We had a fascinating conversation in a rather long plane que back from Palma where a couple were arguing over a recent Euro exchange rate , a gent behind us who worked in that particular money field intervened & went on to explain to the couple that because they were using a certain debit card it worked out because of hidden charges, exchange rates ect for every £100 nicker they exchanged £14.00 went to the bank.Several people then asked him what they would be paying on their various cards, £18.50 was the highest.
I find it quite shocking that we have to give all this money over to the -ankers just to change our hard earned, but as the Gent explained the Brits appear to be totally blind when going on holidays & get shafted every time.

Full explanation of which cards to use and which to avoid. i.e. which charge you and which don't. on the Martin Lewis site, below.
Loads of other advice as well, with a note that there is currently 10% off all Jet2 return flights booked by April 2nd ) for flights till April 2013(except to New York:eek:)

Money Saving Expert: Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more

Useful stuff Captain Clink.

Up to 1.21 Euros at ICE Waterloo today, I suspect it wont go up much more & is predicted to fall just before Summer , typical!

Hope you have stocked up Cumberland ;).

Shopped around in town today, best I could get was 1.1874, still better than we were getting last year, it was from The Moneyshop.

1.21€ today at our local travel agents :D

We got ours last weekend at 1.197 - wished we'd waited now:mad:

Where was that Cath, was it cash for cash or online, we have only about one travel agent in town now anyway?
Thanks

sws97sdg - It was in The Travel House in Swansea also Ramsdens (I think they are a pawn brokers) were also affering the same rate.Cash Converters were 1.204

Exchange places locally were giving 1.16 earlier in the week.

ICE Waterloo station, 1.22 today strictly cash no questions asked.

Travel FX 1.2295 today

ICE Waterloo station up to 1.25, of cause this is only short term good news, it just means we are slipping closure to the abyss :(

Good news and bad news for tourists, bad news, The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, has announced this Wednesday during his speech in the House of Congress that this Friday the general VAT rate will rise three points, up 21%, the reduced rate two points (from 8% to 10%) I think this is the IVA, this will affect prices everywhere, but at least the Euro is still trading higher. Good news, I got 1.21 just from Debenhams at the weekend, ICE are 1.24 and travelFX are the same. The Euro Visa rate, the rate all cash machines use for cash withdrawal rates is 1.264 today, so all in all I think we will find our money will buy the same after these tax rises, lets hope so! :)

Thanks sws, holiday money is proving a bit of a conundrum. RBS charge 2.75% of the transaction value from ATM's so based on your figures there I am better off (only slightly) using an ATM as opposed to Debenhams........I think :confused:

euro exchange rate
 

Looks like a good forecast now.

Indeed it does!

If you live in London ICE waterloo station today at 1.26 up to 5K changed cash no questions asked,no commission.
It sounds as though I work for them ,I dont I just want people to get the best deal we get so ripped off at the airports.

Thats the only problem isn't it, you actually have to go to the station to pick it up, is that right?

I don't know why but the way you say "no questions asked" always makes me think this is well shady:D

(of course I know it isn't, just wish there was an ICE near us offering 1.26)

Just checked, what you do is go to ICE on the internet & print off the coupon which gives you the rate, they honour that rate that day.It is always in the top 2 in the UK.

Thanks C.......I will just nip down from Sunderland then......:rolleyes:

exchange rate
 

Hi who knows anything about the financial market. Is the exchange rate for euros going to rise much more in the next week or so. Currently at local thomas cook its 2.230 do i get them now or take my luck and wait a week decisions decisions xxxx

I was changing money yesterday & according to the guy he was expecting it to start dropping slightly over the next week or so.

Chalkfamily, shouldn't that be 1.230 :confused:.

2.23, if only.

If you dont live near Waterloo Station Travel FX are giving 126.55 at the moment

Err,
15th July Visa rate 1.26802
A week later....
21st July Visa rate 1.28638:)

Just hope it holds up till the monthend/payday. Need to replenish the FairFx card ready for the next trip out to PP.;)

1.253 in Ramsdens for gold in Newcastle today :)

It's fantastic, I worked out its around 15% more than last year, that's a couple of extra meals out! :-) :-)

Err, sorry don't proclaim to be a money expert, was just trying to pass on some second hand information that I thought might be of some interest.

Can someone please recommend the best place to change £ into Euro in PP ?
Thanks.

There is an estate agent across the road from Barclays who usually give competitive rates and no commission.

Err, apologies mwc, wasn't intending to be critical of your good self. Just sort of making the point (badly) no one has any real idea/inside info which way exchange rates will move - probably not even the bankers!- but plenty of opinions.

Probably Bclays will!!!!:rolleyes:;):p

Due to travel to Pollensa for the first time soon. Can you cash sterling travellers cheques in resort and if so, where are the best places.

Many thanks

I always used to change mine in a little shop on Cala Bot that rents out bikes near Pollensa Park Hotel. Once used the exchange shop on the front said no commision outside not the case once cheques handed over.

Rates slipped back a bit, only got 1.20 yesterday, visa exchange rate today at 1 GBP = 1.247458 EUR

Rates slipping back again yesterday, only got 1.1799!!