advantage of getting travel money from home.

penners324

I believe Bureau de Changes are a relic of a by gone era. Only used by those still stuck in their ways

zagfles

MeteredOut said:

zagfles said:

Changing cash in the UK is almost always worse value than withdrawing cash from a foreign ATM with a fee free card, even if the ATM charges. Buy/sell spreads are often over 10%, whereas a card will get you the VISA/Mastercard rates which are usually within 0.5% or so off the interbank rate. Just avoid accepting DCC rates at the ATM. Besides almost everywhere (inc Greece) it's easy to pay with card these days, so you probably don't need much cash. See the travel/currency board. 

I know you'll know this, but I'll add "unless you take out a small amount, where the ATM charge could be a large percentage". ie, don't just take out 20 euros at a time.

True, although similar applies to some BDCs, even supposedly "commission free" ones, they'll often advertise rates which look bad but not too bad, OK for a small amount, but when you go in you find those rates are only for a min of some stupidly large amount like £500 or £1000, and the rates for smaller amounts are really bad!

For EUR I always try to overdraw when I'm abroad so I have a small amount for the next trip. 

Rob5342

I agree with the above comments, there's no need to take much cash these days. I usually take 100 euros with me, pay for everything by card wherever I can and get more from an atm if i need it. I think last time I came back with 70 euros and never used an ATM.