How do you buy your currency ??

[crabbie1]

We'll be taking a couple of credit cards with us, for 'bigger' purchases, such as a couple of pairs of Skechers, several chamilia charms etc

We'll probably take a few hundred $ in travellers cheques, and then pay the front desk with those to cover any KTTW card charges we make

Other than that, it will likely be cash. I have it all split up into different sections, for different uses etc. I like knowing exactly how much money I use, and how much money I have left. With cards, it gets away from me

Thats what I have always done to be honest.I split up my money and Dollor cheques into daily amounts(as a rough guide) so I know how much I have for each park,food etc always allowing a little extra.Not used a CC before and due to poor credit left from my previous relationship I cannot apply for one but DB has his barclay card and a santander one.

Probably a very similar rate using TC's & cash compared to your Barclaycard, either way will cost you 2-3% compared to using a free free credit card.
What do you mean wayne? Why do I get charged 2-3% on these? Do you mean what the companies buy for and then what they sell to the public for? Doesn't a CC give the same rate but also charge a fee for each transaction? What fee free card do you recommend? will get DB to look into it.

 

[wayneg]

What do you mean wayne? Why do I get charged 2-3% on these? Do you mean what the companies buy for and then what they sell to the public for? Doesn't a CC give the same rate but also charge a fee for each transaction? What fee free card do you recommend? will get DB to look into it.

If you spend on a fee free card today you will get $1.6119/£1

If you buy TC's or cash they use the same exchange rate but take off a % fee, Thomas Cook for example today you would get $1.5739 which means they are charging you 2.36% or 3.8 cents for every £1 you change.

Using a Barclaycard they would charge you 2.75% or 4.4 cents/£1 giving you an exchange rate of $1.5676

To get the full interbank rate of $1.6119 you need either Santander Zero, Halifax Clarity or the one I use Post Office credit card(£18.18 TopCashBack or £14 Quidco).

 

[merlin307]

Ok.May stick to our normal TC and Cash but will take for emergencys

We always take cash or TC's - the best rates we have found (apart from advance internet companies) is from Chequecentre (chequecentre.co.uk for locations)

Better rates with them that the normal high street companies (although Thomas Cook and Marks & Spencer have given us a rate match in the past)