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USD to GBP exchange
Posted on 6/3/24 at 12:49 pm
Posted on 6/3/24 at 12:49 pm
I leave at the end of the week so one of those online places is probably out.
That being said, where do you go for the best USD to GBP exchange rate? I usually try to carry at least a couple hundred for random pub stops and what not.
I just checked my local bank and they are quoting 1.3541 rate which is higher than standard plus fees. They are telling me it is going to cost $301.13 to get 215GBP.
I use AMEX where possible but when they don't take it, my local bank debit card charges a Foreign Transaction Fee for every single charge regardless of amount.
Sounds like I should have planned better.
That being said, where do you go for the best USD to GBP exchange rate? I usually try to carry at least a couple hundred for random pub stops and what not.
I just checked my local bank and they are quoting 1.3541 rate which is higher than standard plus fees. They are telling me it is going to cost $301.13 to get 215GBP.
I use AMEX where possible but when they don't take it, my local bank debit card charges a Foreign Transaction Fee for every single charge regardless of amount.
Sounds like I should have planned better.
7
Posted on 6/3/24 at 1:01 pm to jbgleason
Best exchange rates are usually in country at an ATM.
I like to have some so I pay for at least some from my bank and get more from an atm.
I like to have some so I pay for at least some from my bank and get more from an atm.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 2:00 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
Best exchange rates are usually in country at an ATM.
But I almost always use my CC with no transaction fees. And don't be surprised if some places don't accept cash.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 2:37 pm to Fun Bunch
quote:
Best exchange rates are usually in country at an ATM.
Use a bank ATM.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 6:43 pm to jbgleason
If you are staying in London you will not need much cash. Everything is card.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 7:09 pm to midlothianlsu
Nope. Poole and then Hereford.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 7:14 pm to Fun Bunch
Yeah, don't exchange currency. Just stop at the ATM in the airport.
Posted on 6/3/24 at 11:41 pm to LSUfan4444
This. And to Zappa's point, even before COVID, almost anywhere in the UK is almost confused if you try to pay with cash. Tap to pay. shite, open a bank account with a non shitty bank with no FTFs just for the trip. I didn't even realize FTF were still a thing, even "Brazos Valley Credit Union" doesn't charge them, and they're not exactly huge.
I didn't need a single GBP in cash for weeks in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, etc. Essentially the same in the EU going back nearly a decade. I spent months in the EU and don't remember taking out more than $80 in Euro, some of which is still in my closet.
I didn't need a single GBP in cash for weeks in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, etc. Essentially the same in the EU going back nearly a decade. I spent months in the EU and don't remember taking out more than $80 in Euro, some of which is still in my closet.
Posted on 6/4/24 at 5:04 pm to jbgleason
In UK now, you won’t need £ unless you want them. Have run in to a couple of places that don’t take Amex, but no issues otherwise.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 11:33 am to Exianllo
i remember at harrods they charged my credit card in american dollars. bad for me. they used their exchange rate instead of charging in british pounds and letting the credit card company use their exchange rate. watch out for that.
Posted on 12/19/24 at 4:31 pm to jbgleason
Traveler's Checks.
Posted on 12/20/24 at 7:30 am to jbgleason
I wouldn't stress much. Even spending a weekend in the Cotswolds and hitting a pub in a tiny village, they still took contactless on a pay terminal.
Posted on 12/20/24 at 10:09 am to jbgleason
Get cash from an ATM when you get to england. Use a credit card as much as you can. If the credit card machine offers the option to pay in the local currency or do the conversion for you, always pay in the local currency.
Posted on 12/20/24 at 3:08 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
I didn't need a single GBP in cash for weeks in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, etc. Essentially the same in the EU going back nearly a decade. I spent months in the EU and don't remember taking out more than $80 in Euro, some of which is still in my closet.
This is terrible advice and I don't know where you are going, but simply untrue.
Europe is the same as the US now, essentially. You don't generally HAVE to have cash, but outside of the major city centers there are absolutely places that still are cash only or much prefer cash.
I would not stress about getting cash ahead of time, at all, and get it at the Airport ATM. But it absolutely helps to have some cash. A lot of places will also give a cash discount, like for an espresso.
I don't remember the details, maybe a machine was broken but that doesn't make sense. But when we flew into Paris in 2022 the ATM line was long as hell so I just skipped getting cash at the airport and went to the train station to catch the train, well the train was cash only. So I had to go back to the ATM in the airport.
ETA: Yes, I believe the train ticket machines were down at the terminal so you had to buy the tickets on the train. There was a sign that said that the people on the train ONLY took cash.
This post was edited on 12/20/24 at 3:12 pm
Posted on 12/22/24 at 8:40 am to midlothianlsu
This is what I figured as well. Cards should be the go to. I'm heading to London in September
Posted on 12/23/24 at 10:41 am to baldona
quote:
I don't remember the details, maybe a machine was broken but that doesn't make sense. But when we flew into Paris in 2022 the ATM line was long as hell so I just skipped getting cash at the airport and went to the train station to catch the train, well the train was cash only. So I had to go back to the ATM in the airport. ETA: Yes, I believe the train ticket machines were down at the terminal so you had to buy the tickets on the train. There was a sign that said that the people on the train ONLY took cash.
frick that noise. I would have looked up how to say “I’m sorry, I don’t speak French” in Polish and gotten on that train. It’s France, not Tehran
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