Romeo Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Going to Florida in a couple of months. The xchange rate is a bit shite at the moement, looking at around $1.45 to the £. I know there are better rates availiable online but I am a bit dubious about using these companies. Anybody have any experience, tips or relevant info? ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForzaDundee Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 xchange *exchange Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Going to Florida in a couple of months. The xchange rate is a bit shite at the moement, looking at around $1.45 to the £. I know there are better rates availiable online but I am a bit dubious about using these companies. Anybody have any experience, tips or relevant info? ta *exchangeThe e has gone on holiday to moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 *exchange My apologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Going to Florida in a couple of months. The xchange rate is a bit shite at the moement, looking at around $1.45 to the £. I know there are better rates availiable online but I am a bit dubious about using these companies. Anybody have any experience, tips or relevant info? ta Use a credit card that doesn't charge any exchange fees such as the Post Office mastercard or the Halifax Clarity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 Use a credit card that doesn't charge any exchange fees such as the Post Office mastercard or the Halifax Clarity I have seen this suggested a few times. Don't have a credit card or ever fancy having one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I have seen this suggested a few times. Don't have a credit card or ever fancy having one. The FairFX cash card is pretty good value. https://www.fairfx.com/ I'd be wary of using a normal debit card in cashpoints over there, I got seriously stung. One advantage of a credit card is for booking and paying for stuff over the phone, I was trying to book a flight and they wouldn't let me do it without one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I have seen this suggested a few times. Don't have a credit card or ever fancy having one. I agree that they are not really suitable if you can't manage money. If this is the case, then Florida ain't the holiday for you. ETA: If you are careful with your money, you can pre-load it onto your credit card and just make sure you don't spend any more than your budget. Once you get home, stick it in a drawer until your next holiday. I do this with my PO Mastercard although I have it linked on Paypal for any foreign currency purchases that I make. Always pay it back onto the card as soon as I know the £s amount. It is really the most prudent way of managing FC. If you go with the Clarity and pre-load money on to it, you will get any withdrawals for no charge and at the Mastercard Rate on the day of withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 I agree that they are not really suitable if you can't manage money. I would suggest that Credit cards are extremely suitable for people who can't save up, manage their own cash and feel the need to constantly be in debt. I just prefer to use cash that is mine, not borrowed or on credit. Much to the wifes annoyance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I would suggest that Credit cards are extremely suitable for people who can't save up, manage their own cash and feel the need to constantly be in debt. I just prefer to use cash that is mine, not borrowed or on credit. Much to the wifes annoyance. Selective quoting. You dont have to use a credit card for credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booker_d Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The Halifax Clarity is the dogs baws, especially given the amount of travelling me and the Missus do. Don't have to get into debt as you can load the card with money before you go. You will not get a better exchange rate and there are no fees. However, if you'd rather give your money away on a worse exchange rate and fees (and it can build up to a considerable amount) so that your money won't go as far and you have less money to spend on holiday then each to their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Psychosis Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 The Halifax Clarity is the dogs baws, especially given the amount of travelling me and the Missus do. Don't have to get into debt as you can load the card with money before you go. You will not get a better exchange rate and there are no fees. However, if you'd rather give your money away on a worse exchange rate and fees (and it can build up to a considerable amount) so that your money won't go as far and you have less money to spend on holiday then each to their own. This. I've got a clarity card and pay it off on in full every month using direct debit. No credit needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I have a Nationwide Select credit card, and Nationwide Flex Plus current account. Select gives free credit card transactions abroad at the Visa rate and 0.5% cashback on domestic transactions, while Flex Plus gives free cash withdrawals abroad at Visa rate. Covered from every angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I have a Nationwide Select credit card, and Nationwide Flex Plus current account. Select gives free credit card transactions abroad at the Visa rate and 0.5% cashback on domestic transactions, while Flex Plus gives free cash withdrawals abroad at Visa rate. Covered from every angle. If you ignore the £10 per month fee then you could class it as free withdrawals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paco Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 If you ignore the £10 per month fee then you could class it as free withdrawals. Well, yes, but then you get breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, extended warranty of white goods, travel insurance etc included too. I spent a lot more than £120 per year on the above, and indeed you get about half of that back in interest anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross. Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Unless you are changing a small fortune, the FX charges shouldn't really amount to much or have a great impact on your holiday. The difference between getting 1.45 and 1.47 to the £ if you change £2k is barely going to cover the price of a cheap meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strichener Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 Well, yes, but then you get breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, extended warranty of white goods, travel insurance etc included too. I spent a lot more than £120 per year on the above, and indeed you get about half of that back in interest anyway. Each to their own, if you want to pay for loads of services without ensuring value. I do take exception to the claim of getting about half that back in interest as this is mis-leading in justifying paying a fee. Other accounts have comparable interest rates without a fee and your interest is limit to a maximum of £60 p.a. regardless if you have £2500 or £25000 in the account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspy Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 For Anyone travelling to Turkey this summer, I would recommend changing some money the now as the exchange rate is pretty decent and will most likely change as we head towards the summer season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidkennedyshand Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 For Anyone travelling to Turkey this summer, I would recommend changing some money the now as the exchange rate is pretty decent and will most likely change as we head towards the summer season. Or before everyone runs out. The company i work for couldn't get any last year for about 3 months and are running short at the vault again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk89 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 The FairFX cash card is pretty good value. https://www.fairfx.com/ I'd be wary of using a normal debit card in cashpoints over there, I got seriously stung. One advantage of a credit card is for booking and paying for stuff over the phone, I was trying to book a flight and they wouldn't let me do it without one. Similar to FairFX is the Caxton card, same idea pre loaded card. Used it last year for the 9 weeks I was stateside, exchange rates on those two cards are the best you'll get normally compared to travel agent backed efforts. Easy enough to load through their website, didn't have any hassle with it whilst over there. http://www.moneysupermarket.com/prepaid-cards/dollars/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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