Euros: buy now or buy later

[trainmania100]

Got a trip to Paris coming up, Eurostar from st Pancake to Gare de Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, change at gare de Lille , coming up in May.

With Brexit looming, I'd like some financial advice - would I be better to buy £1K in euros now, or wait?

Does anyone recon the currency exchange rate will change and I'll be getting more euros now than compared to after Brexit?

I could hoard thousands now and cash in after Brexit and make some profit?

Also will my traction likely be 373? Thanks

 

[cactustwirly]

Got a trip to Paris coming up, Eurostar from st Pancake to Gare de Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, change at gare de Lille , coming up in May.

With Brexit looming, I'd like some financial advice - would I be better to buy £1K in euros now, or wait?

Does anyone recon the currency exchange rate will change and I'll be getting more euros now than compared to after Brexit?

I could hoard thousands now and cash in after Brexit and make some profit?

Also will my traction likely be 373? Thanks

Very difficult to say, no one really knows what'll happen to the exchange rate!

But do not buy cash, that's the most expensive way! Get a 'Revolut' card or somerthing similar, which gives you the best exchange rate without charging fees!
Anyway, 1000 Euros seems rather a lot! I'd probably take 50-100 depending on how long you're staying.

 

[trainmania100]

Very difficult to say, no one really knows what'll happen to the exchange rate!

But do not buy cash, that's the most expensive way! Get a 'Revolut' card or somerthing similar, which gives you the best exchange rtate without charging fees!
Anyway, 1000 Euros seems rather a lot! I'd probably take 50-100 depending on how long you're staying.

Thanks, staying for a week at Disney land Paris, not all inclusive so would probably be safer than sorry and not need to use an ATM - thanks for the info, never used a revolut card, will look into

 

[Giugiaro]

Also, when using the ATM, try to use your bank's exchange rate, and not the one displayed on the ATM by the service provider. It's generally cheap, and when exchanging you pay taxes to your own country and not the country you're exchanging money on.

 

[Bald Rick]

If you want to get cash, use the website travelmoneymax.com to find the best rate at exchanges; you will get a better rate by applying via this site than as a walk up at the same exchange desk. The ICE atWaterloo is often cheapest. I’ve been doing this for years, and have *always*got a better rate than anywhere else, and it is usually better than the rate for using a card, even the commission free cards. To the extent that when I go abroad with mates they ask me to get the cash for them as it’s the best rate - and it is quite unnerving walking around London with 5 ‘bags of sand’ in your pocket!

Depends how many people you are getting cash for, but everything at Euro Disney is horrendously expensive. We spent €600 in three days for a family of four. The cheapest food is at McDonalds, and that is roughly twice the price it is here. There’s a sandwich place next to it (imaginatively called the earl of Sandwich); a wrap and a drink will be €12+. If you want dinner in a themed restaurant on site, you’re looking at €50 a head before drinks. I’m convinced it’s actually cheaper to fly to Florida.

Re the rate - it depends entirely on whether we get a deal, and when. If we get a deal the rate will rise about 1-2c, if we go out no deal it will drop about the same, perhaps a bit more, but possibly quite a bit more if the markets get jittery. If as econd referendum is confirmed (still unlikely in my view, but chances increasing), the rate will jump by about 5c.

I’m saying all this still spending the euros I got pre referendum at 1.35 *smug face*

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Use someone like Monzo or Starling. It's a fully fledged current account with no transaction or currency fees when used abroad. If paying on one of these cards, always pay in the local currency as you get Mastercard's FX rate. It saved me quite a bit when I was in Dublin.

 

[EssexGonzo]

Use someone like Monzo or Starling. It's a fully fledged current account with no transaction or currency fees when used abroad. If paying on one of these cards, always pay in the local currency as you get Mastercard's FX rate. It saved me quite a bit when I was in Dublin.

What he says - never, ever pay in GBP if using a card abroad. The PIN terminal quite often gives you the option so the retailer and local back profit from the exchange transaction. Local currency only.

Alternative cards with no fees and good FX rates that have switched us from carrying cash to using plastic again are Barclaycard Platinum (we have this) and Halifax Clarity - both recommended by Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert. True credit cards so make sure you pay the balance off at the end of the month. Costs nothing and has very good FX rates indeed - better than cash rates at a bureau or online.

And in terms of timing - to be honest, on a grand, there's very little to be lost/gained over the next few months. Worry more about the security of carrying cash around.

 

[_toommm_]

If you need cash, head to John Lewis - while this may seem like an unlikely candidate, we always have the best high street rates, and if you find a better high street rate (highly unlikely), we will price match with a quote receipt too