Title speaks for itself really!!!

Where can you buy the cheapest foreign currency?

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Julie

Marks n sparks!

I searched around for the best price on Euros and American Express won

marks and spencers, foreign exchange bureau. next to customer service desk top floor in meadowhall... use to work there i sud know

yep, M&S always comes out best when I check around.

thanks to all for your advice

also local post office

Don't if my experience is anything to go by.
The last two years of going abroad I was offered a much lower rate here than in the countries I visited. This was true even at the airport when I expected to get ripped off.
Use the net to check local rates and you may find you do better.
Even better if you know anyone there get them to check for you. I did and saved a mint.

What currency should i get for bulgaria? Is it a good idea to exchange when i get their?

OnlineFX do the best rates - I bought £800 worth of Croatian currency last year and got £30 more from them than American express in town...that was after including the cost of the secure, insured delivery.

What currency should i get for bulgaria? Is it a good idea to exchange when i get their?

When I went back in 88 & 89 it was the ' lev ' and been a communist state back then you could only purchase it over there and not bring it out of the country ( trick was to take english notes or dollars and you'd get an exch rate off of locals, ski instructors, waiter ect ect ect 10X better as to what you'd get in the official bureaus as he locals needed western currency o buy western goods.

May have hanged now though.

As for the title of this thread have you just thought about just taking your cash card. They are widely accepted now throughout nearly all of Europe and recent trips for myself, using the card got me an exch rate of 1.42 - £ on the euro in Spain ( it was on offer here at 1.33- £ ) and even better in the US and Mexico.

.

I asked HSBC about using my cash card in the states, (where they have branches).
They said it would be accepted, they offer their branch exchange rate, minus a weighting of 2.5% and charge a cash surcharge of 10% min £1.50 per withdrawal.

So I wouldn't bother with that idea.
My HSBC credit card on the other hand (for the 2nd time on the American Continent) got a better exchange rate than anything I could find in a bureau here or there.

What currency should i get for bulgaria? Is it a good idea to exchange when i get their?

The Bulgarian Currency is Lev...Now I'm working over here I don't usually get money out in the UK but just out of the cash point (this is probably the most expensive way of doing it but it's convienient).

I do however pay my rent money in Euros and usually buy them in the Co-Op travel centre in the Morrison's at the Barracks...last time I checked though they didn't have Lev...I was offered Lev in Thomas Cooks in Meadowhall, I think you can pick them up at most big(ish) currency places now with so many Brits in Bulgaria (when I was at the Bulgarian Embassy it was full of Brits moving out here).

In short I'd recommend you take Leva out in the UK and if you need any more you can use your debit card in most cashpoints out here (they have an 'English' option).

When going to a former easern bloc state I normally just get the local currency from a cashpoint when I am there, as most people only go for a weekend, it is not worth the hassle of doing it any other way. Although I normally make sure I have 20 euros in my wallet so I can pay a taxi if there isn't a machine in the arrival airport. Although you always pay less if you have local currency.

would you still say M&S is the best?

We have always found M & S best for Euros

There's a foriegn exchange place at the side of streetwise sports down on the moor,the last time i went to bulgaria was back in 2003 & thats where i got my levs from,at that time i was getting 3 levs for the pound.

I've got a jamjar full of old coins from countries now in the Euro zone, saved 'in case I ever went back again'. Of course, I'd forget to take them if the time ever came when I might. Plus a few old coppers and two shilling coins, not out of sentiment, just wanted to top the jar up really, and couldn't think of anywhere else to put them.

They're yours for a fiver, and I'll chuck the jar in as well. You'll not do better than that anywhere.

ive always used my cash card when traveling abroad. never had an issue with being charged a bizarre fees.

to the poster who used only HSBC atms you could have used your card in any bank atm in the US and it would have been accepted.

Credit Cards, on the whole, generally give you the best exchange rate as usually they charge you the current rate of the day. Plus your purchases should be insured.

Hi, im getting mine very soon.

Is the Post Office still my best bet?

Cheers

I find M&S usually has the best rate on the high street. You can do a search online to compare - sometimes cheaper to buy online.

http://www.comparetravelmoney.co.uk/

http://www.comparetravelmoney.co.uk/


Good link.

Is Crown Exchange any good?

I find M&S usually has the best rate on the high street. You can do a search online to compare - sometimes cheaper to buy online.

http://www.comparetravelmoney.co.uk/

Hiya

Does the M&S in town do it, or do ya have to go to Meadowhell??

Cheers

Angi

Good link.

Is Crown Exchange any good?Not sure, never used them before. If there's only a tiny difference in the exchange rate just go for someone you've heard of. Travelex are good because you order in advance then just pick up your cash at the airport.

Hiya

Does the M&S in town do it, or do ya have to go to Meadowhell??

Cheers

AngiYep there's a foreign exchange counter upstairs in the one in town (where customer service desk is). Head for mens clothing then follow signs.

Not sure, never used them before. If there's only a tiny difference in the exchange rate just go for someone you've heard of. Travelex are good because you order in advance then just pick up your cash at the airport.

Ok thanx a lot.

Think I might go with Tesco then. they were next inline.

Looks good :)

No probs, enjoy your holiday!

Yep there's a foreign exchange counter upstairs in the one in town (where customer service desk is). Head for mens clothing then follow signs.

Cheers Atronaut ~~

You're a star :wave:

*Smiles*

Angi