Finding The Cheapest Tourist Currency Rates For Your Next Trip

If you are pondering going to a distant land at some time in the near future, then the currency you will need to get will be top of your agenda. We are often guilty of overlooking the money we need to go away from home, resulting in us paying over-the-top tourist currency rates for our Great British Pound. There are different ways of exchanging the pound for foreign currencies. Continue reading to find out the best way to get more for your money.
Many people opt to use their credit cards whilst in a different country, People assume that this is a quick, safe and cheap option. In fact, using your credit card abroad can end up costing you more. You are often charged for using cash machines to take out funds. On top of this, most credit card providers charge handling fees and commission fees for exchanging currency. There is also a high risk of identity theft leading to unauthorised use of your card whilst you are away from home.
Another popular choice for travellers is travellers cheques. These bits of paper are worth a certain value and must be signed by the buyer once received. The problem with travellers cheques is that they are very easily stolen or misplaced. If they do go missing, it is also a hassle to get them replaced by the issuer (for starters you have to have all of the cheque numbers that were on the cheques!). The main disadvantage of this option is that customers are often charge very high tourist currency rates when swapping currencies.
The final option that many travellers choose is just to take cash with them when they go abroad. It is very easy to swap the Pound for the desired currency in your hand at many banks, Post Offices and building societies. Although you may think that you are getting a good deal (as per the poster when you walk in), you may actually be paying more in commission rates and handling fees than you are led to believe.
Many hardened travellers that are in the know (and have encountered these disadvantages) are now turning to the option of a prepaid currency card. They see that it has many advantages and recognise that it is one of the safest, simplest and cheapest options available. Essentially a plastic card, the owner can choose to top up the funds on the card whenever they like. It can be as much or as little as you want, how often you want to do it. Some of the issuers of prepaid currency cards may request you make an initial deposit of a set amount. After this you are free to use it as you desire.
These card issuers will often transfer your money quickly from your current bank account straight onto your prepaid currency card. It is also possible to request for funds to be transferred via text message, on the internet or by telephone. Some issuers will even allow others to add funds to your card at your request.
There are many advantages to having a prepaid currency card for trips, the main one being that you will get a much better deal on tourist currency rates. You can find out more about this option and even apply for a card by searching the internet via a search engine.