buying currency

[gerry67]

Does anyone have any advice on where to buy currency or should i get travellers cheques

[KevinT]

Hi Gerrarde,

If you use the search facility in the menus at the top of this page and enter "Buying Currency"
you will locate lots of previous threads on the subject with lots of good advice.

If you are buying currency for a visit to Florida then exchange bureaux such as the larger Marks
& Spencers stores , the Post Office, Banks and Travel Agents all give quite competitive rates.
I usually find that M & S are often leaders with rates, (but not always!)

For large amounts of currency, for villa purchase, mortgages , refurbs etc. then a better rate is found from the Money moving companies like HIFX, XE.com etc. but usually there is a set minimum like about £5000.

[msnsmile2]

[christhear]

Hi Gerrade

Go for travellers cheques when you get your currency. You can use them like cash at most places but are safer as you can get these replaced easier if lost or stolen.

If you are driving from the airport make sure you have some small notes though as you will possibly use a toll road to get to your destination.

[suegooding]

Gerrarde some places even hold the exchange rate you buy at for when you return should you have any travellers cheques left to change back to English money.

[Robert5988]

I cannot think why anyone these days uses travellers cheques in Florida.

Shopping in High Street USA with Credit/Debit cards is just like shopping in High Street UK. Debit Cards for cash from an ATM and Credit cards for purchases.

Nationwide give the best exchange rate, but even the worst Visa/Mastercard gives a better rate than Travellers Cheques.

Debit/credit cards are just as safe to use in America as they are in UK.

[Mo Green]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
I cannot think why anyone these days uses travellers cheques in Florida.

Shopping in High Street USA with Credit/Debit cards is just like shopping in High Street UK. Debit Cards for cash from an ATM and Credit cards for purchases.

Nationwide give the best exchange rate, but even the worst Visa/Mastercard gives a better rate than Travellers Cheques.

Debit/credit cards are just as safe to use in America as they are in UK.
[/quote]

I agree with all that Robert has said. Even in quieter areas like Rotonda there are plenty of ATMs available either at banks, Walmarts, Publix and Winn Dixie and it is very rare to find anyone who will not accept a credit card.

[suegooding]

The only down side to using an english credit/debit card is you do have the commission slapped on top but apart from that it is a safe way of spending money.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The only down side to using an english credit/debit card is you do have the commission slapped on top but apart from that it is a safe way of spending money.[/quote]

The 'commission' is in the form of a lower exchange rate than the commercial rate fixed by Visa/Mastercard.

However you don't have any 'commission' charged if you have Nationwide cards and get the straight Visa rate.

However even the cards with the highest 'commission' give a rate 2.75%* below the Visa rate(approx 4-5c) which is a better rate than you will get for Travellers cheques of currency.

* this is the maximum they can charge.

[Magical Dreams]

We only ever get TC if the store does not have enough notes.

We can usually get our local Thomson shop to price match with Marks and Spencers.

This we have done on our last 3 trips!

[domster]

You could ask your bank what the exchange rate is as we often use our credit card as that rate is not too bad. Failing that try travelex and pre book online to get a better rate.