bureau de change - who has the best rates/deals?

[Elmo]

Well i'm off to sunny spain on saturday and thought i should really buy my euros, so i've been looking for the best deals. So car i've found that most places offer commission free, but i've only found exchange rates on the post office and thomas cook websites.

post office was 1.3769 € = £1
thomas cook was 1.3750€ = £1

But then if i change £200 into euros i'm done out of £7! I know the whole point of "buying" currency is to pay more than u get, but £7 is still a bit steep!

So has anyone found anywhere else with decent exchange rates over the last week or so?

[këö¬t]

When I went to the USA a month ago, I went to one of the many little bureau de changes on Edgeware Road near Marble Arch where I used to live in London. Very good rates.

However, seeing as you're in Scotland, I'd try looking around. The rate on my HSBC
Mastercard wasn't too bad - saves you carrying around lots of cash.

[Rave]

Best to take a debit card apparently:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi...06765397,71685,

[Kumagoro]

marks and spenser do very good rates without commision.

[herulach]

M&S deliver too, but id say your best bet is to take travellers cheques and change them there, best rates are usually had while youre away, at least thats what ive found, ive never been to anywhere euro zone though.

[Aaron]

If you've got a Nationwide debit card, then just use that to take money out of cash machines abroad.

When I went to Canada, the best bureau de change rate I could find was £1:$2.2. I used my Nationwide debit card in Canada to withdraw cash and got £1:$2.35! More convenient and a better rate!

[muddyfox470]

Yep defo try to get a Nationwide flex account, but i cant help but think that after enough people have signed up they may reduce their competitive rates you get from the cashpoints.

If you know someone who works for one of the banks they normally will get staff exchange rates.

Ian

[Twigman]

Tbh dodgy back street place quite often give you good rates.
I would probably wait until I get there.

[silent ben]

http://www.xe.com/

€1.45004 = £1

[blockers]

The post office give zero commission, but i dont know how good their rates are.

[scottyman]

look at it this way - debit card - you get the day's exchange rate with a nominal processing fee.
cash at forex counter - an "adjusted rate" which is the aggregate "best" rate for a day/week/month depending on how they operate. Post Office is generally one of the worst, and you can't guarentee the rate when you've got cash to change back again.
(that's essential) TC and Amex forex counters will do it for free, and generally I've found Amex to be pretty good. It's only in a dire emergency and know I need cash for a taxi at the other end. Otherwsie I'll always use switch.
If you try to withdraw cash with your credit card - you're asking for trouble - you'll pay extra on the interest. it can be up to 25% interest for cash transactions on VISA.
I'd go to your bank - or get 50 quid's worth of foreign currency when you arrive (from a mainstream bank - in a branch is even better - better again from an affiliated bank)
I generally take 5-600 quid in cash when I go back to nz, and take it to my local branch to deposit into a bank account - very favourable rate of exchange (it generally is when you're overseas) and generally don't pay any commission on it either.

[TheBuZZard]

I cant see/hear "bureau de change" without thinking of Day Today .