Exchange rate

[happyj]

So who are gamblers ? Do you buy now or wait to see if it goes any higher !!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

I'm not a gambler, but I will take a calculated risk.

Although I tend not to take much cash with me these days, because the rate has been better than it has on average in some years, I have been pre ordering every time the Thomas Cook click and collect is over 1.60. I got a rate of 1.62 yesterday, ordering from my desktop at work and then nipping across the road to collect it. It may go higher it may not. No way to tell, but if you spread your buying, I feel you offset any serious losses/gains and I prefer it that way.

 

[wayneg]

I gave up years ago trying to buy at the right time. 99.9% of what I spend goes on a fee free credit card, My Seaworld payment this week went out with an exchange rate of $1.66.
I will pick up some cash this year as I have almost run out but it will be last minute before we leave at whatever the rate is.

 

[tinkerpea]

Exchange rate is so unpredictable but we love taking cash and so I'm happy with anything over 1.60 considering what the rate was like last year! And some of the other times we have travelled!

 

[jessibelle]

I work with exchange rates at work, so steadily seen it go up and up in the past few weeks. I can decide whether to take the plunge at 1.63 or wait a little longer.

I miss the time I went when it was 2.00! It was like living in a half price sale!

 

[Kath2003]

I gave up years ago trying to buy at the right time. 99.9% of what I spend goes on a fee free credit card,

This. We use next to no cash - usually take $100 with us, mainly in singles. CC much less hassle, usually better rates.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

I haven't taken the plunge yet as I am still deciding what to do.

I don't want to take a credit card, so going to put the money I have saved for spending on a pre-paid card.

Today, FairFx's exchange rate (which has decreased slightly from yesterday) and is sitting at 1.6195.

Thomas Cook's prepaid card has an exchange rate of 1.6291 today.

Then nearer my travel date have a look at the exchange rates and get some dollars so I have some cash on me as well.

 

[zippy99]

I never buy dollars until I have paid my balance - so regardless of the rate i don't buy until 3 months out - it's a bit like saving money when you have debt until the balance is paid the spending money is pointless!

 

[2Tiggies]

I work with exchange rates at work, so steadily seen it go up and up in the past few weeks. I can decide whether to take the plunge at 1.63 or wait a little longer.

I miss the time I went when it was 2.00! It was like living in a half price sale!

Oh those were the days!

This. We use next to no cash - usually take $100 with us, mainly in singles. CC much less hassle, usually better rates.

We have become wiser to this over the years, though I like to have cash on me for tips and little incidentals. I've only been buying lately because the rate has been so good, but I have pretty much sorted DD's spending money (the portion she wants as cash, as the bulk goes onto gift cards). Odd thing is in my everyday life at home, I never have cash on me. If I buy a roll of peppermints it goes on a card. DD has to forewarn me if she needs change for anything and I have taken to giving her a weekly allowance and I just don't call in at cash machines. So it's a bit twisted in a way that I like to have some cash on me; not much, but some. I'm certainly not in with the extremely brave folk who buy all their currency in cash and take it with

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I'm certainly not in with the extremely brave folk who buy all their currency in cash and take it with

Well that puts me in that crazy bracket I like to take all our spending money in cash as then I know I can SPEND IT ALL I divide it up into little envelopes, one for each day with equal amount in each envelope. Then at the end of the holiday if there is any left (and there usually is) I know I can either splurge on something or bring it home for the next trip. This means that is never any nasty cc bills to come in 4-6 weeks after we get back

I also work with exchange rates and I've been keeping a very close eye on the rate .... I've got the time till we go (October) so I'm hoping it will creep up a bit more

 

[tinkerpea]

Well that puts me in that crazy bracket I like to take all our spending money in cash as then I know I can SPEND IT ALL I divide it up into little envelopes, one for each day with equal amount in each envelope. Then at the end of the holiday if there is any left (and there usually is) I know I can either splurge on something or bring it home for the next trip. This means that is never any nasty cc bills to come in 4-6 weeks after we get back

I also work with exchange rates and I've been keeping a very close eye on the rate .... I've got the time till we go (October) so I'm hoping it will creep up a bit more

Yep that's me too! Always had been and will continue to be so, we took £3000 in $$ last trip, put it in daily amounts and anything left over each day goes into the blow fund!
I love watching the blow fund grow each day! We then have a major splurge the lady few days.

 

[Elise79]

I never find the credit bill a shock as I know what I am spending.

I can not imagine carrying a large quantity of cash

I got $1.64 on my credit card for my December spends - if I had bought cash before the best was about $1.58. We only use about $200 in cash per trip and the bulk of that is at Skinnys as they are a cash only place

 

[Kath2003]

I never find the credit bill a shock as I know what I am spending.

I can not imagine carrying a large quantity of cash

I got $1.64 on my credit card for my December spends - if I had bought cash before the best was about $1.58. We only use about $200 in cash per trip and the bulk of that is at Skinnys as they are a cash only place

Again, this. The credit card is only changed when you buy things, hardly a nasty surprise?!

Lose a CC and you're pretty safe. Lose cash and you aren't ever getting it back - and unless you pay out for exceptional travel insurance, most don't cover more than £500 in cash AND documents...a typical policy only covers a couple of hundred in cash (because it's a liability!).

 

[tinkerpea]

Again, this. The credit card is only changed when you buy things, hardly a nasty surprise?!

Lose a CC and you're pretty safe. Lose cash and you aren't ever getting it back - and unless you pay out for exceptional travel insurance, most don't cover more than £500 in cash AND documents...a typical policy only covers a couple of hundred in cash (because it's a liability!).

We feel pretty safe carrying the cash, we have a cc for emergencies and we have done this for years, I guess its just personal preference

 

[tinks_1989]

We leave Thursday I have about $300 cash the rest will go on the FairFX card so easy to top up whilst we are there. No need to carry so much cash now x

 

[2Tiggies]

It really comes down to what works for each person and what you are comfortable with.

Like Tracy, I am very aware of what is happening in my accounts at all times and when I say I spend on a credit card, that's not spending on credit. I put the money aside into a savings account and transfer it into the credit card online as I spend. It works great and gives a better exchange rate (most of the time).

Staying onsite is easy for us because I got wise to using gift cards so it's easy to buy a few $100 gift cards at a time and then it's all round numbers going off the card

 

[happyj]

I do a mixture. Some FX some cash and using CC. With exchange rate so good I will probably put more on FX. I don't think it will go much higher.

 

[Laurafoster]

Previously we just took a credit card and a few hundred in cash. I prefer the security and like others have said its often better rates. We always pay anything straight off as we won't spend what we can't afford.

This year however I have been putting a little here and there on a fairfx card as and when I've had extra cash.

 

[bex7583]

i keep getting bits of cashing topping up my currency card and i dont have a trip booked but at least when we do come to book the sending money will be ready waiting