#Foreign currency comparison plus

Not sure how much you’ll need? Think about how much money you’ll use for food and drink each day, plus travel and excursions, then add a bit extra for emergencies. Spend loose change and small currency notes before you go home as these can’t be converted back to euro.Work out your budget and stick to it: Avoid reloading charges on a prepaid card or ATM withdrawal fees.Say ‘no’ to ATM currency conversions: Don’t let the ATM charge your Irish account in euro, as the exchange rate is usually worse than your bank and you could pay as much as 5% more.Limit the number of card transactions to save on transaction charges, unless you have a card with zero foreign transaction fees.Have more than one way to pay: Use cash for small purchases and a credit or prepaid card for larger purchases. Different currency services use different fee structures, which can make it hard to see which is the best foreign exchange for your needs.Pay in the local currency rather than in euro, as it’s usually cheaper in local currency. We found 17 travel money suppliers offering £750 worth of euros for delivery and accepting payment by debit card.Tell your bank you’re going away to avoid your bank cards being blocked.Now you’ve sorted out travel money for your foreign trip, here are some other ways to save money and keep costs down whilst travelling abroad. If you have currency left over at the end of your trip, you can get larger notes converted back to euro, but you may be charged.

Don't let bureaux hold your cash for long - you've little protection. Avoid the debit cards from HELL - some fine you for spending abroad. Next time you are planning a holiday, visit one of our stores or visit our travel money hub to check our latest foreign currency. Beware charges for using credit cards to buy your travel money. If time is running out, order online in advance and collect it from the airport. The RIGHT cards consistently beat travel cash rates.

Don’t buy your currency at the airport as you’ll usually get a bad exchange rate.

Watch out for commission charges but be aware that commission-free isn’t necessarily the best deal as the exchange rate may be lower.

These can vary depending on how much you buy so look at the total cost.

Check the delivery charges if you order online or over the phone.

The more currency you order, the better the rate.

Be aware of tiered rates and check which rate you’d get for the amount you need.

Order online and collect your order in person, as you’ll usually get a better rate.

Some offer an online tool that lets you see how much currency you’ll get in return for your euro.

Shop around and compare rates from different providers.

Getting a good exchange rate gives you more travel money for your euro. When purchasing less-available foreign currencies in particular, the differences in rates offered by various banks can be considerable.

Foreign currency comparison