holiday money

[MAXYMOO]

can anyone tell me if they know the best place to exchange money to us dollars please

[lsharp]

any large post office that will have large sums of money in should do.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

travelex online are the best and you can order and pick them up at the airport the day you fly.

[Hymie]

I would agree with Isharp, the Post Office is your best bet in the UK (no commission charge � WYSIWYG). Even fairly small Post Offices will have most major foreign currencies in stock.

Don�t make the mistake I made a few years back (thinking I would get a better rate in the USA) � once I entered Hicksville, no bank would accept my Sterling, unless I had an account with them.

Having changed your money at the Post Office, you can fee smug knowing that you got a better rate than that offered by the Bureau du Change in the departure lounge.

[MAXYMOO]

thanks very much for your answer, im going to go with the post office, its just not knowing what was best to do and people keep telling me to get t/ cheques and as this is our first time to florida we are not sure.

[dzug]

If your High Street has an M&S with a BdeC you will do slightly better there than the Post Office.

Travelex (Norman's recommendation) has very good rates but you have to pay in advance by card - and depending on what card you use, charges levied by it (not by Travelex) may wipe out any saving on the exchange rates.

TCs are a mixed blessing - they are replaceable if lost, but can be awkward to use (Florida is one of the better places to use them though) and are expensive to change back to ��. (Unlike currency, you can't sell the surplus to friends)

Using your card there can be the best option of all - a credit card for spending and a debit card to get cash. Depends what cards you have - but it will be no worse than the PO in terms of overall charges/exchange rates

[Hymie]

Dzug is correct in that the exchange/charges on foreign credit card spending will be no worse than changing your money beforehand � with the advantage that you don�t need to carry large amounts of cash.

I would recommend taking enough dollars for general spending, with larger items paid for by a credit card.

A couple of tips � take more than one card, just in case one is refused for some reason.
The last time I was in the US, they did not have PIN pads in use, and may well ask for some form of ID to permit payment by card.

If it is your first trip to the States, remember that restaurant waiters expect (are taxed based on receiving) a 15% tip. The easiest way to calculate this is work out what 10% of the bill is, and add half again. If you don�t leave a tip � do not return to the restaurant.

[Hymie]

One thing I omitted to mention re tipping 15% - check that a service charge has not already been added to your bill (when perusing the menu), although this is not as common in the US as it is in the UK.

[MAXYMOO]

thanks for all your help