Logan N asked:
I was wondering if I should exchange my money here in the U.S. or should I wait to exchange it at the airport in London? I am also going to be traveling to Ireland. Should I just take out money when I am there? This is my first time traveling internationally so any advice would help.
I was wondering if I should exchange my money here in the U.S. or should I wait to exchange it at the airport in London? I am also going to be traveling to Ireland. Should I just take out money when I am there? This is my first time traveling internationally so any advice would help.
change your money here in the u.s. as you will get a far worse exchange rate in england. do not change your money at an airport either for the same reason. your bank should offer you a good rate for your money.
Go to your bank and if they don’t have it on hand they can order you the currency you’ll be needing. Do NOT exchange in the airports…it’s rediculous what they want to charge.
You definitely will want to have some cash on hand, but I would recommend using your credit or debit card most of the time. The transactions fees to exchange money are simply ridiculous, and you can bypass most of the fees by using your card. Most places in London and Ireland accept major U.S. debit and credit cards. You should definitely call your card company before you go abroad, though, because some companies will cancel transactions on your card if they see charges from foriegn countries because they think it might have been stolen.
If you want to change, just change a little money and take your cards for most your payments.
But use your bank card for the ATMs, as credit cards charge way more than bank cards. Check with your bank that your card is ready for use and what each use will cost you.
The credit cards that are most used in Europe are Visa and MasterCard.
When you change money, you will pay a fee or get a very poor rate, when using your bank card you get a much better rate, the one the banks use between them for international money transfers.
And do not bring all your money in cash, firstly because you run the risk loosing in, (pick pockets or stupidity.)
But you also spend your money too easy when you have a purse full of the stuff.
When you get your money from the ATM put a little in your wallet and the rest with your passport in your money belt under your clothes, that way it is safe and out of sight, so you will not spend it without consideration.
When you leave England for Ireland make sure you do not take much out of the ATM, as you will loose on the left over money when going to Ireland.
I travel a lot, and I usually use my credit card or debit card to take money out at ATMs. I know you end up paying a load in fees, but I don’t like carrying a lot of cash on me, or leaving it in a hostel (a hotel safe is ok). I’d prefer to use my credit card everywhere possible, and carry the minimum cash that I need for the day. Traveller’s cheques can be a pain to cash, not sure what it’s like here, but I was in Italy before, and there was only 1 place open to get them cashed, and nowhere else would take them, even with passports, so we’d to go right across the city and back to get them cashed.