Best place to buy Euros at moment

dizzybee

Anyone have any idea on the best place to buy Euros at the moment please

DullGreyGuy

https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

TELLIT01

Not all currency exchange companies show on the list. Many banks and travel agents aren't on there. I was speaking to somebody just a couple of days ago who had been trawling round banks/ bureaux de change etc in town and found the best rate at Co-op Travel. Their over the counter rate was better than the on-line rate for Eurochange.

tightauldgit

Isn't the best place to get Euros generally from an ATM at the destination?

DullGreyGuy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028972#Comment_80028972

Depends on where you are going, what fees the ATM charges, what fees if any your bank charges and any cap on withdrawls (single transaction, daily etc)

tightauldgit

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80028995#Comment_80028995

Perhaps I should have said 'provided you've made the proper preparations of getting a card that won't sting you for fees' but I actually just looked at the rates and the gap isn't as big as I expected. I thought you lost about 10% buying currency but just googled the Post Office rate and it was about 3% less than the interbank rate so yes if you get a fee-paying ATM you might well be better off buying from the PO.

In the past I have used thecurrencyclub for foreign currency but generally only for more unusual stuff and always found their rates good and convenient to use.

saajan_12

Depends what format you need it in and how much.. I use Revolut / Wise to convert for a 0-0.5% cost vs mid. That gives Euros you can spend on a debit card.

Or you can use the TravelMoney site to compare cash conversion providers who will give you cash, usually at 2-5% cost.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80029018#Comment_80029018

10%?!!? never paid that much

NoodleDoodleMan

dizzybee said:

Anyone have any idea on the best place to buy Euros at the moment please

Which country are you travelling to ?

zagfles

tightauldgit said:

Perhaps I should have said 'provided you've made the proper preparations of getting a card that won't sting you for fees' but I actually just looked at the rates and the gap isn't as big as I expected. I thought you lost about 10% buying currency but just googled the Post Office rate and it was about 3% less than the interbank rate so yes if you get a fee-paying ATM you might well be better off buying from the PO.

In the past I have used thecurrencyclub for foreign currency but generally only for more unusual stuff and always found their rates good and convenient to use.

Be careful of the online rates at the PO and other places, they often quote a rate for buying something like £500 worth, who needs to buy £500 worth of any currency these days. If you did need that sort of amount in cash sort yourself out a zero fee card and withdraw from an ATM abroad, even if the ATM charges it'll almost certainly be far better value.

Slinky

zagfles said:

tightauldgit said:

Perhaps I should have said 'provided you've made the proper preparations of getting a card that won't sting you for fees' but I actually just looked at the rates and the gap isn't as big as I expected. I thought you lost about 10% buying currency but just googled the Post Office rate and it was about 3% less than the interbank rate so yes if you get a fee-paying ATM you might well be better off buying from the PO.

In the past I have used thecurrencyclub for foreign currency but generally only for more unusual stuff and always found their rates good and convenient to use.

Be careful of the online rates at the PO and other places, they often quote a rate for buying something like £500 worth, who needs to buy £500 worth of any currency these days. If you did need that sort of amount in cash sort yourself out a zero fee card and withdraw from an ATM abroad, even if the ATM charges it'll almost certainly be far better value.

We usually take £500 of euros when we visit a small greek island with only one ATM which can be cleared out by the island's daytrippers leaving nothing for when there is a 'card machine is broken' moment.

zagfles

Slinky said:

zagfles said:

tightauldgit said:

Perhaps I should have said 'provided you've made the proper preparations of getting a card that won't sting you for fees' but I actually just looked at the rates and the gap isn't as big as I expected. I thought you lost about 10% buying currency but just googled the Post Office rate and it was about 3% less than the interbank rate so yes if you get a fee-paying ATM you might well be better off buying from the PO.

In the past I have used thecurrencyclub for foreign currency but generally only for more unusual stuff and always found their rates good and convenient to use.

Be careful of the online rates at the PO and other places, they often quote a rate for buying something like £500 worth, who needs to buy £500 worth of any currency these days. If you did need that sort of amount in cash sort yourself out a zero fee card and withdraw from an ATM abroad, even if the ATM charges it'll almost certainly be far better value.

We usually take £500 of euros when we visit a small greek island with only one ATM which can be cleared out by the island's daytrippers leaving nothing for when there is a 'card machine is broken' moment.

If the island is that small presume you don't fly directly there, so could withdraw cash from the airport/island/mainland you travel from rather than changing cash in the UK. Using a BDC in Greece is probably better value than the UK anyway (most places are).

But yes there are niche reasons to change cash at a BDC but for most travellers it's expensive and a waste of time, just get a zero fee card, withdraw from ATMs for the (usually) small amount of cash needed these days in most places, but pay for stuff mostly on the card.