Time to get your Euros

Ozzy Pete · Apr 14, 2022

Today has been a good day to get your Euros for holidays.
Some of the best rates now in years.

Corradobrit · Apr 14, 2022

Very true and I took advantage big time. Had a bunch of cash waiting in my Wise.com US$ account waiting for the right moment.

Kernowboy · Apr 14, 2022

That’s good to hear. In Tignes this week making the most of the late season snow. Makes the 9.5 euro I paid for a beer earlier a bit more palatable!

B J G · Apr 15, 2022

Did a transfer yesterday and rate even better today.

Ozzy Pete · Apr 15, 2022

B J G said:
Did a transfer yesterday and rate even better today.

Only a smidge.Cant see them going much higher. But then you never know with exchange rates. I’m really happy with what I got. Will get a few more litres of Diesel. €1.21 - £1 is the highest it’s been for years.

B J G · Apr 15, 2022

Ozzy Pete said:
Only a smidge.Cant see them going much higher. But then you never know with exchange rates. I’m really happy with what I got. Will get a few more litres of Diesel. €1.21 - £1 is the highest it’s been for years.

Are you quoting headline rate or what actually given in cash terms?

Ozzy Pete · Apr 15, 2022

B J G said:
Are you quoting headline rate or what actually given in cash terms?

Obviously what you actually get is lower that the actual exchange rate depending on where you go. But it’s still at around highest for years. Allow around 1.5% less than the Interbank rate. This is normally online and you always get less on the high street and very very much less in an airport, which I can’t understand why anyone would want to get mugged in that way.

G3WRT · Apr 16, 2022

Kernowboy said:
That’s good to hear. In Tignes this week making the most of the late season snow. Makes the 9.5 euro I paid for a beer earlier a bit more palatable!

Blimey thats expensive beer and I was thinking of joining you - are you staying in your camper? I monitor the web cams in tignes every day and it is melting...

also do we really need cash these days? really? cant we use our cards?

Corradobrit · Apr 16, 2022

G3WRT said:
Blimey thats expensive beer and I was thinking of joining you - are you staying in your camper? I monitor the web cams in tignes every day and it is melting...

also do we really need cash these days? really? cant we use our cards?

Sure, so long as you don't mind being screwed on the exchange rate used by the bank or card.

G3WRT · Apr 16, 2022

Corradobrit said:
Sure, so long as you don't mind being screwed on the exchange rate used by the bank or card.

oh I didnt realise they do that.

G3WRT · Apr 16, 2022

G3WRT said:
oh I didnt realise they do that.

and are you staying in the camper = I want to know if it gets to cold inconvnient with ski stuff?

Ozzy Pete · Apr 16, 2022

Cash is always King....

s2bear · Apr 16, 2022

Kernowboy said:
That’s good to hear. In Tignes this week making the most of the late season snow. Makes the 9.5 euro I paid for a beer earlier a bit more palatable!

I’m in Saint Foy Tarentaise! How’s the snow in Tignes? it’s ok here between 10-2 then it’s pretty sticky.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Kernowboy · Apr 16, 2022

s2bear said:
I’m in Saint Foy Tarentaise! How’s the snow in Tignes? it’s ok here between 10-2 then it’s pretty sticky.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It’s been glorious sunshine for the last 7 days which is taking it’s toll. Heavy going later in the day lower down, but Tigne has plenty higher up and on the glacier which is still pretty good; noticeable difference between the North and South facing slopes. Temp needs to drop if they are going to get through to the end of the season though.

Kernowboy · Apr 16, 2022

G3WRT said:
Blimey thats expensive beer and I was thinking of joining you - are you staying in your camper? I monitor the web cams in tignes every day and it is melting...

also do we really need cash these days? really? cant we use our cards?

No, not in the Cali. 4 up in a 2 bed apartment generates enough fighting between the young uns. Wouldn’t contemplate staying in the van until there is just the 2 of us. Tbh, the cost of a decent apartment isn’t that great compared to the overall cost of a ski trip, certainly outside of half term/NY, so for me even then would probably be a compromise not worth making.
Haven’t used any cash either, Halifax Clarity card is pretty good on exchange rate and no charges.

Elmo3 · Apr 16, 2022

G3WRT said:
Blimey thats expensive beer and I was thinking of joining you - are you staying in your camper? I monitor the web cams in tignes every day and it is melting...

also do we really need cash these days? really? cant we use our cards?

Going to Greece soon. Need to take cash as many of the bars and tavernas on the smaller islands only take cash…

B J G · Apr 16, 2022

G3WRT said:
Blimey thats expensive beer and I was thinking of joining you - are you staying in your camper? I monitor the web cams in tignes every day and it is melting...

also do we really need cash these days? really? cant we use our cards?

Some cards are good but check yours for what they give for exchange rate and any other charges per transaction..

vmaxkiddy · Apr 17, 2022

G3WRT said:
oh I didnt realise they do that.

Look at a Revolut card, exchange rate is usually best around. https://www.revolut.com/a-radically-better-account

Ozzy Pete · Apr 17, 2022

It’s all a risk but if Le Pen gets in the Euro will weaken and if Macron gets back it will strengthen. So at around €1.20 at the moment it’s pretty good.

The Tall Luthier · Apr 17, 2022

vmaxkiddy said:
Look at a Revolut card, exchange rate is usually best around. https://www.revolut.com/a-radically-better-account

Revolut now charge 1% on exchange transactions. So no cheaper than a credit card company. Great whilst it lasted. I still use it as it has so many other benefits like using cash machines abroad and being able to pay in a local currency.

If you’re the type to get annoyed by cashing at the wrong exchange rate and have time to plan, simply buy a percentage of your currency needs every Monday. The rate will rise and fall but over a period of weeks you will get an average rate. That May make you feel less annoyed.

drdaveboycali · Apr 17, 2022

starling card for me saves the cost of changing back and dont need to carry much cash around

Amarillo · Apr 17, 2022

Years ago (~1994) there used to be a neat trick for getting foreign cash with the Nationwide credit card.

Put the credit card into credit, and withdraw cash from a foreign machine. You would avoid cash advance fees because you were in credit, and lose just 0.5% on the exchange rate.

Alas, no more.

Rololux · Apr 17, 2022

You might want to consider a Wise (used to be called Transferwise) account. You can add any currency to your account, and withdraw in any other currency at interbank rates, with very small commission, typically much less than 0.5%. You can get a debit card for a small annual fee, then just use as normal. I’ve used them for transfers between GBP and Euros - between bank accounts usually takes a couple of minutes - very reliable and easy to use. The way it works is that they hold money in multiple bank accounts in different currencies, so no actual transactions are taking place when you think you are doing a transaction, hence no transaction costs. Very clever.