€ to £ conversion

[htid]

When you swap money at a travel agents, is it the same at any? I mean if you wanted £100 would you give the same amount of euros at any place? Do they all use the same conversion rate (this is assuming it's 0% commission) or do they vary?

Sorry if this isn't worded very well, I didn't know how to say it

Cheers,
Chris.

[Agent]

They vary.

You will find that many have a 0% take on your cash, but offer a poor exchange rate. It usualy all comes out at about the same on 'small change' (ie. holiday money ect.)

[htid]

ok cheers mate

[Fabula]

If you shop around a lot, and carefully check out all the rates including commision etc, then you usually find that you could save about the price of a pint.

[redsky009]

I remember the money section of the Times I think did a comparison over various currencies and agents and I think ordering money from Travelex in advance (over the interweb) gets you the best rate (walk up rates in the airport are rubbish in comparison)

You might try currencyexchange as well over internet and see what gets you the best deal

[autopilot]

I always check the actual 'real' exchange rate on the net, then compare which places have the closest.

[Agent]

If you shop around a lot, and carefully check out all the rates including commision etc, then you usually find that you could save about the price of a pint.

My dad did this last year.
Spent about 2 days weighing it all up, and probably saved less than that.
This year I will just buy him a pint and save him 2 days of his life

[Steve B]

iirc, marks and spencers are usually quite good with converting money

[TooNice]

Agreed - I usually go for M&S for my currency conversion needs.

[TeePee]

The best walk-up rate will be at http://www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk/

1.445 EUR to the £

M&S are currently giving 1.41.

On £1000 of holiday money, you'll get 35 Euros more. Not a huge saving.

Natwest Bank is giving 1.39.

[htid]

It's actually for a friend coming over from Germany so he will be changing either there or here depending on what the best is. There, he can get it 1.51 EUR to £1 so it seems M&S is better.

TeePee, that Thomas exchange thing is in London though, I'm up in Middlesbrough so it's not really gonna work but thanks anyway.

[TeePee]

In that case, since he has access to a bank account (yours) in the country he is visiting, the best way is to do a forex transfer using a service such as www.xetrade.com.