| Options for using money abroad [message #386989] |
Mo, 15 Mai 2006 20:48 |
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Hello,
I'm going to the Netherlands in a few days, and will need to spend money
while i'm there. Any thoughts on the best way to do that (as in the best
way to carry money, rather than what to spend it on - although suggestions
are welcome there too)?
Options that spring to mind are:
- Buy cash here
- Buy traveller's cheques here
- Use my UK debit card there
Is there anything i'm missing?
The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta will
be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not so good
things about the exchange rate you get with cards. Any idea how bad it
really is?
If it's bad enough to worry about, i'll probably take enough in
traveller's cheques to cover the hotel bill, which will be the main
expense, then pay my way in plastic for the small stuff. Oh, and take a
bit of cash for the bus from the airport etc (i've probably got enough
left over from Spain for that - this euro business still freaks me out).
Cheers,
tom
--
Axaxaxas Mlo
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #387000 ] |
Mo, 15 Mai 2006 22:16 |
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"Tom Anderson" <twic [at] urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.62.0605151942440.30836 [at] urchin.earth.li...
> Hello,
>
> I'm going to the Netherlands in a few days, and will need to spend money
> while i'm there. Any thoughts on the best way to do that (as in the best
> way to carry money, rather than what to spend it on - although suggestions
> are welcome there too)?
>
> Options that spring to mind are:
>
> - Buy cash here
Not usually a good option. You'll be carrying loads of cash around so there's a
security risk, and you'll pay around 4-6% to change it.
> - Buy traveller's cheques here
Too much hassle, and they'll be about as expensive as cash.
> - Use my UK debit card there
Probably the best option. You should be able to use it in ATM's abroad too, but check
what your bank charges (it'll be in the T&C's somewhere).
> Is there anything i'm missing?
>
> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta will
> be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not so good
> things about the exchange rate you get with cards. Any idea how bad it
> really is?
Generally better than changing cash/TC's - typically banks charge 2.75% but this'll
be on the VISA rate or the interbank rate, not the so called "tourist rate" which has
a built in 4-6% commission.
If you abroad a lot open a Nationwide flex account and get their credit card - I
think they're the only high street bank/bs who don't mark up the exchange rate.
--
Andy
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #387006 ] |
Mo, 15 Mai 2006 22:58 |
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Tom Anderson wrote:
> Options that spring to mind are:
>
> - Buy cash here
> - Buy traveller's cheques here
> - Use my UK debit card there
>
> Is there anything i'm missing?
Too late now, but next time, open a Nationwide account before you go, and
use that.
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #387014 ] |
Di, 16 Mai 2006 07:39 |
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> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta
> will be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not
> so good things about the exchange rate you get with cards. Any idea
> how bad it really is?
>
Make sure that you pay in euros. They can do a conversion at the terminal
and charge you in pounds - but the rate is not good. they might try and do
this without asking - so tell them you will pay in euros.
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #387274 ] |
Di, 16 Mai 2006 19:28 |
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On Tue, 16 May 2006, rob wrote:
>> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta
>> will be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not
>> so good things about the exchange rate you get with cards. Any idea how
>> bad it really is?
>
> Make sure that you pay in euros. They can do a conversion at the
> terminal and charge you in pounds - but the rate is not good. they
> might try and do this without asking - so tell them you will pay in
> euros.
Aaaah. I'd heard about some kind of rate badness to do with using cards
abroad on the radio, but wasn't listening carefully. They must have been
talking about this. Okay, i'll watch out - better work out how to
pronounce "ik zou in euro, niet ponden willen betalen, tevreden" ...
tom
--
Science which is distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #387276 ] |
Di, 16 Mai 2006 19:30 |
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On Mon, 15 May 2006, Andy Pandy wrote:
> "Tom Anderson" <twic [at] urchin.earth.li> wrote in message
> news:Pine.LNX.4.62.0605151942440.30836 [at] urchin.earth.li...
>
>> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta
>> will be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not
>> so good things about the exchange rate you get with cards. Any idea how
>> bad it really is?
>
> Generally better than changing cash/TC's - typically banks charge 2.75%
> but this'll be on the VISA rate or the interbank rate, not the so called
> "tourist rate" which has a built in 4-6% commission.
Ah, i didn't realise that.
> If you abroad a lot open a Nationwide flex account and get their credit
> card - I think they're the only high street bank/bs who don't mark up
> the exchange rate.
Good for them. I don't travel much, sadly, so it probably isn't worthwhile
for me, but i'll bear it in mind.
Thanks to everyone for their advice.
tom
--
Science which is distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #390164 ] |
Mi, 17 Mai 2006 21:22 |
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Tom Anderson <twic [at] urchin.earth.li> wrote:
> I'm going to the Netherlands in a few days, and will need to spend money
> while i'm there. Any thoughts on the best way to do that (as in the best
> way to carry money, rather than what to spend it on - although suggestions
> are welcome there too)?
> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta will
> be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not so good
It's not... many restaurants do not take any kind of plastic.
It's best to use cashpoints when you can and pay for most day-to-day
things in cash.
Axel
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| Re: Options for using money abroad [message #390441 ] |
Mi, 24 Mai 2006 15:19 |
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On Wed, 17 May 2006 axel [at] white-eagle.invalid.uk wrote:
> Tom Anderson <twic [at] urchin.earth.li> wrote:
>
>> I'm going to the Netherlands in a few days, and will need to spend
>> money while i'm there. Any thoughts on the best way to do that (as in
>> the best way to carry money, rather than what to spend it on - although
>> suggestions are welcome there too)?
>>
>> The debit card is far and away the easiest, and i assume Visa Delta
>> will be widely supported over there (it was in Spain), but i hear not
>> so good
>
> It's not... many restaurants do not take any kind of plastic.
Yes, i discovered that when i got there. The hotel did, unsuprisingly and
luckily, as did the pharmacist and one or two other places, but the
supermarket didn't, and i didn't bother asking in bars etc.
Apparently, there is some reason why the Netherlands isn't big on visa
cards, but i understand it's basically not a very good one.
> It's best to use cashpoints when you can and pay for most day-to-day
> things in cash.
Pretty much the only option, really. Since that meant getting cash out on
my visa card, i imagine i'm in for some pain come statement time ...
tom
--
22% Essential Components, 22% Repetitive Patterns, 56% Pauses
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