The $

[aussietravellers]

Ok, the $ has been dropping at what is alarming to me!

It is down to .80 cents this morning. Wasn't it .90 last week? At the rate it's dropping it will be at .70 next week.

I really don't know what to do. I have some very clever friends who changed the money for their Sept/Oct trip when the $ was at .92, I wish I had copied them :rotfl: Now do I go and change some now at .80 cents in case it drops further and does not rise again before Sept? This is the question.

Is there anyone here amongst us who knows a lot about the movements of the $ and where it's expected to go.

Is it better to buy up now or are the predictions that it will go back up? WWYD?

[PrincessInOz]

Aussietravellers - I would buy some now and watch the rate and buy some more over the next couple of days/weeks. I personally think that the markets are reacting to what is happening in Europe and going back to treating the USD as the world reserve currency, which they have not done since the GFC.

I also got the distinctive feeling that the US is heading out of recession. Shopping at the malls/outlets has definitely picked up and I found the malls/outlets to be much busier this time round and much more people willing to spend money than in 2009 or 2008. If there are good retail/economic figures coming out of the US for the previous quarter (and I'm not sure when the next set of economic indicators are due - I seem to think that it's usually the 3rd week of the month), then it is likely that the nervous investors will go back to holding USD as the reserve currency.

That being the case, plus the fact that European countries have overstretched their borrowings, the Aussie dollar is more likely to fall some more against the USD. There is nothing wrong (yet) with the economic data coming out of Australia - it's just that in times of uncertainty, the investors will go back to the traditional safe havens of USD and gold and sell off other "riskier" currencies like the AUD. Our dollar is linked to resources and these have been dropping a little bit over the last month.

I also think that this situation is unlikely to clear up in the short term - there is a real threat of sovereign debt default in Europe and I don't think that Germany will run in to support Greece, Portugal, Spain etc. Germany has their own issues with sovereign debt. I think that the only way for Europe to stabilise is if they drop interest rates in a concerted move like they did when the GFC happened. It's anyone's guess as to how likely this is going to be and whether the US and the UK would also rush in to drop their interest rates.

I pointed out in a previous thread that the traditional support/resistance points for the AUD in this price range are around 81.5 cents and then the next resistance point is around 79 cents. If the dollar falls below 81.5 cents, it will head to 79 cents (and under). If it goes up above 83 cents, it will head towards 84.5 cents. An each way bet would be appropriate (and if it were me, I would more likely buy more at 80 cents).

Oh - and our reserve bank has signalled that it is likely to "pause" in June and not put interest rates up - so there is no incentive for investors to buy AUD (and push the price up).

Disclaimer

All views presented here are solely personal and speculative. The author holds no responsibility or liability in any event!! :)

[kazbar]

I heard a financial guy on TV this morning saying that it would probably hit 79c in the next day or so and then he thought it would rebound to about 82c in the next few trading days

[aussietravellers]

Disclaimer

All views presented here are solely personal and speculative. The author holds no responsibility or liability in any event!! :)

:lmao: Don't worry PrincessInOz, I wouldn't come after you if I changed some $'s today and it went back up to .90 next week :rotfl2:


But thanks for all of the great info, it was very interesting. I really don't understand about the $ and it's movements, I only think about it when I am going on a trip and it may affect my shopping and make my trip a lot more expensive :lmao:

[aussietravellers]

I heard a financial guy on TV this morning saying that it would probably hit 79c in the next day or so and then he thought it would rebound to about 82c in the next few trading days

Thanks for that info.

I many wait until next week and see how it goes. It has gone up to .81 again this morning, it is really just changing a lot so I may wait and see what happens. We still have 16 weeks before we go.

[lovintheland]

Call me a panicker but I'm going to buy some NOW!!!!!!!!!!

[aussiegirls]

I agree with PrincessinOz, that the global financial fears is the reason for this.

It's not as though anything concrete has happened to cause the AUD to drop, it is due to fears and speculation about what is going to happen in Europe (primarily Germany, Greece and to some degree the UK). I think that as the next few days and weeks progress and we see what is actually happening there, as opposed to what some people fear may happen, the dollar should steady out. It may not get back up into the 90's in the short term but I think that unless something like a 2nd GFC happens (which in all reality could) then it shouldn't completely bottom out.

I am not going to buy any yet. I'm not much of a gambling gal but I think I might just risk this one :confused3

ETA if this ridiculous mining tax actually goes through I think a lot of us can kiss our spending money goodbye

xxx

[BecBennett]

yeah it's tricky... what I don't understand is - the US stock market drops, so does our $, the US market gets better, our $ drops, :confused3

Our $ was really great until just recently when the US had that stock market crash just recently when the bloke sold a billion of whatever instead of a million of whatever. :confused:

I just don't understand why we are affected so negatively when their market is doing bad?

[Aust]

I changed AUD$600 over a few weeks ago when it was 93c, so wish I had have changed more! Also when the dollar first started to drop a couple of weeks ago we cancelled our direct booking with HoJo which couldn't be paid until checkout and rebooked on expedia.com.au (paid straight away) at the same price that we would have paid direct at a 93c rate.

Don't think I will change any more money now as we're not going to January...hoping it goes up again by then!! (if not will just have to spend less).

[BecBennett]

Also when the dollar first started to drop a couple of weeks ago we cancelled our direct booking with HoJo which couldn't be paid until checkout and rebooked on expedia.com.au (paid straight away) at the same price that we would have paid direct at a 93c rate.


That was a good idea, I wouldn't have thought of that!

[heidispidi]

Thanks BecBennett, changing our booking was my idea LOL (Aust is my sister). It was weird though, b/c we got it at the same price - exactly - that we would have paid direct through Hojo, but there was a difference in the exchange rate at the time of somewhere b/w 3 and 5c.

I changed $2000 at 93.5c, I'm now wishing I'd changed another grand or 2. That was about 6 weeks ago, and I had people telling me that the dollar would be going 1 to 1 with the US before long, so I held off. So much for that :confused3

I'm with Aussiegirls - I believe that the mining tax is the main cause of this sudden and rapid decrease. When the financial troubles in Europe first came to light, our dollar was still performing strongly.

But, what can we do, except hope that the Opposition does their job? For me, they have 7 months to do it. It's those people who are travelling soon who I feel bad for.

[1rocky]

I have just bought some more us dollars at 79.9 cents to day. last week bought some at 85 cents. so am hoping the dollar will go up before Jan. My travel agent has also advised us to pay for our us holiday now as the companies we are using are putting up all their prices for those that do not pay within the next few days. and they said it will go up more especially if the dollar falls more.

[rossip]

I'm with Aussiegirls - I believe that the mining tax is the main cause of this sudden and rapid decrease. When the financial troubles in Europe first came to light, our dollar was still performing strongly.



Nope - nothing to do with the mining tax - its the troubles in Europe , particulalrly Greece , and also the US stock market - have you seen the falls on there the past few days - we are in for another rocky road sorry to ssay IMO

[ColinA]

I think you need to take it as it is, 11 years ago when we first bought DVC our dollar was 0.49 to the US.

We just figure we are going and make sure we earn enough to cover the costs.

[GrazingGoat1966]

Long term average (ie over the last 25 years) is 75c, so as far as I'm concerned anything above that rate is a bonus. There are certain things we can't control in life and this is one of them.
Buy some now and hedge your bets. I'm fly out on July 31 so I'm spewing, but in the end it's only money!!! Besides got a ripping Qantas fare last night online for $1550 from Perth to LAX inc taxes. If we'd taken the Qantas/United share that we were looking at earlier this week it would have cost the family $1000 more, so I reckon that what I've missed out on the dollar in the last week, I more than made up for on last night's booking!! And that's what you've got to do. Hunt around for bargains, be flexible with your travel dates ( 1 days difference in the return was going to be $200 pp more!!), change up your hotels if need be to obtain maximum value for the dollar.
And be thankful you are going on holiday. Could be a lot worse. Look out your front window up and down your street and think of the poor mongrels who will be stuck behind their desk when you're living it up in the states!!!

[shaz105]

I so agree with you Grazing Goat this is our first holiday we my family and we are going to make the most of it.

Seeing that i have been married for 10yrs never had a honeymoon plus with my husband illness we dont know if this will be his only time he can travel with us semi healthy so what do you do you stay f**k it lets go

[PrincessInOz]

We've been spoilt looking for the last 18 months with the exchange rate being above 90 cents. I too remember travelling to the US with a 50 cent exchange rate.

For my part, I always have some US currency stored somewhere, irrespective of whether I have a trip booked or not. I keep changing currency when I think the rate is good at the time that I have the spare cash. If the exchange goes up or goes down, I've usually hedged enough away that it doesn't matter.

For those travelling in the next couple of months, I'm sorry that the dollar has dropped for you. But as GrazingGoat has pointed out, the long term average is 74 cents; and it's currently sitting at 83.3 cents. If I were travelling, I'd be locking this rate for about $250 - $500 (if you have the spare cash) and seeing how it goes over the next couple of weeks.

GrazingGoat - that's a ripper fare you got from Perth. Congratulations!

[ehsmum]

It's those people who are travelling soon who I feel bad for.

That would be me:confused: We go in 19 days. I told my DH a couple of months ago that we should change our money but he wanted to hold off. Now we're stuck with a crappy exchange rate :sad2:

Anyway, we went to ANZ yesterday and they offered us 77c. I argued with her that it was 81c and she gave me the blah blah blah about the bank rate always being less. We ended up only changing $1000 just to get the travel card started and decide to wait and see what happens in the next few days. Out of interest we went to CBA and their rate was 80.5! I was so pissed off at ANZ! Anyway, we ended up putting the rest of our money on a CBA travel card there and then. If it goes up, oh well but we couldn't really pass up 80.5 especially as ANZ was offering a lower rate.

[Saskiwi]

The last two times we have visited the US and DL (10 years apart!) we managed to time it when the NZ dollar (aka The Pacific Peso!) was at ....... 50c US:scared1: ....and we STILL had a great time!

[aussietravellers]

When we went in 08 it was .95 and in December 09 it was .93, we have lucked out with a great rate for the last couple of years. I guess .83 is still ok in the grand scheme of things, when I consider that everything is paid for in the way or airfares and accommodation. Just have to pay for meals and shopping, still hoping will go up a little.

I think I will change some next week (Thanks to Queenie and PrincessInOz I am going to dabble in Traveller Cheques once again after a long exit from their use :rotfl:) and just see how it goes, if it starts to drop again I'll get more and if it goes up, I'll just keep watching then jump in again.

[aussietravellers]

That would be me:confused: We go in 19 days. I told my DH a couple of months ago that we should change our money but he wanted to hold off. Now we're stuck with a crappy exchange rate :sad2:

Anyway, we went to ANZ yesterday and they offered us 77c. I argued with her that it was 81c and she gave me the blah blah blah about the bank rate always being less. We ended up only changing $1000 just to get the travel card started and decide to wait and see what happens in the next few days. Out of interest we went to CBA and their rate was 80.5! I was so pissed off at ANZ! Anyway, we ended up putting the rest of our money on a CBA travel card there and then. If it goes up, oh well but we couldn't really pass up 80.5 especially as ANZ was offering a lower rate.

Gosh, what a naughty ANZ. It certainly pays to shop around! I hope the rate goes up for you :goodvibes :wizard:

Thanks for the info on the different banks too by the way, I was probably going to go to the CBA or NAB so I will avoid the ANZ as I am not getting a travel card, just travellers cheques

[PrincessInOz]

When we went in 08 it was .95 and in December 09 it was .93, we have lucked out with a great rate for the last couple of years. I guess .83 is still ok in the grand scheme of things, when I consider that everything is paid for in the way or airfares and accommodation. Just have to pay for meals and shopping, still hoping will go up a little.

I think I will change some next week (Thanks to Queenie and PrincessInOz I am going to dabble in Traveller Cheques once again after a long exit from their use :rotfl:) and just see how it goes, if it starts to drop again I'll get more and if it goes up, I'll just keep watching then jump in again.

FYI - If buying TCs, I've found that the worst denomination will be the $100 TC for most shops. If I take $100's, I spend these when I'm shopping and have definitely spent more than $75. These days, I just take $50's. Mostly everyone is happy to break and provide change for $50.

[PrincessInOz]

That would be me:confused: We go in 19 days. I told my DH a couple of months ago that we should change our money but he wanted to hold off. Now we're stuck with a crappy exchange rate :sad2:

Anyway, we went to ANZ yesterday and they offered us 77c. I argued with her that it was 81c and she gave me the blah blah blah about the bank rate always being less. We ended up only changing $1000 just to get the travel card started and decide to wait and see what happens in the next few days. Out of interest we went to CBA and their rate was 80.5! I was so pissed off at ANZ! Anyway, we ended up putting the rest of our money on a CBA travel card there and then. If it goes up, oh well but we couldn't really pass up 80.5 especially as ANZ was offering a lower rate.

OUCH! I bank with CBA and my friendly manager has always waived the $8 charge if I'm changing money in cash and for amounts less than $500. Every saving helps!

[aussietravellers]

That would be me:confused: We go in 19 days. I told my DH a couple of months ago that we should change our money but he wanted to hold off. Now we're stuck with a crappy exchange rate :sad2:

Anyway, we went to ANZ yesterday and they offered us 77c. I argued with her that it was 81c and she gave me the blah blah blah about the bank rate always being less. We ended up only changing $1000 just to get the travel card started and decide to wait and see what happens in the next few days. Out of interest we went to CBA and their rate was 80.5! I was so pissed off at ANZ! Anyway, we ended up putting the rest of our money on a CBA travel card there and then. If it goes up, oh well but we couldn't really pass up 80.5 especially as ANZ was offering a lower rate.

I just looked at the NAB site and their rate at this exact moment is .79c

Just did a conversion on the CBA site and I got $3 less than I would have with the NAB, so their rate today is very similar to the NAB

[aussietravellers]

FYI - If buying TCs, I've found that the worst denomination will be the $100 TC for most shops. If I take $100's, I spend these when I'm shopping and have definitely spent more than $75. These days, I just take $50's. Mostly everyone is happy to break and provide change for $50.

Thats great to know thanks! I'll just get 50's :thumbsup2

[Sugarglider]

In all of my travels over the last 5 years I have found that the best rate is from the bank when doing a direct debit off the card. Also the debit card has no fees (either account keeping or exchange) so I get the highest payout.
The rate they show on TV is the gross rate through the RBA. It costs the banks a bit more so the rate a customer is always 2 or 3c lower.

[PrincessInOz]

Anyone else watching the rise and rise of the dollar today?

Rally on mining stocks has helped the dollar. If this continues overnight on the NYSE and European markets, it may climb back above 84 cents...

Once there, it will likely hover between 83.5 - 85.5 cents.

[kazbar]

85c this morning :goodvibes

http://www.forexdirectory.net/aud.html

[DizOz]

Hopefully the dollar is like that little red train climbing the hill,"I think I can, I think I can" as it heads back to 90 cents. If it gets there again first thing I am doing is paying for the the entire trip instead of waiting for the due date later in the year.

We were spoilt in Dec 07 when it was between 93 and 95 cents for our entire trip.

Anyway I will be keeping an eye on it.

:surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb:

[platypus67]

Noticed the dollar back up over .85 this morning. Will wait a little longer to put some cash on my travel card as we had the airfare expense this month.

[PrincessInOz]

There is usually support/resistance for the dollar around 85.5 cents. It may test this barrier over the next day or so. This support will hinge on the resources market.
If the bulls push it past this barrier, the next one is traditionally somewhere in the 87 cent mark.
If the bears win, we'll be back at the 82 - 83 cent mark.
If neither takes hold, then we'll be at 83 - 85 cents for a while.

My personal opinion - but I'd try and buy some before the next Reserve Bank meeting, which is the 1st Tuesday of every month - just in case. They have said that they are going to "pause"; but the market usually trades again after the meeting "on certainty". I don't believe that the market has factored any speculation of the interest rate rises in the Aussie dollar right now. But basing this on previous action, it's very likely that if the "certainty" result is no change to interest rates, the dollar is likely to drop a little bit.

[queenie82]

You sound like my brother discussing the resistance points :rotfl:
It is indeed speculation but it is all based on solid referencing of movements.

Just looking on my dashboard widget and it says 0.8519

I hope it gets to the 87 but the 85 point is tolerable for now. :)

[aussietravellers]

:surfweb:

Gosh I almost changed some money on Tuesday. The commission free rate from Australia Post was .80. I was at the post office, then had to go to the bank to get the money and then go back to the post office and couldn't be bothered running around so I didn't go back. :lmao:

I'm so glad I didn't change it now. Hopefully it will stay like this or go higher and I will definately return on Monday and change some, I know they offer a great rate compared to the banks, so I won't need to check their rate I'll just do it :thumbsup2

Come on $$$$ do the right thing by we travellers to the USA. :wizard:

[Sugarglider]

:surfweb:

Gosh I almost changed some money on Tuesday. The commission free rate from Australia Post was .80. I was at the post office, then had to go to the bank to get the money and then go back to the post office and couldn't be bothered running around so I didn't go back. :lmao:

I'm so glad I didn't change it now. Hopefully it will stay like this or go higher and I will definately return on Monday and change some, I know they offer a great rate compared to the banks, so I won't need to check their rate I'll just do it :thumbsup2

Come on $$$$ do the right thing by we travellers to the USA. :wizard:

how do you find out what the Aust Post exchange rate is? do you have to go to the branch to get the rate?

[aussietravellers]

how do you find out what the Aust Post exchange rate is? do you have to go to the branch to get the rate?

I got the rate when I went into a post office. I had called NAB, Comm, Westpac so I knew what their rates were that day and Australia was as good as the banks and they don't charge commission. But they may give you the rate over the phone, I just happened to be in the post office anyway so thought I would check.

[teskak]

How much do you guys change here vs using the atm over in usa? I was enjoying the aussiie being worth 95c. But still it is better than in the bottom of the banana republic when we were in Hawaii and it was 56c - that made even foodhalls expensive

[kazbar]

If you are changing quite a considerable amount of money it is worthwile checking out the rates at Arab Bank. Thier rates are usually a few cents above the banks, especially if you are changing $2000 or more

[zaccy]

If you are changing quite a considerable amount of money it is worthwile checking out the rates at Arab Bank. Thier rates are usually a few cents above the banks, especially if you are changing $2000 or more

Thanks for that tip - I'll have to check that out. I would not have thought to have looked there.

[aussietravellers]

If you are changing quite a considerable amount of money it is worthwile checking out the rates at Arab Bank. Thier rates are usually a few cents above the banks, especially if you are changing $2000 or more

Have never heard of Arab Bank. Just googled them and they are not in Queensland, that's why I have never heard of them. Pity i would have looked at them offering great exchange rates.

[aussietravellers]

:confused3 Last week when the $ was at about .82 the rate to buy cash or travellers cheques at the banks and post office was .80.

Now the $ is at .84 and I checked their rates again thinking it would be about .82 and no.... it's .80 The rate has gone up, just a little, but the rate they will exchange has not changed :confused3 Why is that?

[PrincessInOz]

:confused3 Last week when the $ was at about .82 the rate to buy cash or travellers cheques at the banks and post office was .80.

Now the $ is at .84 and I checked their rates again thinking it would be about .82 and no.... it's .80 The rate has gone up, just a little, but the rate they will exchange has not changed :confused3 Why is that?

Is this the PO exchange rate? I can only speculate....but it would depend on whether they have a department that would be monitoring the x-rate and adjusting their sell rate on a daily basis like the banks and money changers do. Given what you've found, I would imagine that they don't and that they set a rate, and then keep it there for a couple of weeks.

I checked the CommBank x-rate this morning and they are selling at a rate of 80.9 cents. The CommBank may adjust their exchange rate later in the day. I know they issue updates to their exchange rate online twice a day. Once at around 7.30 am and the second at around midday (or earlier).

[ehsmum]

It confuses me too. I ordered some cash yesterday because the rate was supposedly 84c, but I only got 80c :confused3

[BecBennett]

You need to keep in mind the rate we see when you look at places like xe.com is for big money - like in the millions, the rate for much lower amounts like what we exchange is always going to be less.

You need to check with the bank or whoever for what they will do the exchange for.

[aussietravellers]

What I am :confused3 about is that last week, when the rate on say xe was .82 at the banks and post office it was .80 (+a couple more numbers). I get that the rate is always lower when you actually come to exhange money.

But.... today the rate is .84 and the banks and post office are still at .80 (plus a couple more number, the same as last week when it was lower) :confused3

So official rate (rounding the third and forth number) and bank rate for the two weeks.
.82 - Banks & PO are .80 (last week)
.84 - Banks & PO are .80 (this week)

So the official rate has gone up by .02 why has the bank and PO's rate not gone up by .02 also, they would still be roughly .02 below the official rate which we expect, but if the rate rises, then why does the banks and PO rate not rise also.

That's my confusion (it's not hard to confuse me) :lmao: I was just excited the rate went up, but it's made no difference to the rate the banks sell at.

[BecBennett]

Really they can sell and buy it for whatever they want, it's like petrol, just because oil goes down, it doesn't mean petrol automatically will.

[aussietravellers]

Really they can sell and buy it for whatever they want, it's like petrol, just because oil goes down, it doesn't mean petrol automatically will.

Yes this is true :lmao: But I don't like it :rotfl2:

[BecBennett]

yeah, sucks hey! :laughing:

[1rocky]

When i asked at the post office this afternoon their rate was just a shade under 82 cents. the singapore dollar was good to at 112 cents for an aussie dollar.

[shan08]

Hey Aussietravellers

I dont get it either!!! I exchanged some cash last saturday at the post office for .829, when the rate was just under .85 and all the banks were .815 & .82.
I just hope it goes up by sept!!!
:confused:

[BecBennett]

Commbank is 81c today

[GrazingGoat1966]

Update- Friday 4th June -Official Rate 85, ANZ offered 81.4, Aus Post offered 82.3 at my local Northern suburbs Perth shopping centre

[BecBennett]

Has anyone seen what it is now? It's saying 85c on my desktop, but that doesn't mean too much. :confused3

[PrincessInOz]

x-rate is 85.4 cents at the moment. I would imagine that the retail market will be selling the $ for around 82 cents.

Recent rise is on the back of strong resource and equity demand out of Asia/China.

85.5 - 85.7 is traditionally the top support/resistance in this price range (the bottom end is around 82 cents). So, if you're thinking of locking some in, the $ is sitting at about the top end of the range.

If it pushes above this mark, it may then hover around 86 - 87 cents.

[shaz105]

I exchange some money on Saturday at .82561 which was the best i could find.

What I am going to do it exchange $500 at a time each week and find the best deal.

All the money I save up now is spending money as I have paid of my package at WDW last week.

[DizOz]

Paid for our DCL yesterday with NAB Amex and got 86.6. Rate was so good decided to pay the rest of the trip as well.

Hopefully rate should be even higher.

:worship: :worship: :worship:

[aussietravellers]

$ is at .83.. this morning. Anybody know what it's expected to do at the moment?

[darren123]

Good News for the AUD

http://au.us.biz.yahoo.com/fxcm/100708/172260612.html?.v=1

[heidispidi]

I like it! Still, anything can happen in the 5 months, 30 days till I leave :banana:

[GrazingGoat1966]

Picked up USD$1700 on Thursday from ANZ at my Perth Northern suburbs local branch for under $AUD2000 at a bit over 85.3. Could have got 86.99 from Bankwest but would have required a drive into the city.....and the inconvenience for $30 just wasn't worth it.

Same day I was quoted 83.3 from Travelex. What a rort!

[shaz105]

Just got $500 USD today at 84 i think this is pretty good i am hoping to exchange some more tommorrow.

two weeks to go before we are off i am so excited :banana:

[Luisa]

Have noticed Travelex is always about 3c lower than Amex - 0.826 compared to 0.857 on Thursday, similar thing Friday.

[kazbar]

today travelex is .8560
ANZ is .8513

[shaz105]

Today I got some dollars and it was at 85.9 at UAE this is where i have been getting my money from.

[aussiegirls]

Not long to go for you now shaz :thumbsup2
:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

xxx

[shaz105]

No Not too long getting excited plus a little nervous with the flying.

Its the kids first time on a plane :cool1:

[aussiegirls]

How exciting!!!!! Who are you flying with shaz?

xxx

[shaz105]

We are going to be flying with V Australia from Sydney To LA and Back

Delta - LA to Orlando and Back again

[aussiegirls]

Shaz, you are going to love V Australia. We flew with them last year and are paying extra to fly with them again this year. Best airline ever!!!! The kids will love it too :thumbsup2

xxx

[DizOz]

Dollar on the rise again back to 89.4 this morning.

Will have to run down to the bank and lock a few thousand dollars at that rate.

:cool1::cool1::cool1:

[heidispidi]

I'm thinking I should do the same.

While I have a travel card, I'd also like to buy some cash. What are your thoughts on the best option for this? I'm not sure who usually supplies the best rate. I know Australia Post sells cash, but you need to give them notice, I think?

[aussiegirls]

heidi, last year I bought some cash from Aus Post and I got the best rate that I could find at the time. Yes, I did have to order the cash in as they don't keep USD on hand. But what they did was took my money and locked it in at that day's rate. I got given a receipt with the exchange value etc and I think it took 24 hrs to get it in.

It was pretty easy and I didn't mind waiting for the cash as it was locked in at the rate I wanted.

I would def use Aus Post again :thumbsup2

xxx

[heidispidi]

Thanks aussiegirls. Do they have a minimum you have to buy, or can I be annoying and go in there with a couple of hundred each time? (Sorry for asking, I know I can go to their website and look myself...).

[aussiegirls]

From memory I don't think they had a minimum. I would think that even if they did, going in with a few hundred would still be ok, that's not too small of an amount anyways.

xxx

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

heidi, last year I bought some cash from Aus Post and I got the best rate that I could find at the time. Yes, I did have to order the cash in as they don't keep USD on hand. But what they did was took my money and locked it in at that day's rate. I got given a receipt with the exchange value etc and I think it took 24 hrs to get it in.

It was pretty easy and I didn't mind waiting for the cash as it was locked in at the rate I wanted.

I would def use Aus Post again :thumbsup2

xxx

How do you find out what rate Aust. Post is offering that day?

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Dollar on the rise again back to 89.4 this morning.

Will have to run down to the bank and lock a few thousand dollars at that rate.

:cool1::cool1::cool1:


Where are you finding that rate information? The RBA site has it much lower so would prefer to look where you are looking :lmao:

[aussiegirls]

Shuttergirl, from memory I think Aus Post uses Travelex for their conversions, so their rate would be the same as what you would find on the Travelex site.

xxx

[heidispidi]

Travelex seems to be 86.6c currently. XE.com has the rate at 89.17c right now.

[GrazingGoat1966]

Yeah may well break 90 within the next 24 hours with half an ounce of luck. Leaving next Saturday the 31st so the timing couldn't be better for us.

Go you good thing!!!!

[jenshell75]

Yeah may well break 90 within the next 24 hours with half an ounce of luck. Leaving next Saturday the 31st so the timing couldn't be better for us.

Go you good thing!!!!

OH WOW!!!!!

This is getting exciting. :banana:

Perfect timing for your trip. :cool1:

Enjoy :surfweb:

[1rocky]

That will be good if it breaks the 90c i bought some more USA currency at the commonwealth bank it was a bit over 86 cents on Friday

[DizOz]

I'm thinking I should do the same.

While I have a travel card, I'd also like to buy some cash. What are your thoughts on the best option for this? I'm not sure who usually supplies the best rate. I know Australia Post sells cash, but you need to give them notice, I think?

In my job I have transferred cash between Aust and USA for years and I am also looking for the best FEX.

I found AMEX is by far the best rates. I querried this with our own banks and were told they can not compete on rates with AMEX due to their sheer volume of trades wordlwide.

When exchanging privately there are a few issues to consider:

Exchange back guarantees where they will buy unused monies back or travellers cheques without cost.

Obviously the rate

Any fees they charge on top of their buy/sell differential.

Kepp in midn the rate is more likely to go up on the back of the latest reports:

Glen Stevens comment rates may be increased even during the election campaign and the low employment figures and other positive economic indicators.

Also the reports out of EU on the bank stress testing revealed their banks are in relatively strong conditions. The markets will be less risk adverse and less likely to run back to the US.

Where are you finding that rate information? The RBA site has it much lower so would prefer to look where you are looking :lmao:

Ms Shuttergirl,

I use the following site as it gives constant up to date prices:

http://www.forexdirectory.net/aud.html

Particularly useful when the rates are so volatile.

[GrazingGoat1966]

Giddyup. Broke 90 this morning. Keep going you good thing!!!!!!!

[aussietravellers]

Just bought some travellers cheques from amex online, pick them up in a couple of days, (no commission :thumbsup2 )

Rate was .8745

[queenie82]

Just bought some travellers cheques from amex online, pick them up in a couple of days, (no commission :thumbsup2 )

Rate was .8745
It's always nice getting those green backs. Even Traveller Cheque green backs :lmao:

Hope all the planning is still going good and you are doing well health wise in princess *oh I can't lift anything sweetie :flower3:* mode :thumbsup2

Keep it up Pacific Peso...you can do it...
:woohoo:

[aliceinoz]

Hope it's ok to jump in on this one. I'm going to do some searching this weeked on the travel cards v's travellers cheques. I have not travelled internationally for years and have only ever used tchqs and credit card, with a small amount of cash to get me started.
Now I am thinking of a travel card instead. Any thoughts on the travel card? And are travellers cheques still easy to exchange.
TIA!!!

[BrizMarc]

Hope it's ok to jump in on this one. I'm going to do some searching this weeked on the travel cards v's travellers cheques. I have not travelled internationally for years and have only ever used tchqs and credit card, with a small amount of cash to get me started.
Now I am thinking of a travel card instead. Any thoughts on the travel card? And are travellers cheques still easy to exchange.
TIA!!!

You best bet in my opinion is to use a mix of both. The travel cards are great for use in hotels and restaurants and you can simply bpay more money onto your card from your Aussie bank account when ever you want while traveling. Keep some travels checks as well just because they are handy if you were to lose your card. Also places like Disney will cash your travelers checks. Just keep a small amount of cash on you as well. You have all bases covered .

[lovintheland]

We still use travellers cheques. Oh and the handy credit card and a supply of notes for tipping etc. Have been travelling to the US since 1989 and have never had a problem with the cheques so don't see a need to change. I'm sure the travel card works great too!

[1rocky]

I will be using a commonwealth travel card when visiting usa in Jan. Can it be used similar to your normal atm card.Or only at certain places thanks for any help

[aussiegirls]

1rocky, if it is the same as the ANZ travel card then you can use it anywhere that takes Visa (which is pretty much everywhere). We had no issue at all using our travel card anywhere we wanted to.

Maybe just compare the ANZ and the CBA cards. Last year I compared both and ANZ came up trumps because their exchange rate was a bit better and they had less fees and charges attached to the actual card.

Good luck

xxx

[1rocky]

thanks i will look at anz
i might even take an anz card with me as well.
I have the cba card as hubby took it with him to the usa this year and did not use it.
so when i go i will have lots to spend:rotfl2::rotfl2:
considering we are going to Disneyland and have empty suitcase this will be needed

[DizOz]

Did some comparisons this morning on the rates being offered:

CBA0.8745ANZ0.8742Travelex0.8710Westpac0.8725NAB0. 8782AMEX0.8794

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Did some comparisons this morning on the rates being offered:

CBA0.8745ANZ0.8742Travelex0.8710Westpac0.8725NAB0. 8782AMEX0.8794

How does that compare to what Australia Post would be offering?

Do you think .87 is a good time to go and get the ANZ travel card?

[DizOz]

How does that compare to what Australia Post would be offering?

Do you think .87 is a good time to go and get the ANZ travel card?

Ms Shuttergirl,

Australia Post is only an agent for Amex so I would suggest you would get the AMEX rate less any commission (If any) charged by AP.

As for .87 I suggest depending on the timing of your trip now is a good time to lock in some monies at that rate. For me (We go in 6 weeks) that is what I am doing. If price goes up I will buy some more at a higher rate on a separate ANZ card and cash the lower rate card in when rates head back down.

I was surprised the $ did not dip more when the CPI figures come out. Ever the supporter of conspiracy theories, I suggest there maybe some adjustment to that number somewhere down the track. I see this morning the $ got back over 91 cents before settling in at high 90's.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Thanks Dizoz. I might go and get my travel card tomorrow and pop a lump sum on there.

I leave in 7 weeks so like you need to start doing something about this soon.

[Oz-kateer]

I'm still old school about this and buy however many $$ travellers cheques and cash when the $$ is good, rather than the travel cards. Australia Post do good commission free rates on both cash and cheques. The travel cards are supposedly "safer" but there are so many fees involved - the top ups, the draw downs, the payment to get your money back if you come home with credit still on your card - plus the forms to fill out to get it, waiting for them to process etc etc. And they expire - if you put it in a drawer and forget it you've done your money! Cash and travellers cheques never die.

I bought some when the $$ was up around the 94c earlier in the year and then again a few months ago - we are also going in 7 weeks and am going to buy a few more $$ shortly.

The $$ exchange rate today at my local post office is sitting on about 88 cents.

[PrincessInOz]

Reserve bank meets tomorrow; which is why the dollar is holding a little. There is speculation that the rates may go up.

I'd recommend that you buy some either today or early tomorrow morning before the RBA releases their view on interest rates. It's likely to drop after....or possibly tonight...depending on what the US markets speculative view is on the RBA outcome.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Did some comparisons this morning on the rates being offered:

CBA0.8745ANZ0.8742Travelex0.8710Westpac0.8725NAB0. 8782AMEX0.8794

Did you find all of this information on 1 particular site or did you gather it from many different sites?

I only ask because there is no way I can get to open a travel card today, but would most likely be able to do so tomorrow afternoon and would like to be able to check this for tomorrow.

[aussietravellers]

How does that compare to what Australia Post would be offering?

Do you think .87 is a good time to go and get the ANZ travel card?

Ms.Shuttergirl, Aust Post use Travlex, so I look at the travelex rate when I want to know what the Aust Post rate is. I thought they used Amex as on the Amex site when you order them online through Amex they say Aust Post is a possible place for pickup but when I bought some travellers cheques online through Amex, they didn't give me the option to pick my local Aust Post office even though they stated above that I could pick them up there.

Anyway I do know when I was at the post office last week, there was a sign outside and it was a travelex sign :thumbsup2 And you can purchase the travelex travel card through Aust Post.

[aussietravellers]

Did you find all of this information on 1 particular site or did you gather it from many different sites?

I only ask because there is no way I can get to open a travel card today, but would most likely be able to do so tomorrow afternoon and would like to be able to check this for tomorrow.

Travelex travel card you can order online :thumbsup2 (although that is not very helpful to you if you are wanting an ANZ or COMM travel card :lmao: )

[DizOz]

Did you find all of this information on 1 particular site or did you gather it from many different sites?

I only ask because there is no way I can get to open a travel card today, but would most likely be able to do so tomorrow afternoon and would like to be able to check this for tomorrow.

Shuttergirl,

CBA http://www.commbank.com.au/personal/international/travellers-cheques/default.aspx?cid=dsm

NAB http://www.nab.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/nab/nab/home/personal_finance/1/4/4/2

Westpac
https://forms.westpac.com.au/forms/forex.nsf/f_forexCalculator?Openform&referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westpac.com.au%2Fpage-elements-westpac%2Frelated-links%2F302349%2F322293%2Frl-pbsr-001-foreign-currency%3Fview%3DStandard

Amex https://www.fx4you.com/australia/americanexpress/converter/convert.cfm?page=CM

Travelex
http://www.travelex.com.au/for-you/travellers-cheques

Hope this helps

Just to clarify according to the Australia Post website offers the following:
Travelex Cash Passport simialr to ANZ travel card
AMEX travellers cheques.
Foreign currency cash exchange

Shuttergirl you may want to consider the cash passport instead of the travel card? Has anyone used them and how is the ATM availability like around DL and WDW to use them?

[aussiegirls]

I am very excited :cheer2:

I bought a new travel card today. I figured that, even though we are not going until November, the AUD is going pretty good at the moment. And seeing as I am not much of a gambling gal, I went and locked in a few thousand on the travel card.

A little closer to when we go I think I will get some travellers cheques and definately some cash.

It is def starting to seem more real now :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:

xxx

[lovintheland]

Yay Aussiegirls :cheer2: buying some cash always makes it more real and excited. Just wish we had of taken a gamble when it started dropping six or so weeks ago and waited. Oh well you never know do you :confused3 I'm more than happy with what we saved on our V flights.

[aussiegirls]

Yeah, it is very much a gamble isn't it lovintheland. Oh well, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. :confused3

I remember last year I bought at about .82 because I got spooked (was .70 when I booked). Then by the time we left it was at about .90.

As I said, I am just not a gamblin gal :lmao:

Not many more sleeps for you now. You must be sooooo excited about surprising the kids :banana::banana::banana:

xxx

[lovintheland]

43 sleeps to be exact!!!! I am beside myself at the thought of telling them. At this point I'm thinking more about that than the actual holiday. Although we have just booked two nights at the DLH which I'm excited about :yay::yay::yay::yay::yay: probably crazy to switch hotels but got the room for 40% off. Said to hubby my plan is to fully immerse ourselves into Disney at the end of the trip so that we're sick of it and never want to return :lmao::lmao: his reply was "yeah right!!!" :lmao::lmao:

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I bit the bullet today and got my ANZ travel card and ordered my cash.

I got .8851 for the cash and .8857 for the travel card. I am really happy with that, whatever happens now I'll still be pleased with the rate.

[aussietravellers]

I bit the bullet today and got my ANZ travel card and ordered my cash.

I got .8851 for the cash and .8857 for the travel card. I am really happy with that, whatever happens now I'll still be pleased with the rate.

How Exciting! It really makes it close when the cash changing occurs.

Do you have to bank with the ANZ to get their travel card?

Does anybody know the difference between the ANZ, Commbank and Travelex travel cards? Do some have more fees than others?

I read they have inactive fees by the month. So if I got it now and won't be using it for 5 weeks, will that incur a fee? or is it just after you have started using it and then not using it that you incur the fee?

I have changed half my money (into travellers cheques) was going to change the other half into either more travellers cheques and a little cash or all cash. But may get a travel card, but just wonder about the fees :confused3

Thanks :goodvibes

[PrincessInOz]

How Exciting! It really makes it close when the cash changing occurs.

Do you have to bank with the ANZ to get their travel card?

Does anybody know the difference between the ANZ, Commbank and Travelex travel cards? Do some have more fees than others?

I read they have inactive fees by the month. So if I got it now and won't be using it for 5 weeks, will that incur a fee? or is it just after you have started using it and then not using it that you incur the fee?

I have changed half my money (into travellers cheques) was going to change the other half into either more travellers cheques and a little cash or all cash. But may get a travel card, but just wonder about the fees :confused3

Thanks :goodvibes

DH likes the travelcard. He normally tops this up every month (a little amount) and doesn't incur the inactive fee. But then, he goes to the US at least 3 or 4 times a year; so it makes sense for him to keep one active and to pop money into it every now and again.

We will always travel with a combination of cash, TC and Travel Card. We always withdraw the Travel Card money from an ATM.

And because DH takes the travelcard, I can't help with fees info....we bank with CommBank. :rolleyes: I must look into the card charges because DH never thinks about those things....thanks for the prompt.

[1rocky]

How Exciting! It really makes it close when the cash changing occurs.

Do you have to bank with the ANZ to get their travel card?

Does anybody know the difference between the ANZ, Commbank and Travelex travel cards? Do some have more fees than others?

I read they have inactive fees by the month. So if I got it now and won't be using it for 5 weeks, will that incur a fee? or is it just after you have started using it and then not using it that you incur the fee?

I have changed half my money (into travellers cheques) was going to change the other half into either more travellers cheques and a little cash or all cash. But may get a travel card, but just wonder about the fees :confused3

Thanks :goodvibes
Here is a site for the commonwealth bank travel card showing the fees
http://www.commbank.com.au/personal/international/travel-money-card/fees-charges/default.aspx
Also when i purchased the commonwealth travel card i was told there would be no inactive fees until after twelve months. You can top via b pay but it can take a day to get there. I have had my card since May and just topping it up every now and then ready for January

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

With the ANZ travel card, they charge $11 initial fee to set it up but that is all so it's a good idea to open it with all of your spending money, rather than with a small amount and then you keep adding more. Fees are incurred for each deposit thereafter. I am embarrassed to say I didn't ask what they were this time because I put all of our spending money on in the first transaction.

I mentioned to her I was annoyed with myself for closing down the one I had last year, that I should've just kept it and topped it up for this trip.

She said it was actually cheaper to close it down and get a new one if you were going to put all of your spending money on in the first transaction because the $11 would be less than the ongoing deposit fees.

We just used a combination of cash and the ANZ travel card last time and found it to be wonderful. I haven't used TC's so I can't comment on those. I asked the bank manager yesterday if many people still use TC's and she said no, they aren't used much these days. She said people were finding more and more that some businesses were either reluctant to cash them or the process of cashing them was taking quite a while. I'm not sure if that is true or not, just thought i would mention it.

[aussiegirls]

With the ANZ travel card it is, as Shuttergirl said, $11 to set up and then 1.1% of the value for each subsequent top up. So yes, it is generally cheaper to get a 2nd card than top up an existing one. That is what I did. I had USD$1700 left on my card from last trip, but when I went into ANZ I got a brand new one for $11 instead of paying $$$$$ for topping up the old one.

You don't need to be an ANZ customer to get the travel card. You can just walk in and get it although, if you don't have an ANZ account, they only accept payment in cash or via Credit card - not usually a problem for most people I think.

Also, with the ANZ there are no inactive fees unless the card has not been used for over 12 months. As I said, I still have my card from last trip and I have not been charged anything at all on it. So once the 12 months passes then they charge some sort of monthly fee for just having it sitting there.

Before I left last time I scoured every term and condition and fee, between the Comm Bank travel card, the ANZ travel card and the Travelex Cash Passport. The ANZ travel card came up the cheapest, although with the Travelex one you may get a slightly better exchange rate (usually not a big difference) but the cost of set up and fees etc, negated the slightly better rate.

Good luck :thumbsup2

xxx

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

With the ANZ travel card it is, as Shuttergirl said, $11 to set up and then 1.1% of the value for each subsequent top up. So yes, it is generally cheaper to get a 2nd card than top up an existing one. That is what I did. I had USD$1700 left on my card from last trip, but when I went into ANZ I got a brand new one for $11 instead of paying $$$$$ for topping up the old one.

You don't need to be an ANZ customer to get the travel card. You can just walk in and get it although, if you don't have an ANZ account, they only accept payment in cash or via Credit card - not usually a problem for most people I think.

Also, with the ANZ there are no inactive fees unless the card has not been used for over 12 months. As I said, I still have my card from last trip and I have not been charged anything at all on it. So once the 12 months passes then they charge some sort of monthly fee for just having it sitting there.

Before I left last time I scoured every term and condition and fee, between the Comm Bank travel card, the ANZ travel card and the Travelex Cash Passport. The ANZ travel card came up the cheapest, although with the Travelex one you may get a slightly better exchange rate (usually not a big difference) but the cost of set up and fees etc, negated the slightly better rate.

Good luck :thumbsup2

xxx

Thanks for the additional info. What a great idea to just get an additional card.

[shan08]

What is going on with the dollar?????:mad:

[Oz-kateer]

What's wrong with it? It's up pretty high - last time this happened it lasted a couple of weeks and then went down again. I am buying $$ cash and travellers cheques on Friday at the post office. They use AMEX and seem to have the best non-commission rates at the moment.

[aussiegirls]

Yeah, it's doing ok at the moment. I reckon if anyone needs to buy cash etc, now is a great time to do it :thumbsup2

xxx

[aussietravellers]

Yes I got the rest of mine cashed yesterday. Have $'s and travellers cheques now. I got commission free from Amex. I ordered the travellers cheques online commission free and when I went in I said the post office did it commission/fee free so would go there to get some cash and they said we'll do it for you commission/fee free :thumbsup2:woohoo: :cool1:

[shan08]

It has dropped two cents since monday!!!:confused:

[Oz-kateer]

We're 2 weeks out from a federal election.

This always happens - the markets get nervous.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I hope everyone jumped in and got their money changed over before the election. Looks like the dollar may start to drop a little over the outcome.

[aussiegirls]

I was just coming in here to say the same thing Shuttergirl :goodvibes

I think I might go and get some more today whilst the $ is still at .89. This political uncertainty will not do the AUD any favours. And I think regardless of the outcome (unless we vote again and get a majority govt) the dollar will continue to remain unstable, and likely fall due to the precarious position whichever govt will end up in.

As an aside, Bob Katter (one of the Indi's they are trying to woo) wants the dollar to go back to half the value that it currently is as he says it is hurting the farmers. He is probably right :confused3

Anyway, my point was that I reckon it's a good time to exchange some $$$$ if anyone needs to :flower3:

xxx

[Oz-kateer]

Half the value of the dollar to about 45US cents?? Wow. We'll be stuck here forever.

[platypus67]

We bought the Comm card last year. From memory the initial fee on that was $20.00. First loading was free of transaction charges and after that it was around 1.1% or something like that. I believe both had a similar inactivity fee after 12months.
The big difference was the ability to load different currencies. I can load the card with a combo of USD and CAD. I would have had to get two separate cards with ANZ or pay foreign exchange fees if I used the USD card in Canada.

[darren123]

I hope everyone jumped in and got their money changed over before the election. Looks like the dollar may start to drop a little over the outcome.

http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/Australian-Dollar-Support-fxcm-2700992309.html?x=0&.v=1

Good News for the AUD

I still have changed any money as yet still waiting even with no result of the election the Dollar is looking good.

[heidispidi]

It is looking really good right now. Hope it continues so we all reap the benefits (and can shop lots!).

[mareeld86]

The Initial fee on the Commonwealth cards is $15 and its 1% per top up.
If you do it via Bpay its norally at most 12 hours. (believe me i know I work fo the commonwealth and i did the staff traning on it) any questions you have feel free to ask me!

[PrincessInOz]

Anyone planning on going to the US should think about changing currency over whilst the rate is at 91 - 92 cents. The US Fed Reserve Bank is talking about possibly raising US interest rates in the next 6 months or early next year. If this happens, and our interest rates stay the same, then our dollar is likely to go down.

[heidispidi]

Thanks Princess - I'll buy another $1000 shortly.

[aussietravellers]

It's at .93 this morning :cool1: I hope it stays there for a little while :thumbsup2

[PrincessInOz]

So do I! :cool1:

And I'm going to lock some in this week at this exchange rate. :thumbsup2

[kyl]

Yep sounds good to me at .93 i might add some dollars to my travelex card today.

[aussietravellers]

OK I'm having a very big :scared1: moment right now.

Two friends of mine just went into Travelex to change some money this morning (at different times). One was a friend who was wanting me to buy some things for her, so she was giving me some US$'s. So the rate she was given was .85 + commission. She called me and said, I thought you said it was higher than that. I told her NO WAY that is a really bad rate! The $ is at .93 this morning and the rate on the travelex website this morning was .90 so you should be getting at least .90. She questioned the woman and she was SO rude and said that she didn't know what she was talking about and yes the rate may be .93 but you never get that rate. My friend said she understood that but it's never that much difference. So she left, not changing any.

The other friend of mine is going to the US later this week, so she went in to change a large quantity. She had been to a bank upstairs and got the rate of .90 but they didn't have enough and said they would have to order it in from the Travelex downstairs and it would be there the next day. She decided to just go down to the travelex as that is where it would come from anyway so know the rate would be the same. WRONG! She also got the rate of .85. She showed the printout from the bank upstairs and said thats ridiculous, the bank exchanges from you and their rate is .90 and yours is .85. She said that she was online this morning at travelex and the rate was .90 so why is it so low in the shopfront. The woman wouldn't answer and said that if she isn't happy with their rate she should go elsewhere, so she did. Off to the bank for .05 more. She was changing a large sum too so that .05 makes a big difference.

Anyway, just thought I would share that Travelex story.

[kyl]

Was this travelex at Miranda Sydney by any chance....the woman there is soooooo rude as well. Online is best but I agree .85 is a shocking difference. I think next time I will do something else as I have had issues with them as well this time. As in the on-line rate is not the actual rate unless you confirm with email etc it was a very long process. They trick you into just bpay but then they make the rate up about 3 days later, THATS WHAT EVER RATE THEY FEEL. I send a email saying I would go to dept.fair trading. My account was topped up another $100 making up the difference of what I thought would be the rate i got given that was what was online on the day. Anyway they are rude I hope someone from their company reads this thread.

[aussietravellers]

Was this travelex at Miranda Sydney by any chance....the woman there is soooooo rude as well. Online is best but I agree .85 is a shocking difference. I think next time I will do something else as I have had issues with them as well this time. As in the on-line rate is not the actual rate unless you confirm with email etc it was a very long process. They trick you into just bpay but then they make the rate up about 3 days later, THATS WHAT EVER RATE THEY FEEL. I send a email saying I would go to dept.fair trading. My account was topped up another $100 making up the difference of what I thought would be the rate i got given that was what was online on the day. Anyway they are rude I hope someone from their company reads this thread.

That is terrible!

No it was Travelex on the Gold Coast! So they must be rude around the country :rotfl2:

I won't use them in future, I used Australia Post and Amex and they were both great, lovely staff, great rate and neither charged me commission :thumbsup2

[darren123]

AUD up to .944

[platypus67]

OK I'm having a very big :scared1: moment right now.

Two friends of mine just went into Travelex to change some money this morning (at different times). One was a friend who was wanting me to buy some things for her, so she was giving me some US$'s. So the rate she was given was .85 + commission. She called me and said, I thought you said it was higher than that. I told her NO WAY that is a really bad rate! The $ is at .93 this morning and the rate on the travelex website this morning was .90 so you should be getting at least .90. She questioned the woman and she was SO rude and said that she didn't know what she was talking about and yes the rate may be .93 but you never get that rate. My friend said she understood that but it's never that much difference. So she left, not changing any.

The other friend of mine is going to the US later this week, so she went in to change a large quantity. She had been to a bank upstairs and got the rate of .90 but they didn't have enough and said they would have to order it in from the Travelex downstairs and it would be there the next day. She decided to just go down to the travelex as that is where it would come from anyway so know the rate would be the same. WRONG! She also got the rate of .85. She showed the printout from the bank upstairs and said thats ridiculous, the bank exchanges from you and their rate is .90 and yours is .85. She said that she was online this morning at travelex and the rate was .90 so why is it so low in the shopfront. The woman wouldn't answer and said that if she isn't happy with their rate she should go elsewhere, so she did. Off to the bank for .05 more. She was changing a large sum too so that .05 makes a big difference.

Anyway, just thought I would share that Travelex story.

I never use travelex as I find the rate is almost always much lower. I walked by one at my local shops last week and noticed a 5 cent difference in the rate.

[hjd0411]

^^^^^

I have always thought that with Travelex - I work at Brisbane Airport and the Travelex office there is about 4 steps away from where I work, but I refuse to go there to exchange any money! I will always go to a bank.
I'm thinking about getting some US$ in the next few days with the exchange the way it is at the moment! :thumbsup2 Even though I don't think I'll be going anywhere until 2012, unless I can swing a trip to Hawaii next year...!!;):confused3

[kyl]

Yes if you can afford to get some now and put it away I don't think you would lose thats for sure. Last year when we went it was at .64 Wow what a difference 12mths can make. It sure has meant we can now stay longer.

[OzCath]

Popped into the Travelex in Adelaide today and they were offering 86 cents. Thought it was a little low so didn't end up getting any cash. Will have a look around but want to get some soon as the dollar is so good. You never know how long it's going to last.

[platypus67]

I transferred some cash to my Comm Travelcard today. Rate was just over .90.

[PrincessInOz]

I picked some up at my friendly CommBank. Rate was 0.9083 cents this morning; no commission charged by my friendly teller. It should have been slightly better at Aussie Post.

[PrincessInOz]

For those overseas, the Aussie Dollar is currently at 94.6 cents today.

[lovintheland]

Hi, does one know where the best place would be to buy some $ in the Anaheim area? We were going to get the kids money at Brisbane airport but travellex were only offering 85c which I didnt think was very good and then at Sydney airport it was even worse and now we're here I'm not sure what to do?

[PrincessInOz]

Just withdraw the cash at an ATM in Anaheim. You'll get charged exchange rate of the day plus FOREX charges.

[lovintheland]

Hi Princess in Oz,

DD actually withdrew her cash at Sydney airport, so she has has $1000 Australian cash, we now don't know what to do?

we are just kicking ourselves we didn't organise it at home but because it was a surprise it was a bit hard.

[PrincessInOz]

I don't think the US banks will be able to help. They usually want you to be a customer of their bank.

You're then looking at currency exchanges; and I've never changed money in the US so I don't know where they are located. Perhaps someone else on the DisBoard would be able to help.

An option is to put DD purchases on your credit card, keep track of what she has spent (so that she keeps to the budget) and use the AUD to pay off the bill immediately when you get home....

[PrincessInOz]

Rate is 93.6 this morning.

[Oz-kateer]

Hi Princess in Oz,

DD actually withdrew her cash at Sydney airport, so she has has $1000 Australian cash, we now don't know what to do?

we are just kicking ourselves we didn't organise it at home but because it was a surprise it was a bit hard.

Lovin - There is a foreign exchange office INSIDE DISNEYLAND PARK.

Go to City Hall near the entrance and Travelex has a desk there.

If you're outside the park, you can also exchange foreign cash at the front desk of the 3 Disneyland Resort Hotels.

I think you also MIGHT be able to do foreign exchange at California Adventure, but I've never tried it in there. But I can GUARANTEE you can exchange foreign cash inside Disneyland - I have don eit.

[lovintheland]

Thanks Princess, yesterday we decided that's what we would do but we will check inside Disneyland this morning(thanks Oz). About to hit the park for the first morning. Yay!!!!!!

[Oz-kateer]

Lovintheland - I was just on the phone to my cousin in LA and she mentioned that there is a full-on Travelex office in Downtown Disney, as well as desks inside Disneyland Park (at City Hall), and in California Adventure.

[lovintheland]

thanks so much oz kateer, will check it out tomorrow :)

[PrincessInOz]

For those overseas and may not have caught up with the news. Glenn Stevens is talking of prospect of RBA rate rise. Dollar is 94.5 cents.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/rba-hints-next-rate-move-will-be-up-20100920-15iz5.html
http://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/dollar-jumps-on-hawkish-rba-comments-20100920-15iat.html

And all this came after the earlier Age report.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/disappointment-risk-aussie-dollar-27-overvalued-20100920-15i8l.html

[mareeld86]

Dollar is 95.9cents today!! WOO HOO makes me happy sice my partner just got a new job so we can put 95%of his income into cash or onto a travel money card!!!

[platypus67]

I think it is time to pay the balance of our WDW package. I've got another 3 weeks before I have to, but with the dollar so high I don't want to wait any longer.

[areweindisneyyet]

ABC News this morning said forecasters believe that the AUD will get to $1.20 against the Greenback over the coming months.

Go the 2011 trip. Not that I'm complaining about the nineties.

[1rocky]

i hope this will be the case at $1.20 us would be great for Jan holiday:cool1::cool1:

[darren123]

at 5.44 pm Thursday Oct 7

The AUD is wait for it ...... 98.98

Yahooo

Will it go up more watch this space

[darren123]

Update
Now

99.00 at 5.49pm

[Mum from oz]

Wow!! My mums off to get her travel card tomorrow. Lucky her!

[aussiegirls]

Oh my gosh, that is amaaaaaazing - WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xxx

[kylieh]

Wonder if it will crack $1 tonight?????

[PrincessInOz]

I'll be at the bank tomorrow. :cool1:

[aussiegirls]

It will be great when we can actually get $1 for every $1 - so maybe when it is at $1.03 or something :banana::banana::banana:

I am sure I am not asking for too much :rotfl:

xxx

[Travel Mum]

OMG, you Aussies are soooooooooooo lucky !!!!!!!! :rolleyes1

[PrincessInOz]

I've been eyeing the Canon lens 17 - 55 f/2.8. This little beauty is $2000 over here. It retails at $1100 in the US.

Think I've just paid for my NEXT airline ticket! :lmao:

[AussieDisneyNut]

Wow ... love the $ :cool1: I'm torn though, do I go to the bank tomorrow or wait until next week and see what happens???:confused3

[Jade+3]

I've been eyeing the Canon lens 17 - 55 f/2.8. This little beauty is $2000 over here. It retails at $1100 in the US.

Think I've just paid for my NEXT airline ticket! :lmao:

Noooo, I didn't want to know that!! I am looking for a new lens too. DH is going to hate me!!

[shaz105]

With the Dollar been so good it make me want to book another US trip

Maybe I will have to work on Hubby more

[Saskiwi]

OMG, you Aussies are soooooooooooo lucky !!!!!!!! :rolleyes1

Yeah - happy for you guys - but spare a thought for your poor cousins earning Pacific pesos!! (aka Kiwi $) - we are now down to 76 Oz cents to our $, which is going to crimp my shopping on the Gold Coast in 2 weeks big time! waaaah:sad2:

[Travel Mum]

Yeah - happy for you guys - but spare a thought for your poor cousins earning Pacific pesos!! (aka Kiwi $) - we are now down to 76 Oz cents to our $, which is going to crimp my shopping on the Gold Coast in 2 weeks big time! waaaah:sad2:

I know, my cruise booking is in A$ so, although I don't have to pay the balance until next year, I do hope our dollar improves against the A$!!!

[Caroline NZ]

But yay for the Kiwi dollar also rising in value against the USD:yay:.
I purchased our Travel Cards (Kiwibank Visa Loaded for Travel) yesterday, and put the first USD dollars on them at .741. Way better than our trip in May09 when the rate was .54:eek:
I will see how the rate goes in the next few weeks before putting any more on, it's a bit of a gambling exercise isn't it!

[aussiegirls]

It is a gamble Caroline.

I put the bulk of my money on my travel card when the dollar was probably 10c less than it is now. Reason being that the AUD can be so volatile. It takes so long to get to a great rate, but then it can lose 20c or even more overnight.

So I bought mine at what I thought was a good price at the time. I am still happy with what I got, because it is much more than I got for it last year.

I am just really not much of a gambler :confused3

xxx

[Travel Mum]

Urggh, I so want to go out and buy a Travelcard and put some US$ on it because, as Caroline said, our dollar is at a good rate although nothing close to the incredible Aussie rates. However, I can't book our flights yet as it's still too early so, until I know whether we can get our two FF seats, I'm not sure whether we can afford to go. I'm afraid that I'll go and put US$ on a Travelcard and then find out we can't go :scared1: But it's so frustrating not making the most of the rate :headache:

Caroline, what made you chose a Kiwi Bank Travel card? There are so many to chose from - did you find that one was better? :confused3

[AussieDisneyNut]

Woohoo :woohoo: I just got some US$ at 95.4 ... can't get all our spending money just yet, but this rate was too good to pass up! :cheer2:

[Caroline NZ]

Hi Travel Mum.
I didn't do much research into the different Travel Cards.
Last year we used Cash Passports (Travelex) - also purchased from NZ Post.
But they were for ATM withdrawals only. The Load for Travel Card is a prepaid Visa that can be used at retailers as well. I had seen them advertised at the Post Shop I go to, and they seem fine for what we want. Even though I don't bank with Kiwibank it was still really easy to set up ( just done over the counter - took about 10 mins). The set up fee is $12 and then $10 for each extra load, which can be done via online banking.
The cards we have expire in Dec 2013. Even if you don't travel, by buying at a really good exchange rate you could probably make a gain by cashing up later if you didn't use it ( a bit of Futures trading lol). But then again, who knows, maybe the rate won't go down again for ages!

[darren123]

4.30 news on 7 said Dollar may reach $1.02 by years end and there is still other factors to consider.

[Saskiwi]

But yay for the Kiwi dollar also rising in value against the USD:yay:.
I purchased our Travel Cards (Kiwibank Visa Loaded for Travel) yesterday, and put the first USD dollars on them at .741. Way better than our trip in May09 when the rate was .54:eek:
I will see how the rate goes in the next few weeks before putting any more on, it's a bit of a gambling exercise isn't it!

Yeah, our last DL trip was April 09 so I remember that .54 pain all too well!!
Previous to that, we had last visited in the 90s when at one point the $NZ was below 50c US - that REALLY hurt...so 74c is looking pretty good. Thanks for the Travelcard tip - will look into it even though we aren't planning on another US trip 'til next year

[Travel Mum]

Congratulations to all you Aussies as your dollar is 1 for 1 with the U.S. !!!:cool1:

[battymum]

Yay!!! - Think I will go and get a travelcard next week!:banana::banana::banana: Although my budget was banking on another twelve months of saving!
Now when are those airfares going to reduce?

[Kalice]

Funny thing this dollar it's made my husband talk about going to to buy some us$ and maybe go next year!!!:cool1::dance3::cool1:

He's thinking April/May, I wanted October, after seening both DL and WDW with Christmas theming, I was very keen to go in October.

Anyway, off to unpack from Bali again!

[shushh]

To parity and beyond!!!! :banana:

[lindsey clare]

I am So very happy... we leave for the USA next friday :cheer2:

[mareeld86]

Woo Hoo Looking at my computer this morning 1 aud is getting 1.005 usd so we are getting half a cent more lol

[AussieTink]

Wow this is great news! Have eagerly been watching the dollar on the news every night. 20 days till our trip, so its very good news. Makes shopping easier too hehehe ;)

[darren123]

Booked hotel and car when AUD was .89 now we save over $100 on both
As the old TAA ad says up up and away ( sorry showing my age )

[jenshell75]

So excited we are paying our Disney Cruise deposit tomorrow and I am getting a travel card. I LOVE that Aussie Dollar $$$$$ :cool1::thumbsup2:banana::worship::cloud9::woohoo: :yay::cheer2:

[emilyd]

So excited we are paying our Disney Cruise deposit tomorrow and I am getting a travel card. I LOVE that Aussie Dollar $$$$$ :cool1::thumbsup2:banana::worship::cloud9::woohoo: :yay::cheer2:

todays rate friday is 98.20 from Aust post(uses American express rates) no commission,got some money on tuesday at 96.5 so will head down today and order more.

[mareeld86]

I am so excited! The dollar is So good right now My Walt Disney World Wedding is getting cheaper by the day and so is my Honeymoon! WOOT YAY im so happy!:cool1:

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Gee the dollar is climbing back up there. $1.06 today. I'm also dying over the euro at .81 and the pound at .67. I feel like driving to the bank and get myself a fist full of all of these dollars :lmao:.

I'm going to watch this for a few more days and once the kids head back to school Tuesday, if it's still looking good I need to get me some I think.

[5ofus]

I got some yesterday. :)

Even if it goes up a few more cents I'll be happy. When I went to Disneyland in 2001 it was 48 cents! Likewise the Pound and Euro.. on my 2002 trip they were .33 and .60! I couldn't really have picked WORSE times to travel!

[BecBennett]

With the $ so high, and the flights so cheap I really want to go back!

But DH is all "We should see other places first blah blah blah" :headache:

:rotfl:

[Travel Mum]

With the $ so high, and the flights so cheap I really want to go back!

But DH is all "We should see other places first blah blah blah" :headache:

:rotfl:

Yep, my DH is the same Bec. Boo hoo :sad2:

[BecBennett]

I'm hearing you loud and clear - What you're saying is we should send our DH's off on their exotic holidays, and you and I should meet up at Disney!! :thumbsup2

[Travel Mum]

I'm hearing you loud and clear - What you're saying is we should send our DH's off on their exotic holidays, and you and I should meet up at Disney!! :thumbsup2

Sounds like a good plan to me !! :cool1:

[tapdancer]

Our next trip isn't til December 2014 but if the $ hits $1.10 I am going to get some. The exchange rate made the world of difference to our Sept 11 holiday whereas in 1999 on our previous trip it was $0.76.

[hjd0411]

Isn't it great to see!! I've been when the $ was .50c and then around .75c and last time about .90-.95c. I've been buying when the rate is over $1 and it feels so good!! I have been able to "pay" for everything now - only spending money to go now!
The pound and euro are great too - but no plans for that side of the world at present!
Happy saving everyone!!! :)

[PrincessInOz]

Well....I'll chime in at the other end of the scale. Aussie battler to HK Dollar/Rimimbi is exchanging close on an 1:8 ratio. HK is looking incredibly cheap right now. :thumbsup2

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Well....I'll chime in at the other end of the scale. Aussie battler to HK Dollar/Rimimbi is exchanging close on an 1:8 ratio. HK is looking incredibly cheap right now. :thumbsup2

Oh, wow.

What do you think I could do a 7-9 day trip for to HK???? Roughly of course :lmao:

[PrincessInOz]

Oh, wow.

What do you think I could do a 7-9 day trip for to HK???? Roughly of course :lmao:

I'm actually surprised that you haven't posted on my PTR yet....:rolleyes1

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

I'm actually surprised that you haven't posted on my PTR yet....:rolleyes1

Oh no, did I miss a PTR? Oh yikes, sorry about that. I am a shocker for not noticing what is in people's signatures. Off to have a look.

[Toy Story]

We also exchanged more $ today. Got DD to empty her money box to transfer her spending $ :rotfl:

[PrincessInOz]

We also exchanged more $ today. Got DD to empty her money box to transfer her spending $ :rotfl:

Your ticker is also looking very exciting! :yay:

[queenie82]

Can someone give the UK pound a prod in a downwardly direction....
:teeth:

Pretty please...

[Sugarglider]

I want them all! I can't decide which ones to buy!!! :headache:

(I did buy USD actually)

[PrincessInOz]

Can someone give the UK pound a prod in a downwardly direction....
:teeth:

Pretty please...

You're kidding, right???

Try travelling to the UK with an exchange rate of 44 cents. 70 cents looks positively fantastic!!

[Toy Story]

Your ticker is also looking very exciting! :yay:

Thanks, so does your ticker! :banana:

Are we leaving a day apart? We are flying out on the 4th of April.

[Mum from oz]

The $$ is awesome right now. I had to take advantage of it and get some USD today. I went to ANZ this morning and loaded up a travel money card at $1.0316 last year I was cheering when I got $0.91! I am so :banana::banana::banana: right now.

[queenie82]

You're kidding, right???

Try travelling to the UK with an exchange rate of 44 cents. 70 cents looks positively fantastic!!
IT'S NOT 70!!!! If it was I would have bought some today :lmao:

It's .67 on xe and .65 in 'reality'


And we have travelled with it at .45 :headache:

[PrincessInOz]

IT'S NOT 70!!!! If it was I would have bought some today :lmao:

It's .67 on xe and .65 in 'reality'


And we have travelled with it at .45 :headache:

Still better than 45!

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

now now you two. please play nice bwahahaha :rotfl2::rotfl2:

[queenie82]

now now you two. please play nice bwahahaha :rotfl2::rotfl2:

¿Que?

[PrincessInOz]

now now you two. please play nice bwahahaha :rotfl2::rotfl2:

¿Que?

:scratchin More to the point ¿Por Que? :confused3

[aussietravellers]

IT'S NOT 70!!!! If it was I would have bought some today :lmao:

It's .67 on xe and .65 in 'reality'


And we have travelled with it at .45 :headache:

Still better than 45!

I travelled a few of times to the UK in the 90's when the pound was .35 :scared1: Now that was ridiculous. .45 sounded great back then :rotfl:

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks, so does your ticker! :banana:

Are we leaving a day apart? We are flying out on the 4th of April.

Sorry. I seem to have missed this question.

I'm flying out at the end of March. We're a few days apart. :goodvibes

[PrincessInOz]

I travelled a few of times to the UK in the 90's when the pound was .35 :scared1: Now that was ridiculous. .45 sounded great back then :rotfl:

:thumbsup2


Those were the days when the US dollar was at a 50 cent exchange rate. Here we are talking about over parity. :banana: