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.

In message , Helen Deborah
Vecht writes

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.

The charge (if there is one) varies enormously according to who you bank
with.

I am charged around £8 by Barclaycard for each such transaction I make,
while my partner (using the same machine in Venice - usually the one up
near Santa Lucia) is charged nothing at all on a Nationwide account. We
now operate an agreement which is not in Barclaycard's interest

I find it impossible to answer the OP's question - finding the best deal
for changing money depends on many variables, including fluctuating
exchange ranges. Some days it is better to do it before leaving, other
days it is not. I can't possibly comment on the situation in the US -
here in the UK, I often find that changing pounds for euros at the local
Post Office is by far the cheapest and most efficient choice.

--
Paul Terry