Bought some Dollars today

[wayneg]

Today decided to buy a few Dollars to cover tips, tolls and anywhere I don't want to pay by credit card. Plus relatives wanted some getting.
I checked online and best I could find for this area was Post Office at $1.588 then Thomas Cook $1.585 Both rates only available if pre-ordered online for collection.

Went to local High St all rates around $1.55/$1.56, Thomas Cook had a sign in the window for their Cash Passport offering $1.60. I asked best rate for cash, after she tried getting me to take the passport she offered me $1.58 (just under their online rate) After a bit of bartering I got her to give $1.5984 ($960 for £600.61)

http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/holiday-money

Don't take their low offers, they can do better and match internet prices if they want to.

 

[Pegasus928]

Good advice reference haggling. They know they can do better than they are offering initially and are counting on people accepting the figure they see in the window. We have spent time going from one to the other in the high street asking them to match the price we had just been offered - and we have been told on more than one occasion that they spend time themselves, a couple of times a day, out and about seeing what the competition are offering.
It's also worth bearing in mind when offering advice to anyone on these boards that we don't all have credit cards - for whatever reason - and will be relying on getting the best rate available in the high street at the time.

 

[2Tiggies]

Wow Wayne!! You bought cash





I have often wondered if you can haggle a rate instore. When I walked past the Cheque Centre yesterday the rate was 1.60. It has dipped slightly today and was sitting at 1.59-odd. I think I may try my hand at a haggle or two.

Well done on your good deal

 

[wilma-bride]

Wow Wayne!! You bought cash

Watch the rate go through the roof now

 

[disneyholic family]

wow - i didn't know they would haggle!!

i can't do that....i am THE worst haggler in the world.
(pretty bad part of the world to live in, given my lack of ability in that area ).

 

[wayneg]

Watch the rate go through the roof now

Maybe I bought just in time, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/market_data/currency/11/12/intraday.stm

I usually take about $100 in cash unless cruising, I like to pay all the tips in cash onboard.

 

[wilma-bride]

, I like to pay all the tips in cash onboard.

me too It just feels more 'real' giving them cash.

 

[Squidgyness]

I remember we got $1.60ish rates in 06 and 09... and it was $2.00 for the years in between. Doh! Talk about missed opportunities. If only we'd had a good £10k. Might as well wish for the moon.

For our Malta trip we shopped around a bit more, even though I wanted to buy them so I didn't have the cash burning a hole in my pockets, and got a great deal on euros. These were two of the deals, as a comparison.

Thomson - £507 for 530 Euros

Dawson and Sanderson (the one we took) - £513 for 570 euros. So for £5 more we got 40 more euros.

So, even with other currencies it pays to shop around. I never realised how much difference there could be.

For our 2013 WDW trip (planned) I am toying with the idea of buying £300 worth of dollars for every installment of my student loans (I dont go out or buy many clothes.) for budgeting reasons, and to make sure I don't chicken out of the trip again.

Of course, if you get £500+ you get a better rate in most cases, so i'll probably just hold out till I have £1000.

 

[disneyholic family]

I usually take about $100 in cash unless cruising, I like to pay all the tips in cash onboard.

seems more real to me too - i also tipped in cash onboard...

 

[loobzuk]

I didn't know you could haggle either - not sure if I've got the confidence to do it.

My favourite song at the moment is "I need some dollars, dollars, dollars, dollars is what I need"! I keep singing that line over and over..

 

[wicket2005]

The money shop usually has the highest exchange rates, that's who we use

 

[TabZ]

The money shop usually has the highest exchange rates, that's who we use

Do they have a website? The only one that came up on Google was the payday loan people!

 

[wayneg]

Do they have a website? The only one that came up on Google was the payday loan people!

I think its this one, they have a branch in our local town but not easy to get to so I never look at their rates.
http://www.moneyshop.tv/foreign-currency/

 

[TabZ]

I think its this one, they have a branch in our local town but not easy to get to so I never look at their rates.
http://www.moneyshop.tv/foreign-currency/

Ahh cool thanks Both ICE and FairFX are offering slightly better rates at the moment if anyone is curious

 

[wicket2005]

Yes The Money Shop does do payday loans, it also buys gold and sells currency. The Money Shop will beat any high street price on currency and usually has the best rates available in the high street. I use them whenever we go away.