Using cards abroad

dexter-boy

I apologise if this has been covered before but I couldn't find any answers on a search. I am going to New York in March and have two options money-wise.

I can either buy my dollars now at the good exchange rate or use plastic while I'm out there. I have a Nationwide Credit Card and a Flexaccount so I know I've got good cards to use abroad in terms of (non-existent) charges but what confuses me is the exchange rates.

Presumably when I've spent in US$ the amount that will show on my statement when I get back home will be in £s? Is this exchange rate a decent one compared to the exchange rate a currency converter such as the Post Office (for example) would give? Would I be sacrificing a good exchnage rate for the privelige of not having to take cash and the being able to use my cards?

Sorry to waffle on but this has been baffling me for ages. Hope you can help?

D

alanrowell

The statement will show the amount in dollars, the conversion rate used and the value in pounds

The rate is better than you'll get from virtually anywhere on that day

info_addict

As #1 says, using your Nationwide card is by far the best way abroad.

You get the official bank exchange rate at the time you use the cards. If you use the Post Office or others you will get a much lower rate of exchange (unless between now and when you go the rate plummets)

When you get your statement is shows the sterling amount deducted from your account and the rate of exchange.

We just used our Flexaccount card all over Ecuador and at the beginning of this month we got 2.085 dollars to the pound - excellent