is it better to change money in the country your visiting or do it at home?

Generally it's better to change money when you arrive. There is a mark-up on the exchange rate when converting the home currency into foreign currency. In the UK, you're buying foreign currency - when you are abroad you're selling foreign currency.

Of course a lot depends on the charges made by the organisation doing the changing. There are people looking to rip you off in the UK and abroad. To get the best rate, you need a Nationwide Flexaccount with a debit card. If you use the card in cash machines abroad, you get a commercial exchange rate with no mark-up and no commission. And they don't pay me any commission for recommending them!

After many years traveling all over the world, I think is better to change money at home, because each country protects the own currency, but I couldn't find at home all currencies I needed, so I bought Euros or American dollars at home and changed them in the country I visited.

that depends where your traveling. i was in east africa recently and the exchange rate is pretty lousy for them.

the easiest was to go there with dollars and exchange it there, as if you want any amount of money there you always have to carry vast amounts of notes with you.

exchange rates are also better in the country you go to.

another thing to consider is that the banks often dont have every currency at hand and often need to order the money for all the more obscure countries. this takes time.

the euro is easy to get so get that in your country.

so: eastern africa take US dollars, europe get money before.

Normally I deposit my money into a Visa card and use the card when abroad, especially in the EU. It's safer and the exchange rate is a little bit better through the card. Plus, of course, if somebody pinches your card its no use to them.

Use a international bank if you have one close to home if not change it when you get to your destination. Do not exchange money at the airport or Hotels. You may have to exchange a small amount at the airport just to pay a taxi to get you to a Bank.

Its a bit of both really.

You do get a better rate while abroad but you have to go around and shop around.

Get some currency at home and some abroad.....best of both worlds.

Usually - I would do it before I went away - but I was surprised this year - when I got to Bulgaria the exchange rate was quite a bit higher than it was back home... So its up to you ..wether you want to take the chance.

without a doubt when you get where you are going have you not heard of rip off britian

and the suggestion in one answer that you should use you visa card in the way described to change money is I believe the most stupid and most expensive way of doing it

the final place to alter $s to Euros is interior the country you're traveling, France. they have a much bigger grant of Euros to interchange for you, the place your close by economic enterprise might could desire to reserve Euros and could charge you for it. be helpful to apply a economic enterprise in France, as they have plenty greater beneficial replace expenditures than the replace cubicles interior the airport or on the line.

I would check the charges with your bank but generally I have found that it works our cheaper (and much more convenient) to find an ATM machine and withdraw money from your personal account.