I am traveling to London tomorrow for the USA
and was wondering what your thoughts are on where the best place to
exchange money is.

Am I better off doing so at the USA side ( exchanging US dollars for
GBP) or wait till I get there and exchange it at the airport.

Seems like I remember they charge a fee that they refund if you exchange
BACK.

Thanks

George

In article , G.Mizer
wrote:
I am traveling to London tomorrow for the USA
and was wondering what your thoughts are on where the best
place to exchange money is.

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.


--
Tony Bryer

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer
wrote:

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

This was despite Visa and Cirrus/Maestro symbols appearing on most of
them.

I've never tried in the US, but I have, however, successfully used
British cards to withdraw cash in Germany, Austria and the Czech
Republic, mind, and in no case were charges particularly excessive.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
When replying please use neil at the above domain
'wensleydale' is a spam trap and is not read.

"Neil Williams" schreef in bericht
...
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer
wrote:

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

That's strange. The other way around there seems to be no problem.
When I was in London last year my Belgian card worked in any ATM in London
(used about 5 different ones)

H

Neil Williams wrote:
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:24:38 +0100, Tony Bryer

wrote:

This is what I tend to do these days. Beware, however - British
cards
do not work everywhere. In particular, I have never encountered a
Belgian cash machine anywhere that would accept a British
chip-and-pin
type card, possibly because their standard is different.

This was despite Visa and Cirrus/Maestro symbols appearing on most of
them.


There's one cash machine in Brugge which accepted my card. It's in the
centre near Pizza Hut

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005, G.Mizer wrote:

I am traveling to London tomorrow for the USA and was wondering what
your thoughts are on where the best place to exchange money is.

Hi George. Am i right in thinking you're in the US now, and coming to the
UK?

If so, i think your best bet will be to do the exhange in the US, at your
local bank or bureau de change (try several in your town and see who has
the best deal); the rate will be better than places in airports or London
city-centre bureaux, and it'll be a lot easier to do (just being in an
airport or a foreign country makes even the smallest things more
stressful). Plus, you're likely to be able to get a buy-back deal (varies
from place to place), which you can use at your leisure once you return.

However, i second what Tony said - US-issued debit and credit cards
(provided they're Visa or MasterCard/Maestro) should work in UK cash
machines, cash registers, etc, and the exchange rate isn't bad. This is
certainly a hell of a lot more convenient than a wallet bulging with notes
or travellers' cheques.

tom

--
What were the skies like when you were young?

G.Mizer wrote to uk.transport.london on Tue, 26 Apr 2005:

Am I better off doing so at the USA side ( exchanging US dollars for
GBP) or wait till I get there and exchange it at the airport.

Do neither - just use your Visa or Master Card in any ATM, just as you
would at home. They do charge a fee, but it's minimal compared to the
convenience.

If you know a bureau de change that gives a great rate, then by all
means use it. There is one in Victoria Street, the corner of Victoria
Street & Ambrosden Avenue, that gives a superb rate, and I usually go
there for a few pounds' worth of foreign currency, to tide me over, and
then use ATMs as and when I need to.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 3 April 2005

Neil Williams wrote to uk.transport.london on Tue, 26 Apr 2005:

I've never tried in the US, but I have, however, successfully used
British cards to withdraw cash in Germany, Austria and the Czech
Republic, mind, and in no case were charges particularly excessive.

I've used them in the USA and had no problem. Bank debit cards that can
be read at home are probably the easiest - I've used these in the USA,
Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and other European countries, both
pre- and post- the introduction of the Euro.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 3 April 2005

Tony Bryer typed


In article , G.Mizer
wrote:
I am traveling to London tomorrow for the USA
and was wondering what your thoughts are on where the best
place to exchange money is.

If you are going from here to foreign parts you tend to get a pretty
fair rate by using your ATM card if you have a suitable one. Airport
kiosks are IME less than competitive.


That was not my experience when I went to Italy last year and used my
card at an ATM. I withdrew 240-250 Euro (maxima varied) and found I was
paying about £8 in transaction charges each time.

Post Office and Travelex seemed better value...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

Thanks Tom

And Yes I am in the USA now, Problem is there is no place around me to
exchange money except for the airports.

George



Tom Anderson wrote:
On Tue, 26 Apr 2005, G.Mizer wrote:


I am traveling to London tomorrow for the USA and was wondering what
your thoughts are on where the best place to exchange money is.


Hi George. Am i right in thinking you're in the US now, and coming to the
UK?

If so, i think your best bet will be to do the exhange in the US, at your
local bank or bureau de change (try several in your town and see who has
the best deal); the rate will be better than places in airports or London
city-centre bureaux, and it'll be a lot easier to do (just being in an
airport or a foreign country makes even the smallest things more
stressful). Plus, you're likely to be able to get a buy-back deal (varies
from place to place), which you can use at your leisure once you return.

However, i second what Tony said - US-issued debit and credit cards
(provided they're Visa or MasterCard/Maestro) should work in UK cash
machines, cash registers, etc, and the exchange rate isn't bad. This is
certainly a hell of a lot more convenient than a wallet bulging with notes
or travellers' cheques.

tom