Euro
Jan 9th 2019, 2:36 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
Euro
Hi can anyone tell me if it's better to get euros in Spain or uk
Jan 9th 2019, 4:43 pm
#3
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
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.
Jan 9th 2019, 5:35 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: London (mainly)/Oliva
Posts: 2,137
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.
Jan 9th 2019, 7:50 pm
#6
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,898
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.
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.
Jan 9th 2019, 8:19 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Ayamonte
Posts: 876
Re: Euro
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card still gives the BBC business rate minus 1% commission
Jan 9th 2019, 8:48 pm
#8
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Euro
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!
Jan 10th 2019, 9:43 am
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: London (mainly)/Oliva
Posts: 2,137
Re: Euro
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.
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.
