Currency advice - UK or AUS?

[guspjmh]

Well, our reccie is now only 4 weeks away and our timing in terms of GBP v AUD could not be worse!

 

Not sure whether rates will continue to plummet, but generally is it cheaper to get the money in the UK or wait until I am in Oz? We won't be changing a huge amount, as I will mainly be using a special credit card.

 

Cheers, Gus.

[snifter]

I doubt it will matter much for a small amount. Nowhere is going to give you a special rate. Some places will charge a crappy rate and zero commission, other places will give you a slightly better rate but then charge a fee.

 

Personally if you have a pre paid card to use for most of your spending I'd change it before you go so you don't have to faff once you land and look for a FE or bank.

[guspjmh]

I doubt it will matter much for a small amount. Nowhere is going to give you a special rate. Some places will charge a crappy rate and zero commission, other places will give you a slightly better rate but then charge a fee.

 

Personally if you have a pre paid card to use for most of your spending I'd change it before you go so you don't have to faff once you land and look for a FE or bank.

 

Cheers. I don't have a charge card as such, just a credit card which charges nothing for foreign transactions and bills at the (exact) current exchange rate without a commission.

 

I will still need about 1500AUD in cash though, so not sure whether I will get a better deal in the UK or over there.

[NicF]

I'm with Snifter - get in the UK before you get here. That way you have cash before you land and you don't have to mess about trying to find somewhere to change your money straight away.

[cliffy]

There are ATM's in Adelaide Airport. You can get cash there. I think the commision is more if you go to a bank in UK.

I have given up trying to get any foreign cash before I travel, that includes UK and Europe.

I just use the ATM's at the airport when I arrive and draw cash each week as I want it.

This is mainly because I once "lost" about $400, while I was travelling. I now only carry what I need for the week and use my credit card for all hotels, meals and transport.

[Sallyh]

The post office don't charge commission. So I think it is generally worth using them for whatever cash you want to bring. Don't know of places here that don't charge commission.

[Guest MandiMR2]

I agree with cliffy, use the ATM's as & when needed, that's what we did when we last went to Oz, much easier.

[zebedee]

Post Office Credit Card is extremely competitive for this - though you can't pay it off online which is a drag.