US Currency Exchange Options
My wife and I will begin a "A Week In...Scotland" tour next month, followed right after by "The Best of Ireland, Small Groups" tour. Upon arrival in Glasgow, Scotland we'd like to exchange some US currency to pounds and euros, respectively. We've read that the airport exchange rate is terrible (as is often the case), and that post offices or Tesco stores are far better. Anyone feel a want or need to exchange US currency during your travels? If so, where would you recommend for the best exchange rates?
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Europe is pretty much a cashless society. You may want a little cash for incidentals but you’ll find credit cards and Apple Pay rule. If you are a Luddite like me and like to land with a little currency in your pocket get some from your bank here. Yes, the rate will be terrible but you’re only getting a little and compared to the total cost of your trip, it’s budget dust. If you can wait until you get there use an ATM in or attached to a bank. There are ATM’s at the airport but some charge a significantly higher rate and I don’t like standing in the airport surrounded by hoards and jet lagged doing a financial transaction. Nope. Use your debit card for the ATM just like you do at home. When the machine asks you to choose dollars or whatever currency you are withdrawing to calculate the charges always choose the local currency. If you choose dollars there will be an additional cost. This is called dynamic currency conversion, you can look it up. Best to do this during bank hours in the off chance the machine eats your card. Post office, Tesco? Never heard of that.
@Folsomdoc Great suggestion - thanks! We're thinking only a couple hundred dollars or so, in case we encounter a small pub or shop that doesn't accept credit cards. For such a small amount, using our own debit card at an ATM certainly sounds like a better/easier plan than searching around for a currency exchange.
All shops take credits cards, the UK is ahead of the US with electronic payments, some places do not take cash and I think checks are about gone.
Agree with British. I got the distinct feeling vendors didn’t want to deal with cash at all. When I bought a pint of strawberries the vendor quickly brought out the card machine. While we did the ESW, I’m sure Scotland is the same. We never used cash except a couple tips. So, so easy!
These are all great comments; glad to hear!!
Just be aware that Scotland uses the pound sterling and Ireland the euro. You can use some leftover pounds in Northern Ireland, which you will visit during your "Best of Ireland" tour.
Agree with above comments. Get £s & euros from a bank ATM and don't bother with $ exchange as you will get the prevailing tourist rate on the high street.
Most businesses generally are good for card payments - saves them handling and banking cash - although as remarked the occasional tip in cash or petty shopping may be more convenient with cash some times.
Just be aware that Scottish banknotes don't have to be accepted as payment in Northern Ireland if you have the misfortune to encounter a vendor who was so minded. [same for NI notes in UK and Scottish notes in NI and rest of UK]
Appreciate all your comments. It's good to know that leftover pounds can be used in Northern Ireland. We're planning to go the ATM route based on all your great feedback. Thanks!
We are about to do a trip that starts in Venice and then visits Croatia and Italy. The UK may be a cashless world but Venice is not. I have discovered that I will need significant amounts of cash for water taxis, gondolas, and porters. They only accept cash, and lots of it. We will be getting our Euros from an ATM.