sell ... Click on eladni because you are selling that starting currency and buying Forints


In the next dropdown menu pick 'Budapest'


In the one below that (the third one down), pick 'Budapest' again


In the one below that (the 4th), pick the district of interest; the Vth is the dead center of the city


Do nothing to the bottom-most dropdown menu and then click at the bottom left 'KERES' (search)


You will get a list of many exchange bureaus, with addresses and realtime current rates they offer


There will be a map below the list

A good option if you don't have the correct plastic. Have no idea as to what ATM and conversion fees you refer. Just don't accept any ATM or conversion fees.

phatbear

sgun wrote: »

Its actually much better in Budapest to take sterling and exchange in a bureau of which there are many. Only if you don't mind carrying a wad of cash about though. You avoid all the ATM and conversion fees.

well thats factually incorrect.

i have a nationwide flexplus account which doesnt charge me for cash withdrawals abroad.

so if i withdrew florint to the value of £272, which is the amount i withdrew at Budapest Ferenc Liszt last monday i would get 118543 huf at the atm, no surcharges etc however if i followed your link then i would end up with 117642 huf.

Also how do you suggest people get to the bureaus anyway to get there cash as if they arrived at the airport they would need to pay for transport with HUF.

sgun

Forints not florints. And yes, a Nationwide Flex is the best way to go if you actually have one. I could get a slightly better deal today in District 5 from a bureau. As I stated, there are distinct disadvantages to doing it this way, not least the fact that you have to carry all the cash about. You can pay in Euros in the taxis if you use a reputable firm (who doesn't have odd Euros kicking about these days?).

Also I think the savings that can be made from either way are often minimal. If I'm on holiday I will often go for an easier option to save time rather than money. In general with HUF to pound rates the difference is only a few pounds (if that) using bureaus compared to ATM. Not worth your time searching out the bureau with the best rates if you lose a few hours of your break in doing so, especially if you are only there for a short break.


Most card providers charge an ATM fee, I don't know how you would avoid it as it is built into the transaction (unless you have Nationwide Flex).

zagfles

sgun wrote: »

Most card providers charge an ATM fee, I don't know how you would avoid it as it is built into the transaction (unless you have Nationwide Flex).

You get one or more of the cards that don't charge, there are several, as well as NW flex plus and Select (for spending) there's Metrobank (in Europe) and the Halifax Clarity. Much easier and cheaper than changing cash.