Luton, Newcastle and Liverpool airport offer extremely uncompetitive exchange rates to holidaymakers according to a study carried out by FairFX the currency specialists.

Other airports such as Leeds and Bradford were also found to leave Brit’s heading off on their holidays feeling rather short changed. Gatwick came out top of the study and was found to offer competitive exchange rates.

Unfortunately so many people leave buying their holiday money until they reach the airport where they are going to receive poor exchange rates. With no other competition in sight Airport Bureau de Changes can add hefty margins on to the exchange rates they offer and some also add a commission fee as well meaning that you end up getting far less for your pound than if you had bought your foreign currency before you reached the airport.

Getting the best foreign currency exchange rate.
In order to get the best deal when buying holiday money you need to visit Compare Currency. At Compare Currency foreign exchange specialists have trawled the high street and online to find the best exchange rates out there. The straightforward Travel Money comparison table allows you to compare the exchange rates and fees offered by the leading currency providers in order to find the best deal.

The difference in exchange rates from an online currency comparison website and airport currency exchange rates can give you enough extra money for a meal out or pay for a day trip. The savings have been proven to be very significant.

In summary, always shop around before you go on holiday for your travel money. Don’t leave buying your holiday money to the last minute. Online exchange rates are far more competitive and will give you more spending money whilst abroad.

Visit the Compare Currency Travel Money table now to find the best travel money exchange rates.

If you are planning to move overseas choosing the right country to live in is vital. With the weakening of the pound against the Euro over the past year many Britons have been returning home as they simply can no longer afford to live out their dream in warmer climates. The cost of living has become extremely expensive for many expats living within the Euro zone and for some it has simply become too much!

However not everyone is being deterred from moving to France or Spain, the warm weather, relaxed culture and overall quality of life offered on the continent is still just as appealing as it has ever been for some Brit’s.

Here is a list of the top 10 destinations for Expats

1. Australia – The sunny beaches, great cities and English spoken language make Australia so appealing especially with the young. Many 16-35 year old people move to Australia either to travel or to work professionally. Salaries may not as high as potential earnings in the UK but overall quality of life is far better.
2. Spain – The Costa’s remain popular with 10% of British Expats who chose to move to sunny Spain. The Spanish Expat community is very strong and in some regions British shops, bars and cafes make you feel as though you’ve never left Blighty. However if you are looking to embrace the Spanish way of life and culture many rustic villages and towns away from the coast offer a far simpler way of life.
3. USA – America is a top destination for Brit’s outside of Europe. The recent weakening of the pound against the Dollar will make holidays to the USA more expensive than in recent years. However many Brit’s looking to relocate to America will be in for a pleasant surprise when looking to purchase a house in the USA. House prices over the past 2 years have fallen dramatically meaning that in many states you will be able to grab yourself a luxurious home that will be far more palatial than anything you could afford in the UK, especially in areas such as Florida and on the outskirts of New York.
4. Canada – Here similar to Australia wages are quite considerable lower than potential earnings in the UK but of the 603,000 Brit’s living in Canada many value the standard of living here as far more important.
5. Ireland – 291,000 British people currently live in Ireland, which offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
6. New Zealand – The scenery, language and climate make New Zealand a popular destination to live, according to the BBC over 215,000 Britons now live in New Zealand.
7. South Africa – The cost of living here and the colonial past keep Britons coming to this wonderful country. The immanent World Cup is likely to encourage more Brit’s to pack up and move to South Africa after they experience the warmer weather and the stunning landscapes. The South African Government will be doing a lot to improve the crime rates in South Africa over the coming months before this country has the world’s attention during the games. This will improve the quality of life for so many British expats in South Africa.
8. France – Over two thirds of British expats lived in France in 2008 but with the increase in the cost of living in France thanks to the weakening of the pound France has fallen into 8^th position. It is still by far the most popular overseas destination for the over 55’s.
9. Italy – Great food, warm weather and friendly locals make Italy a top country to live in overseas.
10. Thailand – The exotic culture, beautiful landscape and beaches make Thailand a popular destination for British Expats. The food and culture offer a completely different way of life for many Brits looking to escape the monotony of British life.

If you are moving overseas……

The exchange rate will play a huge part in influencing your decision to move abroad. With the recent weakening of the pound some countries are becoming too expensive for British people. International money transfers are a way of sending your funds abroad and can be carried out via your local high street bank or by using a Foreign Exchange Broker. You will find that Foreign Exchange Brokers offer far better rates for currency transfer than banks do.

When moving abroad it is vital that you contact a Foreign Exchange Broker as early of possible to discuss current exchange rates and recent movements in the currency markets in order to find out how much money you will have if you convert your pounds into a foreign currency.

At Compare Currency we offer free and impartial information on the UK’s leading Foreign Exchange Brokers so that you can find the best deal when sending money overseas. Visit our money transfer tables now to find out what is on offer.

For more information on sending money overseas and how to transfer money visit our money transfer guide.

The currency used in Dubai is called the United Arab Emirate Dirham which is also known as UAE Dirham. The Dirham is made up of smaller denominations called fils. 1 Dirham is equal to 100 Fils. UAE Dirham notes are available in the following denominations; 1000 Dirhams, 500 , 200 Dirhams, 100 Dirhams, 50 Dirhams, 20 Dirhams, 10 Dirhams and 5 Dirhams. United Arab Emirate coins are in the denominations of 1 Dirham, 50 Fils, 25 Fils, 10 Fils, 5 Fils and 1 Fil.

Get the best exchange rate
Before you travel to Dubai, I would recommend buying your travel money. Visit our comparison tables at www.comparecurrency.co.uk to view the most competitive exchange rates currently being offered online for holiday money. We have used the top 5 most popular travel money currencies to show you which companies offer the best foreign exchange rates. Simply click on the buy now button and you will be transferred through to the others currencies that are available and this is where you will find UAE Dirhams. We have trailed the high street and online to find the best currency exchange rates for you.

A little shopping around for your currency will make a huge difference. Do not simply use your bank when buying travel money. As you will see from our travel money table banks offer a far lower exchange rate than other leading UK travel money providers. If you convert your British pounds into UAE Dirham at your local bank you will end up feeling rather short changed. The same applies if you wait until you are at the airport to buy your foreign currency. Airport bureau de changes have absolutely no competition so can and will offer you a far poorer exchange rate than you could potentially get online. Buy currency online now.

Buying currency whilst in Dubai
If you do need to convert more money into UAE Dirhams whilst in Dubai you will find branches of numerous international banks in the city, including Lloyds, HSBC and Citibank. There is also no shortage of ATM machines in Dubai where you will be able to withdrawal money if required.

Buy UAE  Dirhams
At Compare Currency we offer impartial information that allows you to compare currency exchange rates using our travel money comparison tables. Find out which leading UK travel money exchange provider is offering the best holiday currency exchange and buy travel money online now.

Travelex offer a fantastic prepaid travel money card that allows you to load your travel money at a fixed exchange rate onto a currency card which can be used whilst abroad to pay for goods and to withdrawal money from ATM machines.

As Travelex express on their website a “Cash Passport will change the way you think about your money when travelling.”

What is a prepaid currency card?
Prepaid Currency Cards operate in a similar fashion to mobile phone top up cards or retail gift cards. A fixed amount of funds is loaded onto the currency card which can be spent; once the funds have been used the card can either be topped up or discarded. You cannot spend over the amount loaded onto the card.

Benefits of Travelex’s Cash Passport

• Secure Method of carrying travel money – A currency card offers the same security as traveller’s cheques without the hassle of having to carry your passport to withdrawal money.
• No overspending – You can only spend what you have loaded onto the card.
• Available in 7 different currencies; GBP, Euros, US Dollars, Australian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars, Canadian Dollars and South African Rand.
• Withdraw funds 24/7 – You can withdraw money from any ATM displaying Visa or Plus sign.
• Emergency assistance – If your card is lost or stolen Travelex will provide emergency funding and replacement cards.
• Free withdrawals and no set-up fee.
• Competitive exchange rates.

How to load and reload you Cash passport
At the time of purchase you will specify how much money you would like to be taken from your bank account and loaded onto your Cash Passport, this can be done quickly and efficiently online.

To reload you travel currency card and add more money onto your Cash Passport you can either; make an Internet banking or telephone banking transfer or call Travelex who will add the money for you.

Visit our currency card comparison table to view the Travelex Cash Passport against other leading currency cards. When making comparisons consider how much money you will receive on your card after set-up fees and withdrawals fees have been charged. Travelex regularly offer a mid table exchange rate however the fact that they charge far fewer fees that other travel money card providers mean that you will often end up with more currency for your pounds by using a Travelex Currency card over a competitor currency card with a better exchange rate.

An example:

You are looking to convert £500 into Euros

Travelex offer a rate of 1.1031 with no set up fee or withdrawal fee. FairFx are offering a rate of 1.1175 with a set up fee of £9.95 plus withdrawal fees of 1.50 Euros.

£500 converted into Euros with Travelex will give you 551.55, whilst £500 converted into Euros with FairFX will give you 547.63 Euros. You will also need to consider that every time you make a withdrawal with the FairFX card you will incur a 1.50 Euro fee which is not charged by Travelex.

This example clearly shows that you must always compare exactly how much of a currency you will get for your pounds in order to see who is offering you the best deal.

At this point in time at Compare Currency we feel that Travelex are currency offering a fantastic currency card that will be difficult to beat.

For more information please visit our currency card comparison tables or simply click here to purchase a Travelex Cash Passport.

With Turkey still outside of the Euro zone many Brit’s will are planning to spend their summer holidays travelling to Turkey to make the most of the better exchange rates. With the Pound weakening against the Euro, holidays within the Euro zone have become extremely expensive. A holiday in Turkey not only offers you great value for money but also gives you fantastic weather and beaches to enjoy during your summer get-away.

The currency of Turkey is Turkish Lira which is made up of smaller denominations called Kurus. 100 Kururs are equal to 1 Turkish Lira. Turkish Lira was until the 1^st January 2009 called New Turkish Lira but since this date Turkey has dropped the word new and the currency is simply called Turkish Lira (TRY). Turkish lira notes are available in the following denominations; 200 Turkish Lira, 100 Turkish Lira, 50 Turkish Lira, 20 Turkish Lira, 10 Turkish Lira, 5 Turkish Lira and 1 Turkish Lira. Turkish coins are in the denominations of one Turkish Lira, 50 Kurus, 25 Kurus, 10 Kurus, 5 Kurus and 1 Kurus.

When travelling in Turkey you will find that many shops or stalls will not accept large Turkish Lira bills as payment for small goods. It is advisable that you carry smaller denominations where possible to avoid any problems. As a general rule I would always suggest never using a note that is more than double the value of the item that you are paying for. (For example… do not use a 50 Turkish Lira note to pay for an item that costs 10 Turkish Lira.)

Best Currency Exchange Rates
Before you travel to Turkey it is advisable that you buy your travel money. Visit our travel money tables to find out who is offering the best foreign exchange rates. We have trailed the high street and travel money online to bring you the best foreign exchange rates available.

Do not use a bank when purchasing your holiday money. As you will see from our travel money table banks offer a far lower exchange rate than other leading UK travel money providers. If you convert your British pounds into Turkish Lira at your local bank you will end up feeling rather short changed. The same applies if you wait until you are at the airport to buy your foreign currency. Airport bureau de changes have absolutely no competition so can and will offer you a far poorer exchange rate than you could potentially get online. Buy currency online now.

Buying currency whilst in Turkey
Although I would always recommend purchasing your travel money before you go on holiday there are still many occasions where people find themselves running low on funds and need to withdrawal or convert more money into Turkish Lira. In Turkey Bureau de Changes (or Doviz Burosu as they are known locally) usually offer commission free currency exchange whilst Turkish banks do change a commission. If you wish to make a large purchase in Turkey make sure that you keep your currency conversion transaction receipt as you will be required to prove that you legally obtained the currency.

Debit and credit cards can be used in ATMs, airports, large hotels, restaurants and some gift shops. Where ever the Visa or MasterCard symbol is displayed you will be able to use your card. If you cannot see a symbol check with a member of staff before you start a meal.

Bank opening hours
In Turkey banks are open Monday-Friday 0830-1200 and 1330-1700.

At Compare Currency we offer impartial information that allows you to compare currency exchange rates using our travel money comparison tables. Find out which leading UK travel money exchange provider is offering the best holiday currency exchange and buy travel money online now.

If you are a business that needs to make regular overseas payments, in today’s current climate it is critical to your business for you to ensure that you are maximising the value of your money transfer and achieving the best exchange rate possible!

Whether you run a small business or the head of the financial department of a larger corporation if you are importing goods or services from abroad the cost of good will be heavily impacted by the foreign exchange rate.

At Compare Currency we provide you with information from the leading foreign exchange providers both online and in the high street to allow you to compare exchange rates and commissions charged so that you can make an informed decision when choosing your foreign exchange provider.

In today’s current market foreign exchange specialists such as Travelex and Worldfirst offer far better rates than the high street banks. Not only will a foreign exchange broker help you achieve the best exchange rates they also provide you with outstanding service and products.

How can foreign exchange brokers offer better rates than the banks?

• Foreign Exchange brokers buy large amounts of currency operating with economies of scale and pass their savings on to their customers.
• FX Specialists watch the market second by second and can offer you an up to the minute rate meaning that the rate you get will be competitive. Unfortunately banks tend to offer a blanket rate for that day with a large margin included to cover themselves against any movement throughout the day.
• Foreign exchange brokers use a range of currency contracts allowing you to remove risk and uncertainty from your currency transactions.
• Foreign Exchange companies whilst operating as well established companies regulated by the Financial Services Authority do not have the same overheads as a huge bank so can remain competitive.

No Commission
Foreign exchange brokers do not charge commission fees and many will waive any transaction fee if you make regular international payments.

At Compare Currency we offer you impartial information on the leading currency providers. To obtain more information about a provider, get exchange rate quotes and to speak to an advisor click on the buy now button. Visit our money transfer comparison table now.

The wealthy British are moving to France
Many wealthy British citizens are voting with their feet and escaping Britain to avoid the 50% income tax that will come into action in April. The introduction of a 50% top rate income tax will have a huge impact on some individual’s earnings. France has been offering a range of incentives to make British entrepreneurs choose France as their new home country.

In previous years tax havens such as Switzerland and Monaco have been destinations of choice for rich Brit’s looking to avoid the British taxation system, however today the type of person looking to relocate abroad is far younger and many are still working and have families living in the UK. Because of this France is becoming ever more popular thanks to its commutable location.

Since 2008 French tax rules exempt assets outside of France from any wealth tax, they also offer a 50% rebate on interest, capital gains and dividends from any country within the EU and have lowered income tax by 30%.

How to become a non-resident?
Firstly you must spend less that 91 days in the UK and work full time outside of the UK for one year. You are not allowed to work in the UK during this time.

Why are more and more Brit’s moving to France?
Britain will shortly become the most expensive place in the world to live. From April 2010 a person living and working in the UK earning £200,000 with a non-working partner and two children will pay £77,520 in tax, if that same person was living and working in France they would pay only £45,935 in tax, a staggering saving of £31,585.

Many self employed people can operate their business from anywhere in the world with the only tie to Britain being friends and family. The close proximity to the UK that mainland France offers is making it more and more popular.

If you are considering moving overseas you will find our money transfer comparison table extremely useful. Here you will find information on the UK’s leading foreign exchange brokers who can help you to get the best exchange rate when moving your money overseas. Many specialise in sending money abroad to buy a property in France.

For more information about sending money abroad check out my need to know guide to sending money overseas.

If you are planning a move abroad or to purchase a second home overseas the cost of your new property will be massively affected by exchange rates.

Exchange rates move up and down fluctuating second by second 5.5 days a week.It is impossible for any individual to watch the exchange rate market constantly in order to get the best exchange rate when making an international money transfer. One way of ensuring you get an exchange rate that you are happy to convert your money at is to use a limit order through a foreign exchange brokerage.

Limit orders explained
A limit order is an agreement between you and the foreign exchange broker to buy one currency in exchange for your pounds at a pre-agreed rate. For instance you may be happy to convert your pounds into Euros at a rate of 1.5 but would not be happy to do so at 1.40 therefore your foreign exchange broker can put a limit order in place and will automatically carry out your conversion when the market reaches 1.5.

Advantages of using a limit order

• You save time – instead of having to constantly monitor rates you have set up an automatic action that will act on your behalf as soon as your optimum exchange rate is reached.
• As long as you are realistic about the rate you want to achieve and it is not too far above the current exchange rate your transaction should be carried out pretty swiftly.

Disadvantages of using a limit order

• The rate you want may never be achieved.
• Huge fluctuations can occur on exchange rates especially between two volatile currencies. If rates move against you and begin to drop rapidly after you have placed your limit order you may have a serious problem. At this time you should consult your currency broker to find out the cause of the sudden fall. If the chances of the exchange rate recovering are slim you will need to consider lowering your limit order.
• On the other hand the rate you wanted is achieved and your transaction is completed. However you continue to monitor the markets and see that the exchange rate continues to rise and if you had waited you would have received even more currency for your pounds.

Common example of buying a house abroad
Mr and Mrs Smith are buying a property overseas in Greece for 380,000 Euros. They have six weeks before the final house settlement must be received in Greece. They can afford to buy the property at an exchange rate of 1.45.
Mr Smith was constantly monitoring exchange rates are finding himself fretting over every dip whilst Mrs Smith after speaking with a foreign exchange broker decided to put a limit order at the rate of 1.45 whilst the current Euro rate was at 1.42. Sure enough as soon as the exchange rate hit 1.45 the currency conversion was completed and Mr and Mrs Smith were able to afford their dream home in Greece. The rate did go slightly over 1.46 but this only lasted a short period before the rate began to fall again quite rapidly.

Limit orders are fantastic for removing stress and emotions from your foreign exchange transactions however they do involve a certain amount of risk. If in the example above the exchange rate had began to fall rapidly Mrs Smiths rate of 1.45 would never have been achieved and the couple would have had to rethink their strategy.

I would always recommend you to speak to a foreign currency specialist to get information on why movements are occurring in the market and what find out what they consider to be a realistic achievable rate at which to set a limit order. Unfortunately nobody (not even the currency experts) can predict exchange rate movements but what a specialist can do is explain historic movements and any up and coming planned events which may impact the future exchange rate.

At compare currency you can use are comparison tables to see what fees, charges and specialist areas the leading foreign exchange brokerages offer. If you would like to discuss using a limit order simply click on the currency brokerage you are interested in and they can contact you for a no obligation consultation where they can explain how limit orders work in far greater detail.

A US Dollar currency card is simply a preloaded currency card which operates in a similar manner to a prepaid mobile phone card. A set amount of US Dollars is loaded onto a currency card at an agreed exchange rate at the time of purchase. You buy the currency card before you travel and receive it delivered to your home. You then can spend the funds whilst abroad. A prepaid currency card is a great alternative way of carrying travel money compared to travel money or travellers cheques from a high street bank or bureau de change.

Benefits

• Best dollar rates – Currency cards generally offer better exchange rates than travel money exchange rates allowing you to get far more dollars for your pounds!
• PIN protected
• No Identification required – A currency card offers the security of traveller’s cheques at far greater convenience.
• Lost/Stolen replacements.
• No credit checks.
• No overspending – You can only spend what you have loaded onto the card. Unlike using your debit or credit card there is no chance of overspending with a travel money card.
• Reloading – Simply be completed by text, phone or online.
• Lightweight – Easy to carry

Where can a US Dollar currency card be used?
A US Dollar currency card can be used almost anywhere in the world. Depending on each currency card provider each currency card will have either Visa or MasterCard printed on it. All you need to do is check which signs are on your prepaid card. Anywhere these signs are displayed your currency card can be used. There are a few countries that are currently subject to US sanctions and therefore use of a US currency card is not allowed in these countries: Myanmar (Burma), Cuba, Iran and Sudan.

You can use a prepaid travel money card to make withdrawals at ATMS or in card machines in shops and restaurants etc.

More on Exchange rates
UK currency card providers offer fantastic exchange rates on currency cards that are extremely competitive.

A US Dollar currency card has a fixed amount on US Dollars loaded onto it. When you use the card in a country which uses a different currency a conversion will take place and the exchange rate you will be given will depend on where you use your US Dollar currency card.

If you use a US Dollar currency card in America there will be no further currency conversions as you will be using the local currency.

Fees
Some currency card providers will charge an initial set-up fee for issuing a currency card whilst others may charge a fee for making withdrawals at ATMs. Visit our currency card information tables to find out more about fees and charges

South America is made up of 12 different countries which include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Many people book multi-country South America trips each year where they travel from one country to the next, however unlike travelling within Europe each country has their own currency which can sometimes cause a bit of a financial nightmare!

Here is my quick and easy guide to currency for a South America multi-country trip.

Top Recommendations

US Dollar Currency cards

Whilst travelling around South America the best way of carrying money is with a US Dollar prepaid currency card. A prepaid currency card allows you to load money onto a card and then make withdrawals from ATM’s in each local currency whilst abroad.  This saves you having to carry large amounts of each individual currency with you. Never carry large amounts of money whilst travelling through South America; street crime is an issue especially in poorer parts. A currency card has a personal pin number so withdrawals can only be made by you. If the prepaid currency card does become lost or stolen the provider will issue you with a new one and your funds will remain safe.

Upon arrival in each South American country simply use your currency card in an ATM machine to withdrawal a small amount of cash. Do bear in mind that this is far easier in main cities and resorts. If you are planning to visit the countryside think ahead and make sure you withdrawal enough money to last whilst in a city or airport.

Safety

Whilst travelling in South America keep any money split up, for example some funds should be kept in your wallet, some in your luggage and a small stash on your person. What may seem like a small amount of dollars in your wallet will be a completely different sum to a street seller or other local that happens to see you open your wallet simply to buy an ice-cream. Don’t attract any unnecessary Attention to yourself whilst on the streets.

What is a currency card?

A currency card works in a similar fashion to a prepaid mobile phone card. Money is loaded onto a card and only that sum can be spent. With a prepaid currency card you load the currency card with a specific amount of US Dollars at a fixed exchange rate. You can use the currency card in most major ATMS and to pay for goods and services in shops and restaurants.

Better Exchange Rates

Most currency providers offer better exchange rates for prepaid currency cards than what they offer for travel money. Thus using a prepaid currency card will help you to get the best dollar rate.

Beware

Some currency card providers do charge a fee for purchasing the currency card and may also charge fees for making withdrawals from ATM’s. On the other hand some currency providers offer both of these services for free. Check out our currency card comparison tables for further information on fees and charges. Here you will also be able to compare the current exchange rates offered by the UK’s leading providers.

Benefits of using a currency card instead of carrying conventional travel money or travellers cheques

• Safety – You are not carrying large amounts of cash.

• No identification required – Unlike travellers cheques you do not need to show identification each time you want to get cash.

• Lost/Stolen – A currency card will instantly be replaced if lost or stolen.

• Budgeting – A prepaid currency card allows you to budget as you can only spend the money available on the card. This removes the risk of overspending and getting into debt whilst on holiday.

For further information visit our currency card comparison tables where you will find the best dollar rate.

If you would like to learn more about prepaid currency cards please visit our guide.