US ($) Currency Thread 1 (closed - use thread 2)

dstill

Hi,

can anyone advise on the best available rate for US Dollars. I've seen 1.90 with free delivery over £300, do you think there maybe any better deals.

Thanks in advance.:beer:

richardw

The more £ you are going to change the more important the rate is, do a search for budgetflyer's travelex thing which is quite interesting

inmypocketnottheirs

cheap_charlie wrote: »

Most ATMs in Vegas charge you and some are expensive - $3 a go isn't unheard of.

We used the ATM at Ellis Island Casino on Koval Lane - I am pretty certain it was the cheapest at around $1.50 a go.

Not if you use a bank machine. These machines that you refer to are the privatley operated ones, as found at filling stations and McD's over here.

For any regular traveller to the US I recommend an account with Citibank. You can have dollar and sterling accounts, make immediate transfers on line, and switch your visa debit card between accounts in real time. https://www.citibank.co.uk

M4RKM

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Not if you use a bank machine. These machines that you refer to are the privatley operated ones, as found at filling stations and McD's over here.

Which are few an far between.. if you've ever been to vegas, it is a 10-15 minute walk just to go through the hotel from your room to the outside world...
then you have to walk about 10 minutes to get to the hotel next door..

banks don't plonk their branches on the strip, they are further out of town.. the cost of getting there is higher than the cost of the ATM fees on the chargable ATMS!
so if you want cash, you need to have it on you... so you take it out of that ATM standing next to you!

your comment is correct as to other major cities in the USA, but Vegas is an exception... Vegas doesn't have enough cash machines that don't charge.

arealhighlander

Travelex are offering $1.93 ish at the moment. However beware of forged US Notes as there is a story on the Mails website about a traveller to S America who got $$s from Travelex and ended up in jail there as some of them were fakes!

I've checked the security marks on the ones I have

inmypocketnottheirs

arealhighlander wrote: »

I've checked the security marks on the ones I have

That's no guarantee I am afraid. Forgers forge security marks too!

jezza2412

In all the US airports I've been to recently, Travelex seem to have a total monopoly on ATMs.

Because Travelex aren't a bank (or are they?) so far I haven't dared to use any of their machines in case (i) they charge a fee and/or (ii) they give an inferior rate to the VISA rate. Instead I've waited til I found a regular bank ATM in town and then used my Nationwide VISA Delta card.

Can anyone confirm if my worries about Travelex are unfounded?

Petelud

I am going to the States in September and want to cvhange £1,200 into US dollars and noticed that Crown Currency Exchange and Travel Money Services both offer a higher rate of exchange if you order and pay for the currency now and arrange for it to be delivered in September. The rate today is 1.9262 for £1.00, but if I order and pay now and take delivery in September the rate is 1.9650 for £1. Two questions: 1 are they reliable, has anybody used them and 2 is it worth it. ie is it worth losing the interest on £1,200 for 4 months to gain 46 dollars?

Froggitt

I used CCE.

Reliable? Yes. I also did a forward purchase.....lovely crisp new notes arrived.

Loss of interest? You may not get 1.9262 in 4 months time once you take your cash out of the bank.....if youre going to pay now, may as well buy at the September rate.

If youre going to put the money away and take a chance on the rates, you need to divide the interest rate your bank/BS pays by 3 times £1200 to work out how much interest you would make in the four months.....minus the tax at your highest rate.

Of course, you could hedge the rates on Betfair........

Bleg

I have been looking into CCE and Travel Money Serices today. So far Travel Money Services have come up with the best rate so far of 1.95 if I take delivery of the US dollars in July. My quary is that I have heard alot of good reports about the reliabilty and trustworthyness of CCE and not many comments concerning Travel Money Serices. Is there anyone out there who can convince me to give them a go????