The Las Vegas Thread and MSE guide

trets77

April

Ingsy wrote: »

I'm in the same boat. Either buy cash now, or leave it in savings and set up a Nationwide account to get the VISA rate by withdrawing money over there. Not sure what's the best to do.

it always a gamble. personally i have ordered a few hundred from travelex and then going to use the Nationwide debit card as per normal.

i really cannot complain ...we were hitting close to $2.05 using the Nationwide credit card in October last year , $1.99 in Vegas last Dec and about $1.97 this May so we have had a great run . $1.85 is really only about 5% less , so may be a few less extravagant meals will more than cover the shortfall.

By the way , we are heading for Denver and the Rockies in under 2 weeks for 10 nights , booked late got tickets on United out of heathrow for £370 each (plus the reward miles of course) .

however i only choose the week the Democratic party is having it's conference to elect Barrack Obama as it's presidential nominee in Denver :doh: didn't i . hopefully all that will be long behind us when set off for Yellowstone. any tips on this area please PM me :T , will be most appreciated .

Ingsy

Trets, I looked on the Travelex site, but couldn't see where to forward purchase, or even get them to deliver it. Seemed to be collection only. Unless I missed something and I can book now for collection in October?

PandaPants_2

September

Froggitt wrote: »

So now its 1.86, how would you feel if you didnt buy now and it fell to 1.76? Even more gutted? So fix it now. You need to forget that it was ever 1.97. And dont look at the rates again if they look like theyre going upwards!!!!

You're right. Im buying about £900 overall, so i'll buy about £3/400 now and keep an eye on the rate.

ferf1223

March

trets77 wrote: »

i really cannot complain ...we were hitting close to $2.05 using the Nationwide credit card in October last year , $1.99 in Vegas last Dec and about $1.97 this May so we have had a great run .

we got $2.11 at one point using Nationwide/Post Office, possibly November last year? Crazy.

Baz_2

So these cash money cards from tesco and the post office and the like. They have a ATM charge on them of a few quid, is this aswell as the charge the ATM takes as well?

I'm tempted to convert my £1000 into dollars cash now at £1.84, as really its still a decent rate and it could fall a lot more but I dont like taking so much cash with me.

How low will it take me to pick up my cash from travelex at terminal 5 LHR? Is it quick to pick up? I'm assuming the office is after security and quite easy to find?

Hmmm

I take it theres no way to lock into the nationwide debit card rate either?

duchy

Most places will give you the same rate on travellers cheques as currency so the solution to hold the rate may be tc's as they have replacement within 24 hours and are insured-unlike cash which won't be (except for a couple of hundred on holiday insurance)

sturll

August

Here is a couple of pics from March 2008 - Since everyone is posting pics of Vegas ill post pics of places many people simply over look but are all nearby.

Willow Beach (The most amazing little place where not a single British Tourist can be found - Except for me of course )



Hoover Dam



Grand Canyon



Another amazing yet pretty much unknown place, Laughlin. Only 40 mins from Las Vegas but the hottest city in the USA.

About a day North you have the most wonderful resort on the planet - Lake Tahoe (this particular place is Squaw Valley)



On Route to Lake Tahoe you may opt to pass through Death Valley



Now, a little bit further afield you have the vastly overrated Los Angeles



And if you're lucky enough you too may also get to witness such an amazing sunset as i did (followed hours later by the Northern Lights above Nort East Canada)


At the end of the Day Las Vegas is amazing and like you i love it too. But just because it does seem like it is the only place in the vast desert its not.

Have fun

trets77

April

Ingsy wrote: »

Trets, I looked on the Travelex site, but couldn't see where to forward purchase, or even get them to deliver it. Seemed to be collection only. Unless I missed something and I can book now for collection in October?

We collect at the airport at the travelex desk . The rate you get for just showing up at the counter is poor ,the website rate is good but you get a price match guarantee ordering online so you can reclaim to best possible rate available online ( usually TEG)

not every UK airport has a Travelex desk but nearly all do ( Manchester is a notable exception) . you can order in advance ...today upto 13th of October.

make sure you use a Maestro card as most Visa debits will end up adding a fee after purchase. there was a bank by bank list on this site that told you which did and did not charge but i cannot find it.

order your money with travelex , then goto the MSE Travel money maximiser to see if any other company betters the rate . Thomas Exchange Global usually does , but this place charges for delivery and has only 2 shops in the center of london for free collection.

email Travelex on [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] giving the your name , order number , better rate found , and who you found it with (e.g TEG) to get them to send you a cheque for the difference . you must E-Mail them the same day as your purchase.

when collecting you must have the debit card which you payed for the currency with, with you . as well as Photo ID ( i assume you will have your Passport anyway)


we have done this probably half a dozen times now , and recieved cheques from a few pounds to over £20 for the price match. for the effort of sending a simple E mail it is well worth doing IMO. however there is Maximum lifetime limit of £50 pricematch cash for every customer . i'm probably close to that now , but hey the wife can order the next time for uptp anthor £50 . easy money

How low will it take me to pick up my cash from travelex at terminal 5 LHR? Is it quick to pick up? I'm assuming the office is after security and quite easy to find?

never taken me more than a 10 mins , even with people in front of me. just make sure you goto to the right desk though as they also have little desks that don't do collections dotted around. when you order you will be told which desk.






looks like we have both stood next to the same sign strull

Ingsy

Hello, I wonder if someone can clear this up for me: Is the Nationwide Flexaccount Debit card the best way to buy show tickets for my trip to Vegas? Haven't got an account with them at the moment, so will have to open one up especially for this trip, if it's worthwhile.

Thanks

Baz_2

Has anyone used TMS or travel money services?

Its offering 1.85 for when I want to go and Im happy with that, but feel a bit weird sending them £1000 by bank transfer to keep for 8 weeks before delivery.

Is it safe to do this? Am I knackered if they go bust or are they coverd by the FSA or some guarantee? I can't find much on the website.

The travelex rate has gone down by .025 just now.

Looking grim.