todays exchange rate

[wayneg]

I don't sweat a drop of a few cents. Unless you load a substantial amount in one go, the difference is still so nominal. I am quite pleased with the rate as it is. Of course I don't mind it going up but I must be a bit odd in that to me, 1.58 and 1.62 is all pretty much the same thing.

I think many need to remember this, a few cents does not make a massive difference to the majority of us. We get a bit obsessed with finding the best rate, waiting for the right time etc. In reality its not worth worrying, I paid my cruise off earlier this year, $1200. Since paying the difference between highest and lowest rate all year has been about £21, is it worth losing any sleep over £7pp?
If you are paying every part of your trip in $'s, flights, hotels, cruise, car hire & spend then yes it can make a difference but majotity of us pay for most of the trip in £'s at rate fixed months before.
We all like a better rate but I have given up stressing over it.

 

[wayneg]

Just debating whether to transfer £1500 in one go whilst the rate is still good. Decisions!

If it was me, I probably would. Todays rate is close to a 12 month high, I would be happy at that.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/market_data/currency/11/12/twelve_month.stm

 

[kazdav]

And it's gone!

 

[les2425]

today rate at thomas cook online $1.6000
£500 = $800.00
Record low monday 17th may 2010 $1.3786 £ 500 = $689.30
Record high tuesday 17th nov 2009 $1.6357 £ 500 = $817.35



its a $1.60 day again

 

[2Tiggies]

Has anyone else noticed that FairFX is not offering rates much higher than the High Street rate over the past months?

Today is the second time recently where the High Street rate is actually higher than FairFX prepaid card rate

I looked online at their rate this morning and it was 1.58-something. I walked past the Cheque Centre about an hour later and the rate there is 1.60. And it is 1.60 as I went in and bought some cash

Anyway, just had a look now and FairFX is sitting at 1.59

Very odd

 

[les2425]

today rate at thomas cook online $1.5830 DOWN 0.0170
£500 = $791.50 DOWN $8.50
DOWN $ 8.50 since last since Friday
Record low monday 17th may 2010 $1.3786 £ 500 = $689.30
Record high tuesday 17th nov 2009 $1.6357 £ 500 = $817.35

 

[Marl]

Decided to start getting some holiday money yesterday, with the Thomas Cook rate sticking at 1.60.
Sent DH into Thomas Cook with £520 to change into USD notes, it wasn't until a few minutes later sat in cinema waiting for Harry Potter to start, that DH checked his receipt. The rate Thomas Cook gave us was 1.51923
After Harry Potter finished we went back to Thomas Cook and they said it was because minimum spend was £1000 (this was blocked in window display by huge hand written poster saying USD 1.60). When DH first bought the dollars the lady serving him asked if he was going to be getting any more USD, my DH told her we would be getting at least another £1000. Why didn't she mention minimum spend then and try to triple his order straight away? All she had told him about was their currency passport card type thingy and that we should put the rest on that (Not sure though, I still like old fashioned travellers cheques so that I can see what I have spent and what I have left easier).
I queried huge difference between rates and the lady said she would see what she could do. She asked us several times if we had booked our holiday with them, our answer was no. She then changed our rate to 1.595 and gave us $40 extra.

DH says I have to sort out rest of money now

I have told him about the fee free credit card that Wayne has mentioned so might look into that for future trips also. I'll just have to take a notebook and calculator with me and keep a close eye on my spending

 

[wayneg]

I posted my experience with TC FE a few week back, big sign for $1.60 in the window. Here it is http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2740844

Glad you got another $40 out of them.

 

[Marl]

Thanks Wayne, I felt quite sick when DH first showed me that we had got 1.51923

 

[wayneg]

Thanks Wayne, I felt quite sick when DH first showed me that we had got 1.51923

I bet you did. Hope you enjoyed the film, Matt did a small review on his Blog if you are interested in reading. http://mathewgillings.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/harry-potter/

 

[Marl]

Film was bloomin' brilliant, I have never sat so still for 2 hours.
for Matt's review.

 

[crabbie1]

Thanks Wayne, I felt quite sick when DH first showed me that we had got 1.51923

I would hv been fumingIf u couldnt see the sign its false advertisement.1.51!!! Thts lower than anywhere Iv seen. Never buy from TA think they rip people off.
Im like you like you and cash and TC but hv also used fairfx card. Prepaid and u get a better rate than high street. Glad you got it sorted.

 

[wayneg]

I would hv been fumingIf u couldnt see the sign its false advertisement.1.51!!! Thts lower than anywhere Iv seen. Never buy from TA think they rip people off.
Im like you like you and cash and TC but hv also used fairfx card. Prepaid and u get a better rate than high street. Glad you got it sorted.

High st exchanges can match(or beat) any online rate if they want, you just need to haggle with them. You will get good rates if you exchange a lot of money or they are having a really quiet day.

 

[2Tiggies]

High st exchanges can match(or beat) any online rate if they want, you just need to haggle with them. You will get good rates if you exchange a lot of money or they are having a really quiet day.

Totally agreed! Yesterday I got more from Cheque Centre than FairFX was offering and I didn't even haggle with them (it was hardly worth it for a few hundred pounds). It's like the package vs DIY scenario: you can't dismiss any option until you check it out first.

 

[wayneg]

With the US financial mess and now more worries in the Euro zone theres been a nice jump in the value of the £, up 1c against the $ in the past hour, upto $1.64 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/market_data/currency/11/12/intraday.stm

 

[2Tiggies]

With the US financial mess and now more worries in the Euro zone theres been a nice jump in the value of the £, up 1c against the $ in the past hour, upto $1.64 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/market_data/currency/11/12/intraday.stm

I've been watching it intently today. I am still planning to get a fair amount of currency before we go. I'm happy with the rate as it is, so I will wait it out and if it rises significantly, that's great. If I see it falling to where it is at present, I won't be too upset about it. It's so easy to get sucked into this constant £/$ observation

 

[wildwood]

I went into Thomas cook yersterday as my branch in plymouth also had the sign saying 1.60 as she was doing the transation she recived a phone call to say she had to take down the sign and they could not continue to offer 1.60 she did say they would allow mine to go through at 1.60 which I was happy with .I am not sure if many towns have a place called the MONEYSHOP but they have offered the best rate in plymouth for a long time being a good few points above the rest ( they are also online) , the only issue is that they do not always have large amounts of $ in stock but I have then asked them to write down there rate and go to a travel agaent that price matches ( hopw this helps someone )

Only 5 days and I will be able to spend them whoo hoo

 

[les2425]

today rate at thomas cook online $1.600 UP 0.0170
£500 = $800.00 UP $8.50
$ 0.00 since last since Friday
Record low monday 17th may 2010 $1.3786 £ 500 = $689.30
Record high tuesday 17th nov 2009 $1.6357 £ 500 = $817.35



its a $1.60 day

 

[jen_uk]

I've never thought before of asking for a better rate until I read here that you can, I got my money today and the advertised rate was 1.58 but I asked for more and she gave me 1.60

 

[les2425]

today rate at thomas cook online $1.600
£500 = $800.00
$ 0.00 since last since Friday
Record low monday 17th may 2010 $1.3786 £ 500 = $689.30
Record high tuesday 17th nov 2009 $1.6357 £ 500 = $817.35


IT'S A $1.60 DAY AGAIN