exchange rate

[bobbyhibs1983]

hi

a lil bit of advice please in regards the exchange rate .
where is everyones place to *go to* for there exchange rate?

Im just a lil worried as my brother and i are off to america in just over 7weeks and the dollar seems to be sinking fast so we are in two minds, get the dollars now or wait.
If there anywhere on the web you can look for advice/info?

any advice welcomed and thanks for reading!

[Moulin Yarns]

Always worth a look

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money)

We took prepaid cards from Thomas Cook last time we went, always draw the max you can to cut on fees.

[HibsMax]

I use xe.com, just for a general idea.

When my wife and I travel we rarely take cash, just enough in case we need actual cash. Otherwise we just use our credit cards and that seems to work just fine. I wouldn't worry too much about the exchange rate unless you're managing a hedge fund or something. :)

[Hiber-nation]

hi

a lil bit of advice please in regards the exchange rate .
where is everyones place to *go to* for there exchange rate?

Im just a lil worried as my brother and i are off to america in just over 7weeks and the dollar seems to be sinking fast so we are in two minds, get the dollars now or wait.
If there anywhere on the web you can look for advice/info?

any advice welcomed and thanks for reading!

Thomas Cook are decent - order online and collect later. Give yourself plenty time as they had run out of euros the last time I went!

[NYHibby]

The dollar is not sinking. Look at the charts. The dollar has been a bit of a tear for several months.

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=GBP&view=1Y

[NYHibby]

Don't screw around with cash though. Get one of the credit cards on this page and charge everything to it. I personally use the Post Office credit card.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money

[Hibbyradge]

Get yourself a Clarity Credit card from the Halifax. http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/

You get the best exchange rates by far, that's the commercial rates, not the lower tourist rates, and there are no fees for withdrawing money from cash machines.

Pay it off as soon as you can (I try to do so electronically the same or next day) and you pay no interest whatsoever.

More info and eligibility tool, here. (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#best)

[bobbyhibs1983]

ok thank youall for your advice!

Just with the genral election coming up and all that i do worry!
We were gonna get our money swapped eariler this year for £1=$1.51 but its fell to £1=$1.43.

I ve never considered usuing a credit card before though but will look into it.
Again thank you all for reading and posting you surggestions!

[Kavinho]

ok thank youall for your advice!

Just with the genral election coming up and all that i do worry!
We were gonna get our money swapped eariler this year for £1=$1.51 but its fell to £1=$1.43.

I ve never considered usuing a credit card before though but will look into it.
Again thank you all for reading and posting you surggestions!

Pre paid debit card is the route I went down, with online access to top up.. Fair fx.com
Excellent.

just sign with it in the states. (No chip and pin)
No worries about interest rates on credit..

[Wembley67]

I use xe.com, just for a general idea.

When my wife and I travel we rarely take cash, just enough in case we need actual cash. Otherwise we just use our credit cards and that seems to work just fine. I wouldn't worry too much about the exchange rate unless you're managing a hedge fund or something. :)

I've never understood why people fret about exchange rates, unless as you say are managing a hedge fund or planning to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds you will hardly even notice the difference.

[Peevemor]

I've never understood why people fret about exchange rates, unless as you say are managing a hedge fund or planning to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds you will hardly even notice the difference.

Hardly! I have to buy a fair bit of stuff from Scotland and every £100 worth of gear is currently costing me about 20€ (£15) more than this time last year.

[HibsMax]

Hardly! I have to buy a fair bit of stuff from Scotland and every £100 worth of gear is currently costing me about 20€ (£15) more than this time last year.
Right, but you are talking about the difference of a year. On a day-to-day basis the difference shouldn't be that much (unless there are extenuating circumstances like a market crash).

[Peevemor]

Right, but you are talking about the difference of a year. On a day-to-day basis the difference shouldn't be that much (unless there are extenuating circumstances like a market crash).

Fair enough. These days I normally just withdraw local money with my bank card, but before this wasn't possible and it was definitely worth being careful. I remember going to Turkey about 25 years ago and was told to use certain places to change money (the Sugar Bank comes to mind) as they didn't take commission or something like that. Having shopped around a bit we found it to be good advice and probably saved the price of a couple of beers a day.

[Hibby Bairn]

I've never understood why people fret about exchange rates, unless as you say are managing a hedge fund or planning to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds you will hardly even notice the difference.

Just paid my final balance on accommodation in Cyprus for this summer and saved about £300 since paying deposit last summer as paying in Euros. Effectively car hire for free.

[superfurryhibby]

Transfer wise for sending my maintenance cash to the ex. Saved me a fortune

[Killiehibbie]

I've never understood why people fret about exchange rates, unless as you say are managing a hedge fund or planning to spend thousands upon thousands of pounds you will hardly even notice the difference.
I take it you just get your holiday cash at the airport kiosk? If you do you'd certainly notice the difference in your spending money compared to somebody who got a better deal.

[TRC]

i often have money in Britain and Sweden the pounds pretty strong against the Swedish crown at the minute great if like last month the old dear sent money for the wifes birthday. Not so great if im buying stuff from the uk. Swings and round abouts.