M&S Travel Money Closing down ?

katejo

martindow said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Their rates are not that different from the walk-up money-changers at larger supermarket branches.

I think they offer better rates if you have an M&S loyalty card.  Maybe that affected the OP's  wish to use them.

I think that has stopped. I used to get a better one by buying with my M & S credit card but I was told this this no longer applies. However, their rate last time was much better than using a cash machine at St Pancras station. I was only getting a token £50 as a backup. 

jbrassy

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

katejo

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

zagfles

katejo said:

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

They have ATMs in Madeira, in fact Portugal seems to be one of the few countries left where ATM withdrawals are generally free. Or at least they were when I was there a couple of years ago. 

zagfles

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

It does seem some people are just set in their ways and think getting ripped off buying foreign currency in the UK is an essential pre-holiday ritual. It's just so unnecessary these days, it does amaze me that so many currency exchange shops still exist

katejo

zagfles said:

katejo said:

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

They have ATMs in Madeira, in fact Portugal seems to be one of the few countries left where ATM withdrawals are generally free. Or at least they were when I was there a couple of years ago. 

Yes I know and I used them several times. That wasn't my point.

zagfles

katejo said:

zagfles said:

katejo said:

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

They have ATMs in Madeira, in fact Portugal seems to be one of the few countries left where ATM withdrawals are generally free. Or at least they were when I was there a couple of years ago. 

Yes I know and I used them several times. That wasn't my point.

What was it then? You seem to suggest you need to get cash before you go. 

katejo

zagfles said:

katejo said:

zagfles said:

katejo said:

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

They have ATMs in Madeira, in fact Portugal seems to be one of the few countries left where ATM withdrawals are generally free. Or at least they were when I was there a couple of years ago. 

Yes I know and I used them several times. That wasn't my point.

What was it then? You seem to suggest you need to get cash before you go. 

My point was just that I don't want to arrive in any country without ANY cash at all. I prefer to take a token amount (up to max £50). I sometimes have it left over from a previous trip.

diveunderthebonnet

katejo said:

zagfles said:

katejo said:

zagfles said:

katejo said:

jbrassy said:

Can I ask why you need to get money before going on holiday? Most people get a card with no fees and withdraw while abroad as the rates are much better. You could get yourself a Starling or First Direct bank account and save yourself loads of hassle.

I prefer to have a token amount with me in case. I can always bring it back and use it for a future trip. I did need more cash than I expected in Madeira last year. 

They have ATMs in Madeira, in fact Portugal seems to be one of the few countries left where ATM withdrawals are generally free. Or at least they were when I was there a couple of years ago. 

Yes I know and I used them several times. That wasn't my point.

What was it then? You seem to suggest you need to get cash before you go. 

My point was just that I don't want to arrive in any country without ANY cash at all. I prefer to take a token amount (up to max £50). I sometimes have it left over from a previous trip.

I am the same ,it is good to have some local currency for tipping the driver on your transfer etc.

zagfles

Airports have ATMs. Backup, change some GBP at the airport BDC, probably better value than getting cash in the UK. Or pay for onward travel by card if you need to. Tip in GBP, it's a tip, they won't care what currency. So many options/backups. I tend to travel abroad 4 times a year or so and never buy currency in advance and never had a problem. As with most people here I think.

I really think it's a habit/comfort blanket type thing rather than something necessary. Which is fine, do whatever gives you peace of mind. But perhaps avoid travelling to a country with a closed currency!