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Today’s best exchange rates
How do you get the best holiday money exchange rate, use our currency converter, high exchange rates, delivery charges, special offers, pros and cons, five golden rules of travel money, 1. know how much cash you'll need.
Carrying around a large amount of cash isn't the safest thing to do. At the same time, not having enough cash can cause a lot headaches too. It's a good idea to take a little more than you think you'll need.
But it's also good sense to have a backup prepaid , debit or travel credit card that you can rely on - assuming you're going to a destination that widely accepts card transactions.
2. Shop around
Not all currency exchange companies are created equal. Some may have good exchange rates, but higher fees. Others may have higher rates, but no fees. You have to make sure which one offers the best value to you.
This is why it’s worth comparing the deals on offer from several companies before ordering your travel money. Factor in the fees and the exchange rate and see where you end up better off. Often the amount of money you're exchanging can be a deciding factor.
3. Don't buy your travel money at the airport
Airport holiday money providers have notoriously high prices because they offer a last-chance solution for those who are just about to board a plane. By planning ahead you can save a small fortune.
4. Don't carry too many large notes
Notes of large denominations can be tricky, as small shops and taxi cabs, which are more likely to require cash, might not have enough change to accept a large note.
Some retailers are also often wary of accepting large notes. Smaller notes and change can also be handy when it comes to tipping or buying small everyday items.
5. Don't use your credit card to buy travel money
Avoid buying foreign currency with a credit card as credit card providers treat the transaction as a 'cash advance' . Not only will you be charged daily interest, you're also likely to be hit with a fee.
Budgeting for your holiday
How much travel money you need to take depends on your plans. You'll need to budget for your holiday to make sure you don't run out of money before the end.
Deciding how much money to take depends on were you're going, whether debit or credit card usage is prevalent, and if you want to have some local currency on hand for emergencies.
Having some cash is extremely important, as there's always a possibility your cards could get declined or blocked for some reason, and it may take some time to resolve the issue.
Also, some countries still rely predominantly on cash transactions, so you should factor that into how much cash you decide to take.
What are the top alternatives to buying travel money?
Travel credit cards.
Travel credit cards - i.e. the ones with no foreign transaction fees - offer two key advantages over travel money:
Great exchange rates - when you spend on a travel credit card you get the American Express, Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer
Purchase protection – for purchases costing more than £100 and up to £30,000, you're covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act , meaning if something goes wrong you can make a claim with your card provider should the vendor fail to pay up
However, not everywhere accepts travel credit cards and using them at a cash machine abroad can come with hefty fees. It can also be easier to overspend on a credit card, leaving you with debts on which interest is charged.
Travel money cards
Currency cards and travel bank accounts let you spend overseas without being charged a foreign transaction fee. Their key strengths are:
Great exchange rates – the best card providers will pass on the Amex, Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges
No charges for some ATM withdrawals overseas - if you need extra cash on holiday, some providers let you make a number of withdrawals per month or withdraw up to a certain amount without being charged. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply
The downsides include that there can be limits on how much you can withdraw abroad using a travel money card, and that they're not accepted quite as widely as cash. Some travel current accounts also come with fees.
Prepaid travel cards
Prepaid travel cards can be loaded with currency and used abroad without paying foreign exchange fees. You can load a prepaid card with a specific foreign currency or a variety of different currencies, depending on your travel plans. The key advantages are:
Low or no fees to use abroad – prepaid travel card providers can charge far less than traditional banks for overseas usage
Safer than carrying cash - you can cancel or freeze the card if it's lost or stolen, protecting your balance
However, you’ll need to watch out for general usage fees, which often apply when you load the card with cash and may also be charged monthly.
Can you get commission-free travel currency?
Yes and no. It depends on how you define it. Commission refers to the service fee that a currency exchange broker charges for exchanging your money.
Many companies advertise 0% commission to exchange money online or on the high street, but, instead of charging commission, they offer a less competitive exchange rate. This is why you need to compare the whole deal rather than just opting for a zero-fee travel money deal.
Are there restrictions on getting currency delivered?
When you buy your currency online, it's normally sent via Royal Mail's Special Delivery service. This means you have to sign for the package. Cash orders that exceed £2,500 will be sent in batches because that's the maximum value that can be insured for each delivery.
Can you get next-day delivery for currency?
Some travel money providers do offer next-day delivery. These brokers send out currency using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm service.
Our comparison shows which operators offer this option and how much they charge for it. With some companies, you also have the option to pre-order your travel money for collection in person from a local branch, meaning you don't have to pay for delivery.
Will anyone buy my currency back?
If you've got leftover travel money from a trip abroad, you can use a buy-back service to convert it back into pounds.
The buy-back rate tells you how much sterling you'll get back.
Remember to factor in the rate and delivery costs, and compare exchange rates. You can check out the best euro-to-pound exchange rate by looking at our comparison table.
About our comparison
Who do we include in this comparison.
We include every company that gives you the option of buying euros online. Discover how our website works .
How do we make money from our comparison?
We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison. We get paid commission if we help you take out one of their products or services. Find out more here .
You do not pay any extra and the deal you get is not affected.
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Compare travel money exchange rates
Get the best exchange rate by comparing travel money deals from the UK's top foreign exchange providers
Why compare exchange rates?
It's important to shop around for the best currency deals if you want to maximise your holiday money. Right now, there's a 7.7% difference between the best and worst euro exchange rates available online. It may not sound like a lot, but that's an instant saving of £77 if you were buying £1000 worth - just by choosing the best place to exchange your cash. Less-common currencies offer even more potential savings: you could get 19.0% more Turkish lira by going with the best deal. For Indian rupees, the saving is 8.1%, and for Thai baht it's 13.0%. That's a lot of extra Mekhong!
However, exchange rates aren't the only important factor when it comes to getting the best currency deal. Commission, delivery fees and payment surcharges can all affect the amount of currency you'll receive, which is why it's important to use a comparison website to check the best deals for you.
Our travel money comparisons can help you to get a great deal on your currency. We compare the exchange rates from a wide range of different providers, along with their fees and any other charges, so you can see how their rates stack up after all costs have been included. You can choose how you want to pay and whether you want to pick your currency up in person or get it delivered to your door. We'll even show you exclusive online-only deals that aren't available on the high street! Comparing is quick and easy - just select the currency you want to buy, tell us how much you want to spend and we'll do the rest.
It's almost always cheaper to buy your currency online compared to buying in-store.
- Some of the most competitive currency suppliers are online-only. Their operating costs are generally lower than high street stores, so they can afford to offer you better exchange rates
- Most suppliers offer free home delivery when you spend a minimum amount
- Many high street currency suppliers such as supermarkets and the Post Office offer better rates if you place your order online beforehand. By reserving your order online, you can guarantee the supplier's online rate and still collect your currency in person at a time that suits you
If you're spending less than £300, it can be more cost-effective to buy your currency in-store because the delivery charge may cancel out any savings you might have made on the exchange rate if you bought online. However, some currency suppliers charge a handling or processing fee for small orders when you buy in-store, so it's worth checking beforehand if you're only spending a smaller amount.
We recommend you place your order at least three working days before you need your currency. Most currency suppliers will dispatch your order on the same day they receive your payment if you pay before lunchtime, otherwise they'll post it on the next working day. Your order will be sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully tracked and insured service that's guaranteed by Royal Mail to arrive on the next working day.
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