Home
FairFX Prepaid MasterCard®       ~       Looking for Corporate Cards?
FairFX Press Releases >

Avoid The Ski Holiday Slalom Of Foreign Currency Charges

• Luton and Birmingham UK’s most expensive airports for foreign currency purchases

• Holidaymakers could save up to 14% by purchasing their cash online

Travellers planning on hitting the slopes this October should beware when purchasing foreign currency, FairFX.com reveals. Holidaymakers who buy their foreign currency from the airport risk paying as much as 14 per cent more for their money if they leave it to the last minute.

Luton and Birmingham airports have been revealed to be the most expensive foreign exchange bureaux, charging unwitting travellers up to 14% more for their holiday money than if they had purchased it online.

FairFX.com’s analysis reveals the UK’s most expensive foreign exchange bureaux:

  1. Luton Airport- ICE
  2. Birmingham Airport- Travelex
  3. Stansted Airport- MoneyCorp

Many travel money providers claim they offer travellers 0 per cent commission but this hides the true margins they add – meaning travellers aren’t in the know and could end up sliding down a slippery slope of confusing charges and misleading advertising.

However, prepaid currency cards offer a different solution. They work just like a debit card but can be topped up via the internet or by text. The FairFX currency card offers rates for Euros and US dollars at less than one per cent margin above wholesale rates – i.e. giving all users ‘business’ level foreign exchange rates.

Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: “To avoid the worst rates on the market, which are generally found in airports and train stations, travellers need to get organised. As Sterling continues sink against the Euro, exchange rates will continue to fluctuate, and as the pound is expected to be weak for some time to come it is more vital than ever that people take steps to get as much as they can. By preparing in advance and buying your currency online instead of using costly debit or credit cards for foreign spending, travellers will be able to get the most bang for their buck this half term.”

Wednesday 14 October 2009, 05:31pm

Tags: currency charges, foreign currency, ski holiday

feed
Subscribe to our feed

Updates by email:

Latest Posts

Monthly Archives

2011

September (1 entry)

June (1 entry)

May (1 entry)

January (1 entry)

2010

November (1 entry)

September (2 entries)

May (1 entry)

March (1 entry)

2009

November (3 entries)

October (2 entries)

September (1 entry)

August (1 entry)

June (2 entries)

May (2 entries)

March (1 entry)

Febuary (2 entries)

January (5 entries)

2008

December (4 entries)

November (1 entry)

October (3 entries)

September (1 entry)

August (2 entries)

July (3 entries)

June (3 entries)

May (3 entries)

April (1 entry)

March (4 entries)

Febuary (1 entry)

2007

November (1 entry)

Tags

0% commission 0% myth 4th july APACS Australian dollar European Central Bank Federal Reserve G20 meeting Germany ICE M&S Money Transfer US employment data USD YouGov abroad airport airports bank of england banks best exchange rates best rates birmingham airport business expenses business expenses platform business expenses software cash cash abroad charges chip and PIN compare rates consumers corporate expenses credit crisis credit crunch currency currency card currency card discussion currency card reviews currency charges currency discussion currency exchange currency providers currency rates currency report currency volatility dollar dollar exchange rates dollar rates euro euro rate europe travel euros exchange rates fairfx fairfx.net fairpay feeling the pinch foreign foreign currency forex fraud fraud protection free card free fiver free money gap year global stock markets heathrow hidden charges holiday holiday charges holiday costs holiday money holidaymakers independence day industry interest rate interest rates international money transfer lock in rates london city luton market movement marks & spencer matalan monetary policy committee money supermarket mpc new york opodo partnership post office pound pound weakness prepaid cards press press mentions qe quantitative easing recession research round the world ryanair cash passport ryanair charges ryanair currency card ryanair fees ryanair prepaid mastercard ryanair travel card save money saving money ski holiday sms banking sms services sms top-up south africa south africa travel south african rand spending cuts spending power stephen heath sterling strong dollar strong euro students study summer holiday text top-up thomas cook top travel tips tourist rates of exchange transfer money from the uk travel travel cash travel money travel money card travel plans travel tips travelex travellers us dollar venice film festival withdrawing cash world cup travel