Hatunen

On Tue, 17 Jun 2003 13:05:44 +0100, "Mark Hewitt"
wrote:

    >Probably off topic. But I just went to buy my US Dollars from Lunn Polly on
    >the high street (Newcastle, England)
    >Got a rate of US$1.633 - UK£1.00.

The current rate being about $1.684, that's not too bad if there
was no additional commission.


************* DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

Greg Byshenk

Miss L.Toe wrote:
    > "greg byshenk" wrote:
    > > Miss L.Toe wrote:

    > > > I went to some remote Ryanair airport recently and there were two people
    > > > waiting to get on the bus neither of whom had any Euros only GBP, the bank
    > > > was shut, and the one who had a card had forgotten his number. I made a few
    > > > Euros profit (and two VERY grateful friends) by changing some cash for them.

    > > > PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take some local currency with you.
    > > > (or learn how to beg)

    > > Or, alternatively, don't bother with carrying local currency, and learn
    > > your PIN.

    > And if the only cash machine in that airport was out of order ?

What "that airport" are you referring to, that has only one cash
machine? But even so, then I would visit the bureau de change and
change some of my own currency; the rates won't be as good as from
a cash machine, but probably as good or better than the rates from
home before I leave. Or, visit a cash machine off the airport.
Or any one of the other options already suggested by others. It's
not a big issue, in my opinion.

I will note that it doesn't matter at all to me if someone chooses
to bring "local" currency from home when they go on holiday. I
_don't_, but it's their holiday, after all. What does irritate me
are the ridiculous justifications some people try to make for doing
so, such as yours above. Your statement attempted to imply dreadful
consequences if one chooses not to carry "local" currency, on the
basis of someone who "had forgotten his number"! I suggest instead
that perhaps persons such as this should not be leaving home without
adult supervision.


--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?

Mark Hewitt

    > I will note that it doesn't matter at all to me if someone chooses
    > to bring "local" currency from home when they go on holiday. I
    > _don't_, but it's their holiday, after all. What does irritate me
    > are the ridiculous justifications some people try to make for doing
    > so, such as yours above. Your statement attempted to imply dreadful
    > consequences if one chooses not to carry "local" currency, on the
    > basis of someone who "had forgotten his number"! I suggest instead
    > that perhaps persons such as this should not be leaving home without
    > adult supervision.

It's always a good idea to bring local currency with you. Every time I've
flown into Heathrow on an international flight there are always people
fussing with the taxis asking if they take credit cards as they have no UK
currency on them (Some taxis take cards, some do not). I don't see the issue
with bringing some cash with you. Even if it's just, say, £50. Considering
the cost of your travel and accomodation, what's it going to cost you, £3 at
the most maybe? Big deal!!

Miss L.Toe

"Mark Hewitt" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > I will note that it doesn't matter at all to me if someone chooses
    > > to bring "local" currency from home when they go on holiday. I
    > > _don't_, but it's their holiday, after all. What does irritate me
    > > are the ridiculous justifications some people try to make for doing
    > > so, such as yours above. Your statement attempted to imply dreadful
    > > consequences if one chooses not to carry "local" currency, on the
    > > basis of someone who "had forgotten his number"! I suggest instead
    > > that perhaps persons such as this should not be leaving home without
    > > adult supervision.
    > It's always a good idea to bring local currency with you. Every time I've
    > flown into Heathrow on an international flight there are always people
    > fussing with the taxis asking if they take credit cards as they have no UK
    > currency on them (Some taxis take cards, some do not). I don't see the
issue
    > with bringing some cash with you. Even if it's just, say, £50. Considering
    > the cost of your travel and accomodation, what's it going to cost you, £3
at
    > the most maybe? Big deal!!
Excatly - why leave yourself open to all sorts of potential hassles for the
sake of saving a few quid on the exchange transaction. If you are that keen
to save a biy of money, don't go on the trip, and save a lot more !!

I could give more examples of people who got stuck because they didnt have
local curency. Like the woman with two kids who was flying to Ireland in the
same plane as me, she had no cash with her (in any currency) becasue she was
being picked up at the other end by her parents, the plane got diverted
because of weather, when we landed we were hearded straight onto a couple of
coaches and had a four hour drive across Ireland. When we stopped for
refreshments she had no money to buy food for her kids. (I had to lend her
some).

SHIT HAPPENS - BE PREPARED.

Jim Ley

On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 11:15:08 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:

    >Excatly - why leave yourself open to all sorts of potential hassles for the
    >sake of saving a few quid on the exchange transaction. If you are that keen
    >to save a biy of money, don't go on the trip, and save a lot more !!

Because you don't save yourself any hassle, you guarantee the hassle
of getting the money before you go, for the potential of having a
little hassle when you arrive.

For me changing local currency to foreign currency is a hassle unless
you use an ATM, (where it's no more hassle than getting local
currency) I don't like the idea of guaranteed hassle, for the small
chance of having a broken ATM at my destination and the little hassle
and cost that would cause.

Jim.

Miss L.Toe

    > For me changing local currency to foreign currency is a hassle

Why, don't you have a bank near you that can change currency, or a bureau de
change at your departure airport ?

Greg Byshenk

Miss L.Toe wrote:
    > "Mark Hewitt" wrote:
[ greg byshenk wrote: ]

    > > > I will note that it doesn't matter at all to me if someone chooses
    > > > to bring "local" currency from home when they go on holiday. I
    > > > _don't_, but it's their holiday, after all. What does irritate me
    > > > are the ridiculous justifications some people try to make for doing
    > > > so, such as yours above. Your statement attempted to imply dreadful
    > > > consequences if one chooses not to carry "local" currency, on the
    > > > basis of someone who "had forgotten his number"! I suggest instead
    > > > that perhaps persons such as this should not be leaving home without
    > > > adult supervision.

    > > It's always a good idea to bring local currency with you. Every time I've
    > > flown into Heathrow on an international flight there are always people
    > > fussing with the taxis asking if they take credit cards as they have no UK
    > > currency on them (Some taxis take cards, some do not). I don't see the issue
    > > with bringing some cash with you. Even if it's just, say, £50. Considering
    > > the cost of your travel and accomodation, what's it going to cost you, £3 at
    > > the most maybe? Big deal!!

These people "fussing with the taxis" -- why don't they just get some
UK currency at a cash machine at the airport? I travelled to London
a few weeks ago, and simply got cash at the cash machine at Waterloo,
and then was set.

As has already been noted, getting foreign currency before leaving
home is an annoyance that is almost certain to be totally unnecessary.

And, as I've already noted, I have no problem if you choose to get
"local" currency before you go. Just don't try to dream up absurd
situations for which such would be "needed", or attempt to justify the
"need" based on someone's idiotic behaviour (as above).


    > Excatly - why leave yourself open to all sorts of potential hassles for the
    > sake of saving a few quid on the exchange transaction. If you are that keen
    > to save a biy of money, don't go on the trip, and save a lot more !!

    > I could give more examples of people who got stuck because they didnt have
    > local curency. Like the woman with two kids who was flying to Ireland in the
    > same plane as me, she had no cash with her (in any currency) becasue she was
    > being picked up at the other end by her parents, the plane got diverted
    > because of weather, when we landed we were hearded straight onto a couple of
    > coaches and had a four hour drive across Ireland. When we stopped for
    > refreshments she had no money to buy food for her kids. (I had to lend her
    > some).

Again, this is a ridiculous example. You posit someone travelling to
a foreign country, with children, carrying _no_ cash ("in any currency"!),
and apparently no credit or debit cards, either. I agree that this is
dumb -- but it has very little to do with the issue of getting local
currency before leaving home.

As already noted, there are some people who probably shouldn't leave
their home (let alone their home county) without qualified adult
supervision, but I fail to see how someone else's behaving as a complete
idiot should have any bearing on what I (or other non-idiots) choose to
do.


--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?

Jim Ley

On Wed, 18 Jun 2003 12:22:10 +0100, "Miss L.Toe" wrote:

    >> For me changing local currency to foreign currency is a hassle
    >Why, don't you have a bank near you that can change currency, or a bureau de
    >change at your departure airport ?

Of course, but it's a hassle, and when I use to do it, it's been more
hassle than the two times I've been in a foreign country without an
ATM available.

Jim.

Owain

"Miss L.Toe" wrote
    | I could give more examples of people who got stuck because they didnt have
    | local curency. Like the woman with two kids who was flying to Ireland in
the
    | same plane as me, she had no cash with her ... When we stopped for
    | refreshments she had no money to buy food for her kids.

And sometimes you don't want to have to run round looking for an ATM when
you want to "spend a penny" urgently.

    | SHIT HAPPENS - BE PREPARED.

I'm told it does, especially when travelling with young children :-)

Owain

Miguel Cruz

Mark Hewitt wrote:
    > It's always a good idea to bring local currency with you. Every time I've
    > flown into Heathrow on an international flight there are always people
    > fussing with the taxis asking if they take credit cards as they have no UK
    > currency on them

Seems to be a red herring: They could have used the ATM while they were
waiting for their luggage or passing through the terminal, like any sensible
person would do.

    > I don't see the issue with bringing some cash with you. Even if it's just,
    > say, £50. Considering the cost of your travel and accomodation, what's it
    > going to cost you, £3 at the most maybe? Big deal!!

The reason I don't do it is that experience has proven it's a total waste of
time and effort. Never once yet have I needed it, so why bother? I could
make lunches and dinners for the first few days and pack them in ziploc bags
to bring with me until I get a sense for where the restaurants are in case I
can't find any right away, but I don't do that either. There's a finite
amount of time before a trip, so I try to spend it on things that will make
my life easier.

I think Greg put it well, and I agree: I don't personally care how someone
else handles their money, but if they want my advice, all I can do is share
what's worked for me.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Miss L.Toe

    > I think Greg put it well, and I agree: I don't personally care how someone
    > else handles their money, but if they want my advice, all I can do is
share
    > what's worked for me.

And all I'm trying to do is share some experiances of idiots and some advice
of how to avoid those experiances.

To me having a little bit of hassle before I go is preferably to a few
minutes of precious holiday time wasted at a cash point, and more hassle
than that if it doesnt work.

each to his/her own...

Miguel Cruz

Miss L.Toe wrote:
    > To me having a little bit of hassle before I go is preferably to a few
    > minutes of precious holiday time wasted at a cash point

More and more airports have ATMs in the luggage collection area. So if
you've checked luggage or if you are in a group of two or more, it doesn't
take any time at all.

Otherwise it takes a couple minutes at most, and always less time than it
would to change cash.

    > and more hassle than that if it doesnt work.

I wonder what is so magical about me that has my ATM card working with
near-perfect reliability in every far-off corner of the world when other
people can't even get theirs to work in London.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Latest photos: Maldives, Dubai and Vietnam

Miss L.Toe

"Miguel Cruz" wrote in message
news:%H%[email protected]...
    > Miss L.Toe wrote:
    > > To me having a little bit of hassle before I go is preferably to a few
    > > minutes of precious holiday time wasted at a cash point
    > More and more airports have ATMs in the luggage collection area. So if
    > you've checked luggage or if you are in a group of two or more, it doesn't
    > take any time at all.

I usually avoid checking luggage - especially for quick weekends away.

    > Otherwise it takes a couple minutes at most, and always less time than it
    > would to change cash.
    > > and more hassle than that if it doesnt work.
    > I wonder what is so magical about me that has my ATM card working with
    > near-perfect reliability in every far-off corner of the world when other
    > people can't even get theirs to work in London.
Just good luck so far....
good luck for the future :-)

Greg Byshenk

Miss L.Toe wrote:

    > > I think Greg put it well, and I agree: I don't personally care how someone
    > > else handles their money, but if they want my advice, all I can do is share
    > > what's worked for me.

    > And all I'm trying to do is share some experiances of idiots and some advice
    > of how to avoid those experiances.

But the idiots won't listen or learn, because... well... they are idiots.
And the difficulties experienced by idiots are irrelevant to those of
us who do have at least a handful of functioning brain cells.


    > To me having a little bit of hassle before I go is preferably to a few
    > minutes of precious holiday time wasted at a cash point, and more hassle
    > than that if it doesnt work.

I suppose that, if your "holiday time" is extremely short, and you have
nothing to do pre-holiday, then you could save the "few minutes of precious
holiday time" by getting cash before you leave. Of course, for this to
work out, then you must exchange sufficient currency to handle _all_ of
your needs before leaving, or else you will _still_ need to waste a few
minutes on the second, third, or whatever day of your holidays.

Additionally, at least in my case (though this appears to be true of most
other people of my acquaintance, as well), my time is much more in demand
while preparing for a holiday -- once I am on holiday, I have plenty of
time to "waste", because... well.. I'm on holiday.

If you are one of those people who packs so much into a holiday that you
can't spare a minute or two, then, as you write:

    > each to his/her own...

But, if so, then (at least IMO), your priorities are so strange that the
issue of getting currency before you leave is minor in comparison to the
rest.


And, to reiterate: I don't care one way or the other what you happen to
prefer; I'm just tired of totally absurd "scare stories".


--
greg byshenk - [email protected] - Leiden, NL
hate spam?

Me

[email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote in message news:...
[snip]
    > The reason I don't do it is that experience has proven it's a total waste of
    > time and effort. Never once yet have I needed it, so why bother? I could
    > make lunches and dinners for the first few days and pack them in ziploc bags
    > to bring with me until I get a sense for where the restaurants are in case I
    > can't find any right away, but I don't do that either. There's a finite
    > amount of time before a trip, so I try to spend it on things that will make
    > my life easier.
    >
    > I think Greg put it well, and I agree: I don't personally care how someone
    > else handles their money, but if they want my advice, all I can do is share
    > what's worked for me.
[snip]

A bit of summary might be in order here. Folks seem to be talking
past one another. The original question was the "best place to buy
Foreign Currency".

If one is hell bent on actually exchanging cash for cash, I have
no idea where the "best" place is. It is probably heavily dependent
upon how much one wants to exchange. Easily one of the worst places
is at a booth at either your departure or arrival airport. Amex
isn't a whole lot better.

Travelers Checks are even worse and have the added feature that
you'll have to find a place which will exchange them.

If one merely exchanges the word "buy" to "obtain" in the subject
line, then the options not only grow, but in many folks opinion,
improve. ATM's as well as "cash machines" which will give one an
advance on their credit cards are a superior (in terms of exchange
rate) method of obtaining foreign currency. However, it does
have the added feature that one must wait until they are actually
in the country of said currency.

So if you want to have currency in hand when you enter the
target countries airspace, well, you will pay for the convience.
(Don't you always). If you can wait until at least the airport,
where you will virtually find multiple cash machines, then
there is about 8% or so to be saved, depending upon your particular
method of obtaining it.

Now, as for the advice to "have some cash when you hit the ground".
That advice is a tad dated and in reality there are other methods
for handling the various scenarios. Credit cards should be taken,
and more than one. ATM cards do "break" in some senses and one
should always have alternatives. Furthermore, you'll probably
ultimately get better exchange rates purchasing with them than
even your ATM cash withdrawls (depending upon how your bank
charges you). Cash, in your home currency, should also be lugged
along. It has many uses, and one of them is that you can,
in a pinch, exchange some of it for foreign currency. Between
ATM's, credit cards, and home currency cash, you should be
able to handle just about and scenario which comes along. (Yes,
presuming you can actually remember, or write down in a separate
place your PIN) And you'll STILL come out ahead of exchanging
large amounts of cash with some sort of airport based Thomas Cook
kinda place (and really probably even your home bank if they
do currency exchange).

Even if after all of that however, if you STILL wanna have
some cash every single time you hit the ground, you have
one other potential solution. Especially now that so many
countries have the euro, if you're ever over there, bring
$50 or so back with ya. Next time you go, you'll have a few
to have in your pocket so when you hit the ground, you can
get that candy bar before you hit an ATM. Alternately,
go straight to the departure area and see if there are any
fellow countrymen returning home that wanna unload some currency
at favorable exchange rates.