Using a FairFX currency card gives you much better exchange rates for your Euros that the airport or high street. To save money on your next trip to Europe, order one of our cards now!
If you are going on holiday to Spain or Greece, or to any other European country then at some point you will need to exchange pounds for euros. Most people will purchase their travel money a few days before they go away. Travel agents and banks can supply you with foreign currency and they will usually charge you a commission for doing so. One of the problems with taking all your holiday money euros as cash means that you will be walking around with a lot of money in your pocket.
People who want to feel safer and who don't like carrying a lot of money around with them when they are on holiday may prefer to use travellers cheques. One of the problems with using either traveller's cheques or cash is that once you have bought your travel money, you won't be able to take advantage of any further changes in the exchange rate. Currency exchange rates fluctuate all the time and you could get two or three more euros to the pound on one day, than you did on another.
Apart from buying your holiday money euros for cash or by using travellers' cheques, you can also use your credit card to draw money out once you reach your destination. When you use a credit card in this way the card issuer will take a commission because you have drawn cash, and it will also cost you more money to use the ATM machine. Increasingly people are getting fed up at having to pay all the hidden extras just to get their holiday money. If you are fed up and looking for an alternative means of sorting out your holiday money then you will pay less if you use a currency card.
Currency cards can be obtained online and they work in a similar way to a credit card or debit card, apart from the fact that you have to load the card up with money first to be able to use it. There are a number of companies that supply currency cards and the commission rates differ slightly from one provider to another. When you use a currency card you can always charge it up with more cash straight from your bank account either online or over the telephone.
You don't have ATM costs with a currency card and the charges are a lot lower than they would be on most credit cards. If you don't like carrying around a lot of cash with you when you are away, then currency cards are an ideal alternative. When you use a currency card you dispense with all the hassle and extra costs that are often associated with trying to get your holiday money euros.
Order your FairFX card today for much better Euro rates.
Thursday 29 April 2010, 12:14pm
If you have a holiday planned then before you go away you will probably want to sort out your holiday spending money. One of the problems that many of us face when going abroad is knowing where and how to get the best exchange rate when we go away. Below are a number of ideas for getting your travel money.
Tip 1: Buying Currency
Many travel agents will tell you that you can buy your currency from them and that when you return, they will change back notes over a certain denomination e.g. twenty euros. At the moment there is not that much difference in value between the pound and the euro although the exchange value changes every day. Buying currency from your travel agent is useful if you haven't had much time to sort out your travel money. If you don't want to take a pocket full of cash away with you then you may want to consider getting some travellers cheques.
Tip 2: Travellers Cheques
The main advantage of buying travellers cheques is that you are not carrying around a lot of cash. If you lose your travellers cheques or they are stolen, the company will get you some more. One of the problems with buying travellers cheques is that many hotels and exchange offices will charge an extra commission on tourist exchange rates when you use traveller's cheques.
Tip 3: Credit Cards
If you don't want to take a lot of foreign currency away with you, or deal with travellers cheques then you can use your credit card. A credit card is more convenient as you can get cash out of an ATM machine whenever you need it. You will be charged for borrowing money on your credit card and there is usually a charge for using ATM machines abroad.
While all of the above tips are useful and viable ways of getting your travel money sorted out, each option also has its drawbacks. There is a cheaper and more convenient way of getting your travel money, and that is by using a currency card. Currency cards are quite new and issuers charge different percentages for using them, nevertheless the charges are usually a lot lower than borrowing on your credit card and using an ATM machine.
A currency card is a prepaid card, which means it works in the same way as a credit or debit card, once you have loaded the money on it. Probably the best place to get your currency cards is online as you can also add more money online or by phone if you prefer. When you use a currency card there are no ATM charges, and the cost of the card is minimal when you compare it to borrowing on a credit card. A currency card is a convenient and cost effective way of getting your travel money and obtaining the best tourist exchange rates.
A FairFX card gives you better exchange rates and more security than other options for taking money abroad. Apply for your card today to save money on your next trip abroad.
Wednesday 28 April 2010, 10:26am
Are you looking for ways to save money on a trip abroad? Securing a prepaid currency card is the answer to your problem. With it, you will be able to get travel money direct at a competitive rate. Prepaid cards are also cheap, convenient, and easy to use. By using a prepaid currency card, you don't need to go through the hassle of exchanging currencies when you get to your destination.
Purchasing Foreign Currency Online
In buying currency online there are some important things to consider. First is that the online currency exchange company should have a minimum of 2 years of audited accounts, a risk-free service with online order encryption for safe purchase, and they must be registered with the Better Business Bureau.
The advantage of buying foreign currency online is that you can save money on exchange rates and you are also assured that you have the local currency available when you arrive to the country. You don't have to worry about transaction fees on ATM and credit cards. You can order travel cash with FairFX as well, but not at a rate as strong as on our currency cards.
Purchasing Foreign Currency in the Airports
Buying currencies in the airport is advantageous if you weren't able to exchange to the local currency before you got to the country. The airport exchange center is great for last minute emergencies and useful if you didn't prepare beforehand. The biggest disadvantage in buying foreign currencies in airports is the fee. It is very high and you can end up paying up to 15% more compared to other methods.
Securing a Prepaid Currency Card
All the above mentioned ways involve exchanging with cash, which is risky and unsettling. You can eliminate this risk by securing a prepaid currency card. You can get competitive rates similar to buying foreign currency online and you will have travel money direct at a better price.
You can have these benefits without the high fees charged in the airports and on the high street. You will also feel more secure carrying a card instead of money. It's clear that buying prepaid currency cards is the way to go if you're traveling abroad.
A FairFX card gives you better exchange rates and more security than other options for taking money abroad. Apply for your card today to save money on your next trip abroad.
Tuesday 27 April 2010, 09:55am
