Saving money on foreign currency

Whilst the traditional summer holiday period is now over there may be many people that are planning a winter break. For those that do not have children and do not have to take holidays at certain times of the year it is often cheaper and more relaxing to go away out of the typical summer months, and there are still some great places to go to get winter sun without the crowds.

Anyone that is thinking of going away over the colder months will need to get their finances sorted, and this includes ensuring that they have the currency that they need for when they go. These days there are many different ways in which to get foreign currency for your holiday, and it is important to try and get the most for your pound so that you have plenty of spending money whilst away.

There are now many ways in which you can get commission free foreign currency but the amount that you get per pound can vary depending on where you go. Often those with packaged bank accounts may find that they are able to get special deals on their foreign currency so it is always worth checking with your own bank to see what they can do for you.

The Internet provides a very effective way of finding the best deals on foreign currency as you can compare and browse the different rates paid from the comfort of your own home, and you can place your order online once you have decided which is the best deal for your needs. If you want the money delivered to your door you can often order it for delivery the next day if your order in time, but there is usually a delivery charge for this, although it will come by special delivery for your safety.

It is also advisable to purchase a combination of foreign currency and traveller cheques, especially if you are going away for more than a few days. Having traveller’s cheques will provide you with additional security in case your money goes missing, as you can get these replaced quickly and easily in most cases.

Some people leave getting their foreign currency until they get to the airport but this can be a costly mistake. If you want to collect it at the airport some foreign currency providers can arrange this, so you can order and pay in advance and collect when you get to your departure airport.

Tags: case, finance, Numismatics, foreign currency, money, Currency, travel

Consumers warned about getting foreign currency at the airport

For many people that lead busy lives organising foreign money in time for their holidays can be difficult, and many cannot find the time to get this done. Read more

Tags: airport currency exchange, Dynamic currency conversion, foreign currency, finance, buying, travel, economics, city

Holidaymakers take care of cash

Almost half of British tourists fear for the safety of their holiday cash and are prepared to go to any lengths to protect it, new research has found.

In a run-up to the Easter break, 45 per cent of people questioned in a survey for Lloyds TSB Money Card said they feared their holiday money would go astray, with 16 per cent even prepared to wear a bum bag to avoid having their cash stolen.

Of the 1,000 people questioned, a further 19 per cent said they hid their money in secret pockets of bags while soaking up the sun, while 23 per cent admitted to stashing cash away under their clothes to keep it safe.

In addition, 22 per cent said they spread their foreign currency across different places on their person in a bid to thwart pickpockets.

Despite fears about losing their money, over a third (36 per cent) of holidaymakers said they took between £400 and £1,000 in cash away with them.

“In a bid to keep our cash safe it seems that we are willing to go to embarrassing fashion extremes but, in this day and age, taking huge amounts of cash abroad just isn’t necessary,” said Jatin Patel, head of foreign transactions at Lloyds TSB.

The bank has just launched a new Visa-style money card which can be topped up with euros or dollars by travellers as they need it.

Meanwhile, research published by the Post Office this week shows that the pound is stretching further abroad this year.

Poland, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Hungary were found to be the only nations out of a total of 16 countries to offer poorer exchange rates to Britons than at the same time last year.

Tags: card, Hungary, foreign currency, post office, Lloyds TSB.The bank, run-up, holidaymakers