ira

PS,

Your hubby is right. ATMs are everywhere.

rj007

MK2

I would agree with you that 26GBP is a fair price if you are splitting it among 4 people. Since I travel solo most of the time, 26 GBP is more than I want to pay.

Grasshopper

Get money from an ATM when you get there and it will cure your discomfort for arriving without cash. It's incredibly easy.

Christina

If this guy is really giving you interbank rate (which I doubt as I don't think he'll get that rate since he's not a bank) or close to it, and charging only $15 total for any amount, I'd sure do that. Why not, seems clear cut if that is really true.

I don't know why people insist you will have no trouble immediately getting GBP at Heathrow from an ATM and that it is really easy. Yes, they are down/broken/out of money. They all were in the area I landed in last year. Yes, I am sure some were working somewhere in Heathrow, but do you have any idea how big Heathrow is?


THe idea that wandering all over Heathrow searching for an ATM if the one or two near where you are or need to go to transport to the city aren't working for you (which is where they were all broken or down -- near the Airbus and Heathrow Express area) is not appealing to me.

I'll admit I don't believe the travel store guy, but think it's a good deal if true.

obxgirl

People are insisting it's easy to get cash when arriving at Heathrow because it is easy. Especially from the ATMs. Which are easy to find. And if in the unlikely event the ATMs aren't working there are multiple other options, as noted above. CCs are taken most everywhere including shops, restaurants, the Heathrow Xpress, Airbus and the tube. And as another backup, there are three Bureaux de Change which are very centrally located in Terminal 4 and easy to find. And open 24 hours a day. Not much wandering involved.

Sheesh. She's going to London, not Mars.

Besides, zwho is getting some cash ahead of time because it gives her peace of mind. Good for her. Money well spent.

Kayb95

Save yourself $15 and use the ATM machines. You will not need to purchase anything between the airplane doors and Customs. You will be able to find an ATM in the airport - and I'm willing to bet if you tell us which airport and terminal you'll be flying into, someone here can tell you exactly where the ATM machines are located.

If you are flying into Heathrow Terminal 4, the ATM machines are against the wall where the car rental desks are located - after you leave the Customs area.

Patrick

Do us all a big favor. If you find out this guy does in fact manage to give you money at the lowest bank rate (plus the mentioned fee), be sure and ask him where he gets this money. Assuming it's by legal means, we could all profit from finding out his secret.

ira

Hi Patrick,

He's also in the laundry business.

Patrick

Good one, ira.

Travelnut

You can order currency online from www.bankofamerica.com for the exchange rate + a small markup, and no delivery charge for $500+ order. You can have it mailed to you or you can pick it up at a local BOA branch. This is an alternative in case you aren't comfortable with the travel store's offer. I would think the BOA 5% markup is more than $15 (5% x $800=$40).

I'm in the camp of 'have some in my pocket' but now I just bring home some seed money for the next trip (from my last ATM withdrawal).

pilgrim

Just a reminder to have a four digit PIN for the ATM and have it memorized by numbers. Most English ATM's don't have letters above the digits as many in the US do.

Gavin

I always like to have local currency before I arrive. On a recent quick trip south of the border to the USA none of the three of us could find an ATM that worked. Fortunately two of us had (barely) enough US cash to make do.

tom_h

A poster above commented:
"Are you flying into Heathrow? You'll practically trip over the the ATMs after you come through customs".

Well, about a year ago I flew United into one of the Heathrow terminals, and I wasn't exactly "tripping" over ATMs. In fact I was getting rather anxious because of all I've read how ATMs are "everywhere". Eventually found a cluster of ATMs in my termninal, but it took conscious effort to do so.

I should qualify this, because at the time this particular terminal was undergoing a lot of construction and things were generally in disarray.

If it's only a matter of a few dollars, and if one feels better have some local cuurency (cash) in advance, then do it. But NOT travellers checks, they're a nuisance and obsolete nowadays.

hnami

I was so paranoid about having local currency that I made the mistake of exchanging too much, getting a bad exchange rate, and getting charged $30 by my bank. NEVER AGAIN. I should know better; I've traveled before. But the banks are getting really greedy about their fee income. ANY exchange booth in the airport --even ours --Dulles--would have been a better deal. I had good luck with MBNA's 1% surcharge and a pretty fair exchange rate. CCs are accepted most places that they are accepted here. Don't be stupid as I was...I'm still angry about it because everything in London was so expensive this year that I felt ripped off on both ends. Nevertheless, it was a great trip and I'm sure yours will be also!

kle

We used a cash card around Europe. EAsy to use and lots of places to use it. Just check with your bank to make sure they don't charge you per usage over there.

jsmith

Everytime I think of the old Europe when each country had its own currency, I wonder what all you folk would do who don't want to arrive without currency in hand. If you were making a multicountry tour, you'd need an extra suitcase.

If an ATM machine isn't immediately noticeable upon arrival it is very easy to ask at an info desk, in a shop, etc. The proper way to ask in the UK is: "Excuse me, can you direct me to a cash machine or cashpoint". Except in Scotland you should get an understandable answer.

Another way to get currency is to go into a bank with your card and ask for a cash advance. You may need a passport for ID.

zwho

Wow, all these replies. Heres what I know. We're flying American into Heathrow. There are lots of ATMS that I should have no trouble finding, but they may or may not work. Don't worry, I was going to ask about transport from the airport, just hadn't gotten there yet. That'll be another question, another day. Travelers checks are not necessary, credit cards will work almost everywhere. My husband was right-once! The most important thing I've learned is that half of you think I should get the money and the other half are okay with getting it at the airport. I really appreciate all your comments, and I am probably going to get some money before I leave. I'm going to forward this to my friends and let them do what they want. Thanks again.

PatrickLondon

Since you've raised the transport question:

http://www.baa.com/main/airports/hea...ere_frame.html

www.tfl.gov.uk

journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/

Kayb95

<i>&quot;and I am probably going to get some money before I leave.&quot;</i>

I did that on our first two trips to England - I wasn't quite ready to trust the ATM-only route. I went to one of the larger banks in my area and had to order the money about a week in advance. They didn't charge me a fee and I got a the actual exchange rate so it worked out OK. I just don't bother with it now that I've seen how abundant and easy ATM's are. But whatever you're comfortable with is the right thing to do.