Exchange rates, when where to buy

[t60]

We need to exchange sterling to US dollars for our cruise early next year.

With the recent downgrading of US credit rating, should we buy dollars asap or wait and see if the exchange rate gives us more dollars in a few months?

 

Which is the best place to buy dollars, post office, M&S, bank etc

 

Sandy in Spain

[karenbeanpole]

If you have the cash now, you can buy now. Who knows whether it's going up or down! We'd all be rich if we knew. I bought some for our impending cruise on Monday at 1.60 which I think is a good rate. We intend to use our credit card for most purchases though, which will of course be at the rate of the date of our transaction. Doesn't really matter.

 

If you want to exchange cash, Thomas Cook or Post Office do the best in the high street. No commisssion.

[newport dave]

It varies daily from who has the best rate, recently for our baltic cruise, we found that Coop Travel were the best for all currencies. You either need to shop around online or go into your town centre where all the shops are.

[John Bull]

It varies daily from who has the best rate ......

 

That's what I've found.

M&S, Tesco, Post Office, High St bureaux, on-line.

But I've given up on banks - they've always offered poorer rates.

 

This is presumably for spending ashore?

Either Caribbean or Far East?

Get clean undamaged notes, nothing bigger than a $20 note, no $2 notes, try to get a stack of 5's & 1's.

5's & 1's is where you may come unstuck - you will need plenty to use in regular shops as they tend to give change in local money. If you can't get a stack at the outset, try to change-down whenever you can. If it's a US ship, the casino is a good place to change-down larger notes.

 

JB :)

[t60]

snip..This is presumably for spending ashore?

Either Caribbean or Far East?

Get clean undamaged notes, nothing bigger than a $20 note, no $2 notes, try to get a stack of 5's & 1's...snipJB :)

 

No we are travelling South America and back to San Fransisco. additional problem is we live in Spain, but want to change sterling into dollars. So generally we askour daughter to get themoney in Uk and bring it over with her when she comes to cat sit. She will be over at the end of August this year and beginning of Feb next year.

Bulk of US dollars are to pay for privately pre-booked excursions.

 

Good idea about breaking down large notes in the casino

 

Sandy in Spain

[DEEDIA]

We got our Dollars at the rate of 1.60. This is the best it has been for a while. If you do the TA exchange rates compare a few then go for the price match.

[Omega1]

We've found 'The Money Shop' to consistently offer the best rate on the high street across a range of currencies - much better than M&S, Euroexchange, Thomas Cook, etc.

With regards to the best time to change, the financial news on Radio 5 this morning was predicting a rush of investment in the UK which will strengthen the pound, particularly against the dollar. The implication was to hang on for a better rate - good for travellers but not the economy!