where and when to exchange currency
 

I am going to London in June. Should I take cash and buy British pounds at Gatwick, or do you recommend using the ATM machines there, OR should I go ahead and buy/exchange them on-line? What is cheaper? Thanks for any help I can get.

OK - the Fodors foreign exchange lesson - - Don't exchange money anywhere. Use your ATM card to get cash as you need it.

(If you just can't face arriving at Gatwick w/o some cash - exchange a few $ at your departure airport.)

Use the ATM for your cash. Use a credit card for big purchases (i.e., hotel, car, etc.). You lose money when you exchange cash. I prefer having some local currency when I land, so I change about $100 at my departure airport. Some people disagree with that but it works for me. Do a search here for ATM, this question is asked several times a week and there is a lot of information already posted that might be useful for you.

ATMs are readily available at the airport even during peak travel season. We had to look for another one since the first one you get to after baggage claim was empty. You get a better exchange rate with ATMs also. I do however carry a small amount of cash for the just in case I can't find one with money, but just enough to get me on the train and into the city.

Clea

ATM, ATM, ATM.

And did I mention the ATM?? Seriously, it's a lot cheaper to use the ATM than to exchange cash.

Note: The ATM machines just outside the baggage claim at Gatwick are sometimes out of cash, but do not fear!! Just take the escalator up one floor and you will find several more ATMs. :-)

There are some important things to do BEFORE leaving home to be sure your credit cards and ATM cards will work in Europe. Here is a link to a helpful article: http://tinyurl.com/k3vy6.

Unless you are travelling to a remote part of Siberia (and maybe even then), use an ATM machine as you need cash.

For further information do a general search for "ATM" in the Europe forum