OT: Travel Money

Use a credit card that doesn't charge extra for Euro transactions (e.g. Nationwide, but I think there are others) for the bulk of your spending. Remember to select 'pay in Euros' when offered the choice of Euros or pounds when you make payments.

Then find a debit card that doesn't charge silly surcharges for drawing Euros abroad and use that to get any actual Euro cash you need when you get there. Be aware however that the bank in Europe will probably charge something for the withdrawal so you might have to shop around to find one with reasonable charges. I still think this will be cheaper than getting Euros in the UK.

OK, but it's usually a good idea to carry some cash, and in my long-past days of travelling, I found that currency tends to be more valuable in its own country than elsewhere i.e. buy foreign currency in England rather than at the destination.

Try to use it up before you return. I have a hundred Dinar (about £3 then) note from Algeria, because everywhere was closed by the time my flight out was scheduled. I don't know about nowadays, but around 45 years ago, Algeria was closed by about 21:00. even in the capital. It was an illegal amount of currency to export...

Generally that's covered by finding an ATM in the airport / railway station / etc. Often they are right next to Arrivals. At an ATM you get the interbank rate + whatever % fee you card issuer decided to add (~3% often) rather than a bureau de change rate which can be a lot worse.

If you arrive by ship it could be more awkward as ports often don't have much in the way of facilities, but if you have a car you can drive somewhere better. If you're on a sailing boat turning up in some tiny village harbour then maybe you want some cash in advance.

The most annoying one is airports where the baggage trolleys aren't free but take a fee in coins - which you don't have when you're still in baggage reclaim. Even having notes in advance wouldn't help there.

The other one is countries which expect you to pay the 'visa on arrival' tax in dollar or euro notes before you can enter the country, no cards, coins or other currencies accepted. Turkey used to do that, but at least they took pound notes too.

If you're in the kind of country where there aren't ATMs, it's probably the kind of country where a fistful of $1 bills will get you far. (not sure the best place to get those)

Theo

Go to a cash machine in the destination country

But since everything is cashless, who needs cash anyway?

You should have listened. Its a mine field hence this long diatribe, and the obvious, convenient ways to exchange money will result in you being "ripped off". I travel often, and own a house in Spain, and have a son who lives in Qatar so try and optimise this as much as possible. The blue and yellow ATMs that you see all over Europe should be avoided at all costs. They have high charges. A bank ATM There are sections on the Martin Lewis web site which I suggest you read.

Well the first thing to know is that just popping into somewhere "on spec" will result in you being fleeced. Yes there are convenient cash desks and machines at airports, but these seldom offer the best rates and the over the counter rate is horrendous. Generally using a specialist travel card as you travel is the best way. You get good rates and don't end up with 50€ left that you spend on chocolate bars at the airport. If you want/need some Euros before you go, you need to order in advance. The best buy changes from day to day so check out the pages here:-

... personally I have a Halifax Clarity card MasterCard.

I have a Santander 123 account, but most Santander accounts allow free withdrawals on their debit cards from Santander machines world wide.

For backup I have a Revolut card. This has top notch rates, is easy to get, can be topped up as you go along, but if you draw out more than £200 in a month you pay a small surcharge.

Allmost all ATMs and Card Machines in shops offer the choice to pay in £ or €.

NEVER NEVER NEVER chose £. Your own bank/card provider will have a better rate.

If you don't have time to get a new card, check out your existing cards on the Martin Lewis web site. Many middle of the road cards will give better rates than getting cash in the UK. Others are "cards from hell" e.g. TSB Debit Cards. Only use these abroad in a dire emergency....

... lastly if you do take a lot of cash be carefull of pick pockets. Don't carry it all with you. Split it up...

I hope you enjoy your trip...

Dave

Whenever I am in China, I can use the cash machine in any number of high street banks. Giving the best exchange rate plus 3% for my card being processed.

I have travelled to Europe extensively. I cannot recall the last time I had any local currency. I use my card. It works.

I am certain that the money spent in currency transfers is less than the spanish pesetas left over from the last time I did use local currency. 1985?

We were in Faro, Portugal last month. There were quite a few places (coffee shops etc) that only accepted cash, less so in Split, Croatia in April.

Conversely in Copenhagen in July, it was impossible to use cash.

I have a Monzo debit card, which I charge up with sterling as required. No commission on foreign transactions, or ATM withdrawals (up to £500 in a month)

As said up thread, avoid those blue and yellow 'Euronet' ATMs you see in Europe. Many seem to be free-standing connected via a CAT5 to a domestic router. I always try and use something concreted into to a (known) bank's wall

In message <vicume$154fc$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 17:46:57 on Fri, 29 Nov

Seconded for PO and Tesco (never tried M&S). With a proviso that my local Tesco at least has very irregular opening hours, and has a "Sorry for the incontinence" sign deployed much of the time.

In message <vid93b$1843r$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 20:44:27 on Fri, 29 Nov

I was in Spain earlier this year, and some of the traders at in effect a car boot sale only took cash. Are all soft drinks vending machines in rural USA now converted to cashless?

I changed all my currency-superceded-by-Euros back to sterling, as a job lot, at the Post Office opposite the old New Scotland Yard.

Pre-ordering as opposed to ordering I suppose?

In message snipped-for-privacy@q957.zbmc.eu>, at 11:46:02 on Sun, 1 Dec

Everywhere should have at least Euros and Dollars available to walk-in customers.

In message <vic5lo$11t03$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 10:39:52 on Fri, 29 Nov

iirc there's an ATM at St Pancras which vends Euros, if that's your chosen transport.

They do, but as I said to get the best rate you need to order in advance. Turn up on spec and you will pay more for those that you order in advance....

Dave

Its most likely a EuroNet ATM which will either charge you small fortune, or load the rate so much in its favour that its a terrible deal.

Dave

Well when you turn up at a restaurant, the waiter takes your order, isn't that the same as arriving at a Post Office Counter and asking for currency? In some restaurants, if you want a special dish it needs to be ordered in advance and the term pre-ordered is often used to specify this is necessary. So what I meant was order on-line for collection.

You can turn up at the counter, they usually have common foreign currencies available for collection, and they will take your order over the counter, just like in a chip shop.

However if you do this, they will charge more than if you order in advance. It seems odd to me, but its true.

For some places, such as many Marks and Spencer stores which no longer have a service counter, your only option is to order in advance.

Dave

OK, so you order on line, you don't pre-order on line.

If you order something then, by the nature of the action, you do it in advance of getting what you've ordered.

You don't normally call buying something over the counter in a shop 'ordering' it. You just buy it. If you 'order' something then you go away and expect to come back for it later.

I've no argument with your point that getting currency by ordering it rather than just turning up and buying it will (maybe) get you a better rate of exchamge. :-)

No maybe about it... ... and leave it until the airport if flying and you will pay dearly..

Even so looking at current rates ordering for collection at the airport from Travelex rate is 1.1778, rate on my Revolut card is 1.2015...

Dave

In message <vihrpq$2hnrq$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, at 14:28:09 on Sun, 1 Dec

I see no evidence of that in a straw poll of the Tesco website.