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- - Euro (https://britishexpats.com/forum/spain-75/euro-920876/)

stokiejones16

Jan 9th 2019 2:36 pm

Euro

Hi can anyone tell me if it's better to get euros in Spain or uk

Pulaski

Jan 9th 2019 2:54 pm

Re: Euro

Quote:

Originally Posted by stokiejones16 (Post 12618747)

Hi can anyone tell me if it's better to get euros in Spain or uk

Do you mean "get" as in "buy" e.g. for spending money for a holiday, or as in "receive", such as for your salary or sale of a home? Cash, or into a bank accoubt? €10 or €10,000?

Pulaski

Jan 9th 2019 4:43 pm

Re: Euro

For a holiday I would just get euros out of a cashpoint using my debit or credit card, some at the airport, and when you need more, from any nearby bank. The biggest "cost" of holiday spending money is the cash you have left over and it isn't economic to convert back, and that dwarfs any fees for drawing the cash from a foreign cashpoint.

johnnyone

Jan 9th 2019 5:35 pm

Re: Euro

Check your debit and credit cards as these may give you commercial rates without any commissions. Failing that buy in advance of travel at a city centre fx exchange. If you order on line and collect you get a better rate then just walking up. Don't buy at an airport kiosk the rates are poor and commissions high.

jonboy

Jan 9th 2019 6:03 pm

Re: Euro

Quote:

Originally Posted by stokiejones16 (Post 12618747)

Hi can anyone tell me if it's better to get euros in Spain or uk

They seem to work just as well.

Fred James

Jan 9th 2019 7:50 pm

Re: Euro

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyone (Post 12618877)

Credit cards give you the commercial rate? That would be a first. They usually give you a lousy rate and charge a % on top.

i understand that the new Revolute card gives you a good deal as you load it up with currency in advance. I don’t use it but friends who spend a few weeks at a time here rave about it.

guesswork

Jan 9th 2019 8:19 pm

Re: Euro

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card still gives the BBC business rate minus 1% commission

Pulaski

Jan 9th 2019 8:48 pm

Re: Euro

Quote:

Originally Posted by guesswork (Post 12619008)

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card still gives the BBC business rate minus 1% commission

I was about to say that my Halifax visa card had a wafer-thin spread around the market mid-rate. But honestly even with a 2-3% fee a card transaction isn't a bad deal compared to retail bureau de change rates which can be offering a eye-watering spread of 10%. And bear in mind that if you're left with say €30 - €50 they are a dead loss, probably not exchangeable at any sensible rate when including the commission fee, so quibbling about €2 or €3 here and there isn't worth the stress when you have spent £00's on travel, hotel, meals, and holiday activities. .... The convenience of grabbing cash from a cash point when you need it has some value!

johnnyone

Jan 10th 2019 9:43 am

Re: Euro

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred James (Post 12618983)

I have a Halifax clarity credit card that only charges interest (around 1% per month) on cash withdrawn at a commercial rate. There is no interest on purchases made.
I also use a Nationwide credit card for purchases as these are also commission free and give a commercial rate.
I can also use my Santander debit card to withdraw cash from my UK bank account without penalty at Santander cash machines in Spain, again receiving a commercial. rate.

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