Page 1 of Do you know - Where the Best Place to Get Foreign Currency/any deals etc?

Hi All,

Im looking for some advice. Im Escaping xmas this year by going abroad - and wondered if i could get some good advice on best places to change currency/Travellers cheques.

Free Commission
Any good deals at the moment/offers.

Im based in London...

Any great tips will be really appreciated.

Cheers

Hi,

We`re off to Japan in 3 weeks for new year celebrations with the in laws. We got a great exchange rate at the Post Office and it was commission free. Check them out they`re really good. Also, try Marks & Spencers - they gave me a great deal last year again com free.

Hope it helps

:D

Have a look around over at MoneySavingExpert

They make the point that careful choice of plastic will beat currency, and offer other relevant advice. The Post Office has been considered a good outlet for currency because of the zero commission charge, but as MSE states they probably recoup it in the actual rate the are giving.

Check your bank and the bureaux at the airport (at the same time as rate fluctuate).

I was gonna say the good ol` Post Office but was beaten to it.

Don`t know of any BOGOF deals at the mo though.... :D :D :D ;)

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Why don`t you come up and see me sometime? ccgi.mgillespie.plus.com/liteon/smf/index.php

Best dealers I have found over the last two years were Travelex if you place your order in advance by ordering online & collect at the airport or railway station on the day of departure.

Three years ago, online rate £1 = $C2.12* booked the Monday before departure, airport rate on arrival without prebooking was $2.01. At that time rates were pretty stable between the countrys & there was some small change in the exchange rate between booking & collection.

I compared the rates\deals available on a daily basis for a week prior to booking each time & Travelex came out on top each time as most $`s per £.

Also best to use Nationwide CC as no commission charges & also use a Nationwide Switch card as again no NW fee`s atop of fees charged when using foreign ATM`s.

*The rate booked was at it`s peak since 7/7 & then decreased again slowly as Canadian $ grew stronger.


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This item was edited on Tuesday, 5th December 2006, 12:52

M&S commision free and a good rate

i always use post office... their insurance deals are also very good!



`i am going to live forever or die trying`

I would again recommend the post office, but if you can get to NE london easily, then there is a great independant currency place in South Woodford, who offer the best rates i have ever seen!



The Bigman Cometh