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Best way to change dollars into Pounds & Euros

cowboygene

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travelbig

travelbig

Posted
Posted

To change money for GBP and EUROS ahead of trip, go online to Wells Fargo. You can can order whatever amounts you want on line, it will be delivered to your address Fed Ex next day for a small charge. You can change out money on the ship, also, but usually in limited amounts per person per day. Also, there are ATM’s in the ports but people have said on the chats that sometimes they are out of money.

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scottbee

scottbee

Posted
Posted
Traveling on the Crown Princess for British Isles trip with one day on France.

 

What is the best method for exchanging us dollars into Pounds and Euros, onboard or locally through bank or AAA?

 

Ask your local bank, I can get US$, GB Pounds and Euros without even pre-ordering, and there's no service charge as long as I have an account. I'm going to assume it's similar for US Banks (I'm in Canada).

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Hambagahle

Hambagahle

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Posted

Get enough local currency (depending on where your first stop is) to get you from the airport to your hotel. Let's say around $100 as long as you don't plan to take a taxi! Then use cash machines. (There are cash machines at all the airports but sometimes you have to hunt for them, and if you are jetlagged, this is a pain!)

 

You get a much better rate onthe cash machines. You will need either a CIRRUS or MAESTRO symbol on your card. And don't use credit cards to withdraw cash since the company starts charging interest on the withdrawal as soon as you make it, even if you pay in full each month.

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whogo

whogo

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Personally, I use my credit card for purchases and debit card in an ATM for cash. I have posted these rate quotes before:

 

0% to 3% most credit cards for purchases (not cash from an ATM!)

0% to 3.5% most debit/ATM cards for international ATM’s + $0 to $5/transaction.

1% to 28% foreign exchange kiosks in foreign countries

4% foreign currency from Chase in Chicago, on hand at 10 S. Dearborn.

5% for euros on the Legend of the Seas in December, 2007

5.5% Wells Fargo foreign currency or traveler’s checks + $8 delivery for most customers

5.5% to 22% AAA Visa TravelMoney Card ($4.97 purchase, $10 to $20 load fees, $2.00/international withdrawal, 3% foreign exchange fee, other fees)

6.5% + $15 delivery, Travelex online for foreign denominated traveler’s checks. Credit card purchases treated as cash advance.

8.4% + $15 delivery, Travelex online for foreign currency. Credit card purchases treated as cash advance.

8.3% UK post office dollars to pounds

 

A cash advance foreign currency withdrawal with my credit card would cost 3% of the amount of the cash advance but not less than $10, plus 3% currency conversion, with interest at 22% APR.

 

Although exchange rates fluctuate throughout the day, many seller’s rates do not. Rapid increases/decreases in the value of a foreign currency may provide better/worse rates for the buyer. The same fluctuation keeps my rate quotes from being exact. Your mileage may vary. Comparisons are against the interbank rate shown at http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory . The Travelmoney quote was from my club. Other AAA club’s fees may vary.

 

Any Americans traveling abroad should be familiar with the information in these two links:

 

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

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Tesla

Tesla

Posted
Posted
Traveling on the Crown Princess for British Isles trip with one day on France.

 

What is the best method for exchanging us dollars into Pounds and Euros, onboard or locally through bank or AAA?

 

Thanks

 

Locally through banks.

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NancyIL

NancyIL

Posted
Posted
Personally, I use my credit card for purchases and debit card in an ATM for cash. I have posted these rate quotes before:

 

0% to 3% most credit cards for purchases (not cash from an ATM!)

0% to 3.5% most debit/ATM cards for international ATM’s + $0 to $5/transaction.

1% to 28% foreign exchange kiosks in foreign countries

4% foreign currency from Chase in Chicago, on hand at 10 S. Dearborn.

5% for euros on the Legend of the Seas in December, 2007

5.5% Wells Fargo foreign currency or traveler’s checks + $8 delivery for most customers

5.5% to 22% AAA Visa TravelMoney Card ($4.97 purchase, $10 to $20 load fees, $2.00/international withdrawal, 3% foreign exchange fee, other fees)

6.5% + $15 delivery, Travelex online for foreign denominated traveler’s checks. Credit card purchases treated as cash advance.

8.4% + $15 delivery, Travelex online for foreign currency. Credit card purchases treated as cash advance.

8.3% UK post office dollars to pounds

 

A cash advance foreign currency withdrawal with my credit card would cost 3% of the amount of the cash advance but not less than $10, plus 3% currency conversion, with interest at 22% APR.

 

Although exchange rates fluctuate throughout the day, many seller’s rates do not. Rapid increases/decreases in the value of a foreign currency may provide better/worse rates for the buyer. The same fluctuation keeps my rate quotes from being exact. Your mileage may vary. Comparisons are against the interbank rate shown at http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory . The Travelmoney quote was from my club. Other AAA club’s fees may vary.

 

Any Americans traveling abroad should be familiar with the information in these two links:

 

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

 

Great information - thank you!

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M&O

M&O

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Posted

We used the Wells fargo opition as well- the ship charged a minimum of $10 fee per transaction regardless of how much you needed- other passenegrs complained of the ATM cash advance fees or not being able to find an ATM that took their particular card- we got a good exchange rate and it spared us the fees imposed by credit cards for converting the foreign currency into dollars on charges.

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RachelG "Live from...." Rare

RachelG

Posted
Posted

I just order mine through my Bank of America account. They have it ready at the local branch to pick up usually in 1-2 days. If the order is sufficiently large, there is no service fee, and the exchange rate is as good as you are going to find. Don't like to have to worry about finding an ATM or ATM fees.

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sheeper370

sheeper370

Posted
Posted
Budy up with a few brits on the roll call and do swaps,

 

UK people can use the $ to pay the onboard account and in the casino,

 

That way you can off load any spare at the end of the cruise as well.

 

Can't argue with that! You can't beat a bit of mutual back-scratching!

 

No commission - everyone is happy ;)

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