Author Archives: Xchange Of America

How to Buy Currency Easily

With Xchange of America and similar services, you can buy currency easily from the comfort of your home in just a few minutes. The process is fast and convenient and you can save money compared to most other methods of purchasing currency. Waiting until you travel is almost always a bad idea, when you can purchase a wide range of different currencies for some of the most widely traveled countries in the world on our website. It is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to get the currency that you need without having to call places, search around locally, or wait for currency to be shipped in and make multiple trips to a store.

You won’t have to search in your town

There are several areas that don’t have access to currency exchange services. Xchange of America has locations in states like California, Nevada and Florida, but you may live in an area that doesn’t have a single currency exchange service. You may also have to drive a long distance to find one. If you do find one in your area, they may charge service fees and other fees that will result in you not getting as much currency as you possibly could. You can avoid these issues by purchasing currency online on our website. Not only do we make it convenient and save you time, but we also charge far less than the majority of services.

Be sure to choose a reputable currency exchange

As previously mentioned, Xchange of America is one of the most reputable and widely used currency exchange services in the United States. We have a business license in every state that we operate in, and we have several brick and mortar locations throughout the U.S. Most online currency exchange services cannot offer this level of professionalism and reputability. It can make all the difference with your purchase, as we always have a large quantity of every currency that we carry and we ship your order very quickly after it is placed. You don’t want to deal with the hassles of customer service issues and other problems that can delay your shipment, so it is important to pick the right service.

It takes just a few minutes

You will find that our online purchasing system takes just a few minutes, and you can have the currency that you need without having to look locally and call different places. It is designed to be quick and easy, and your information is protected with our high quality security and SSL technology. Don’t get caught at the last minute before you need to travel somewhere without having enough currency for your trip. You may need to purchase food and pay for services and taxis when you are traveling, and you won’t be able to do that when you don’t have the local currency available. Every country is different, but in most countries you will need some form of local currency. Place your order on our website today or give us a call at (888) 796-2962.

Buy Foreign Currency in Time for Your Next Trip

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When you plan on traveling there is probably a lot going through your mind as you get ready for your trip. Perhaps you aren’t thinking about buying foreign currency for the country you are traveling to, but you should almost certainly add it to your to do list. You don’t want to have to use an airport currency exchange which can have long lines, delay your trip, and cost you significantly more to exchange your currency. They prey off the fact that you have no other option other than to use them, and you can end up spending up to 75% or more at their service compared to Xchange of America.

Think about how much currency you will need

Decide the approximate amount of currency that you should purchase before your trip. You can always contact the professionals at Xchange of America for more information on the amount of currency that you should purchase before your trip. Try to be accurate with your purchase so that you don’t have too much currency left over, and so that you have a sufficient amount for your potential purchases. Some of the things that you can spend it on include memorabilia, food, street vendor items, taxis, and more. Even if you have some leftover currency, Xchange of America is more than happy to purchase it back from you, or you can save it as part of a scrap book to remind you of your trip.

Don’t wait until the last second

You won’t want to wait until the last second to buy currency because of all the headaches that can come with it. If you don’t purchase your currency online with enough time to spare before your trip, it won’t be able to arrive to your home. You will have to end up relying on an airport exchange, and that isn’t ideal as previously mentioned. In the worst case scenario you might end up with no cash to use on your trip and you might miss out on food, transportation and the ability to purchase souvenirs or clothing that you want.

You can buy currency now right at home

Guarantee that your trip goes well and purchase the currency that you need right from home. You won’t have to waste time waiting in lines or looking for a currency exchange service in your town. The sooner that you get the currency that you need the better, as you will have it delivered safely to your home and you won’t have to worry about any issues coming up at the last second. The online purchasing system at Xchange of America is truly one of the best ways to get every type of currency that you need because of its speed and convenience. You can call ahead of time to find out if we carry the type of currency that you need to purchase. Or you can get started today by placing an order as soon as you are ready to go. We guarantee that you will be satisfied with our service and will want to come back again.

8 Ways to Protect Your Pocket

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For some people, vacation is such a wondrous and magical time where people make memories of joy and fun that will last an entire lifetime. For others, vacation can be a complete and utter train wreck. It is one of the worst feelings in the world when you misplace, lose, or are robbed of your money. As common as it is though and as good as some people are at being thieves, there are lots of ways you can prevent losing all of those credit cards and the foreign currency that you buy online.

Organize – Vacation is about relaxing, but never get so relaxed you forget where things are; if you don’t keep track of your cash and cards, you might not even notice if someone takes them until it is too late.
Safe Advantage – While it is admirable to trust the security of a hotel room, always put your valuables in the safe should there be one available.
Make Copies – It is always a good practice to make copies (front and back) of credit cards, plane tickets, and photo IDs and keep a set with you as well as a set at home with a trusted friend or relative. If you are tech savvy enough, keep a digital copy on your phone, in an email, or in the cloud for fast access.
Talk to Your Bank/Credit Card Company – If your financial institutions are unaware that you are travelling and spending on the other side of the world, there is a good chance they might think a thief is using your money to jet set around the world. Just give your bank and card companies a call and let them know where you are travelling, when you leave, and when you’ll be back.
Be Wary of Crowds – Especially when visiting dense tourist spots, make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Pickpockets see lots of people in close quarters as the perfect opportunity to score, so avoid crowds if you can.
ATM Alert – If the option is available, even if it is more inconvenient, always go inside a bank to use an ATM. Stand alone ATMs can often be fitted with by thieves with skimmers to steal your financial info or even be fake altogether.
Wallet Lite – Always rid your wallet of anything you are not using when you travel abroad. Your library card and gym membership and half used Target gift card will be there when you get home.
Exchange at Home – You should always keep at least a little bit of local money with you. To avoid local scams and airport fees, try going to buy foreign currency online.

No one should have to suffer through a vacation because all of their money was lost or stolen. While it is inevitable that sometimes bad things happen to good people, following these few simple steps is a good move in the direction of keeping all of your finances inside of your pocket.

Things To Know About Currency Exchange

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Whether you are jetting off to discover a leisurely vacation experience or you are making a B-line to a destination where there is work to be done, travelling abroad is the kind of thing that requires a lot of careful planning and thought, especially when it comes to managing your money. While it is wise to carry your credit and ATM cards with you, a large number of problems are prone to rearing their ugly heads when those are your only options. Maybe the restaurant you are eating at doesn’t except credit cards. Perhaps you go to the ATM and the machine devours your card. Mishaps are bound to befall those who try to travel light with their money options, but those provide themselves with alternate options generally have greater comfort and peace of mind.

Even though you might find some places abroad that are willing to accept American money, having the local currency on hand is all but crucial. So many countries place a great deal of emphasis on paying with cash that going through some currency exchange is almost a requirement. This is where planning ahead will benefit not only your stress levels but your wallet as well. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are planning to get the appropriate currency for your trip abroad.

• Don’t wait until you absolutely need money to go looking for it. If you try to get your cash exchanged on the street without being extremely familiar with the exchange rate or not being able to speak the language, there is a very good chance that you will get back less than you gave.
• Trusting an exchange that promises “no commission” because you think that means more money will spell trouble for you. Always make sure that you are aware of the exchange rate and do the math yourself. It may be a no brainer for some, but whatever gets you the most money back is obviously your best option.
• While it isn’t as critical to have currency when travelling to places like Europe, some places – like most parts of Africa and South America – don’t have a handle on the electronic exchange of money. Figure out what a good amount of financial padding would be and then make sure that it falls within the import/export limits of the country you are travelling to.
• Although the airport might seem like the most convenient and hassle-free place to get your cash exchanged for currency, there are often a lot of hidden fees. The best option is usually to buy currency and have it delivered directly to your home so that you can have it safe and in hand before your travelling even begins.

For your convenience, there are many options available to buy currency online. Sites like http://www.xchangeofamerica.com/ , which offer customer service seven days a week, will let you pay for currency exchange online with both cash and credit card and even let you sell back whatever you haven’t use by the time you get back home.

The Money You Carry: The Ups and Downs

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No matter what kind of travel packer you are, there are a few things that every single person should take with them when they are away from home, especially when going out of country – toothbrush, comfy underwear, a good book, etc. But the one thing that, no matter where you are going, you should always bring with you is the obvious one: money. But it is the twenty-first century and most of the modern world has a variety of options when it comes to carrying money around.

Although lots of people worry about the money they might lose because of the currency exchange rate, cash should always be the foundation of your travelling funds. Local money is good to have on you to pay for things quickly and to buy things from places that don’t accept credit cards. In some areas of the world, currency varies so often that many places accept American money as is.

ATM cards and/or debit cards are usually a positive thing to have on your person as they carry a double function – a method of paying electronically as well as being a method of getting you cash. ATMs are abundant just about everywhere in the developed world so getting cash is not usually a problem. The biggest issue with debit cards and the like is that, no matter how much like credit cards they are, they same kinds of protection don’t apply. If you report fraudulent charges with in two days there is only a $50 fee… but if you wait longer than that the charge can be as much as $500; according to the Federal Trade Commission, if you wait more than 60 days, the amount of money you are liable for is almost unlimited.

As with most things that involve money nowadays, credit card is the preferred method of payment just about anywhere you go. Unless you happen to be wandering through a rural area or a village that isn’t technologically equipped, credit cards is almost as safe a bet as cold hard cash. With the amazing fraud charges protection and the zero liability, you can go anywhere and do pretty much anything and never have to worry about anyone snaking your card numbers; even if you do find a thief has charged money to your card, the most you are liable for is a whopping $50. Since they are more widely used overseas, try to get a chip-enabled card. The only thing you have to worry about it the 3-5% surcharge for foreign transaction – with larger purchases those percentages can add up, so choose wisely.

Whichever payment methods you choose to bring or not bring with you on your trip always be careful and wary – foreigners are always easy targets for theft. Before you leave, call both your banks and your credit card companies and let them know your destination, your departure date, and your arrival home date; if nothing else, it will let them know that there isn’t so crazy person who has snatched your credit or debit card and is flying around the world, racking up exorbitant charges. To avoid getting ripped off by savvy locals looking for a quick buck, try find an online service with a good currency exchange rate, like http://www.xchangeofamerica.com/ , to get your cash before you go.

Keeping Your Travel Money In Your Pocket

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Losing money, whether it’s to a shady individual with sticky fingers or to the absent mindedness of end-of-the-work-week fatigue, is one of the worst feelings there are. When you are travelling and you lose your cash, that terrible feeling is compounded. While some situations are inevitable, there are lots of little tips and tricks that can be helpful when trying to prevent picked pockets and forgotten billfolds. More important than finding the cheapest conveyance to get around town or avoiding tourist traps, here are a few things that you would do well to keep in mind when carrying around money as you travel.

• If there is no safe in your hotel room to lock away your valuables and extra money, then find somewhere else to put those things that only you have access to even if that might mean carrying those things with you until you find such security.
• People like to make fun of how dorky money belts look, but they are a very effective method of deterring thieves – your more likely to feel someone reach up your shirt than to feel someone slip a quick hand into your pocket or purse to snatch your wallet.
• For the type-A people out there, keeping things organized often means keeping like things all in the same place. But when you travel, it is often spread out your payment options throughout the bags you are carrying e.g. keep credit cards in your purse and your cash in your suitcase. If one is lost ore stolen, you always have the other.
• Methods of electronic theft abound far more than you might think. If you are using a chip-embedded credit card, look into buying the special kind of sleeve that will protect it from stealth scanning. Also, if you are using an ATM, always go inside the bank; using stand alone machines can be fitted with skimmers that can steal your information and money without you even knowing it.
• There are all sorts of ways you can get robbed of your money. If you are looking to buy currency, either find someone you can rely on in country or make the exchange before you travel – unless you are a currency expert, exchangers can very easily rip you off. If you plan on going out to eat, get familiar with tipping customs in the country you are visiting – if you leave a tip someplace where the tip is already part of the bill, then you are paying the bill twice.

Unless you happen to be a wizard, money is something that everyone needs to get by in the world. It is very easy to lose cash when you are out travelling, but following these handful of suggestions just might save you from an unfortunate situation. Don’t let some local pull one over on you and only give half of what your cash is worth – buy currency for your destination before your trip even begins. Don’t let your cash, credit cards, ATM card, and traveler’s checks get lost when the airline misplaces one of your suitcases – split them all between yourself and your bags. Its amazing how much a little knowledge and common sense can save you in the long run.

Keeping Your Cash Out of Sight

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People who travel have a lot to worry about when it comes to their money, whether they are worrying about the currency exchange rates or how many credit cards they can travel with safely and comfortably. While those who have a bright view of humanity in general probably don’t worry about it, theft is and always should be one of the paramount concerns of a person traveling with any amount of money. There are plenty of places you can store your cash that you think would be safe but in fact are the first places thieves look. Here are a few hiding spot ideas for anyone who is looking for a little something extra when it comes to being the one and only person aware of your money’s location.

• On Your Person – Everyone knows that investing in a money belt is a no brainer, but there are plenty of other places on your body you might never have thought of to stash your cash. You might try sticking a few bills inside your sock or in your shoe if your not wearing sandals. And for ladies who aren’t shy, the inside of a bra is also a discreet hiding spot. Many jackets, pants, and skirts nowadays also come equipped with hidden and/or interior pockets too. Before you go to buy anything and need cash from one of your hiding spots, just visit the bathroom and no one will see your secret stash. Never put your wallet in your back pocket.
• The Rental Car – If you have sprung for a rental car to avoid shelling out for buses, trains, and taxis, there is a small goldmine of sneaky places to inconspicuously store bills. Obtain a roll of tape and you are instantly able to hide money under the floor mats and underneath the seats. If you can take the time to clean out an old oil carton or can, either is a perfect little hiding spot. For the particularly crafty, look for parts inside the car that can be removed with a screwdriver and are big enough to hold a few bills in a plastic bag.
• In Your Hotel – So many hotel room safes are sketchy at best as so many staff members have the code for custodial purposes. If you are not staying somewhere where there is a safe that lets you decide your own code, there are some great stealth options available. If you have some plastic bags on hand, try stashing some money inside the toilet tank or inside a liquid soap bottle. If you can find a screwdriver or pack one with you, phone covers and old TV backings can easily be removed and replaced for a subtle spot. Some less complex places include inside the shower curtain rod and inside cushions with zippered covers.

When you are out and about with your money, only ever take what you need and no more – it is one of the easiest ways to compromise your finances. It is always good to keep both American and local currency with you when you travel, so if you are looking for a company with a good currency exchange rate, visit http://www.xchangeofamerica.com/ today.

Get to Know Where You’re Travelling

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So you have decided that for vacation this year you are going to reward yourself for all of those long, hard hours of work and all the sacrifices you have made by taking yourself on an adventure outside of the United States. As you get yourself prepared for your trip and decide where you are going there are lots of things you should be doing to get yourself ready. You will probably want to run and go get theft proof luggage and go buy some foreign currency online and go purchase some smashing new vacation outfits… but first things first. One of the biggest and first steps for preparation is doing the proper amount of research on the kinds of things you should expect when you are visiting whichever foreign destination you choose. The nature of money, among other things, is something that needs to taken into consideration wherever you go.

If you plan on heading to Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, or just about anywhere in Europe, the best advice is to plan on carrying many different methods of payment. Credit cards are usually a safe bet and are a good thing to have on hand for emergencies; while American Express is accepted in some places, you are more likely to find success when you pay with the more commonly used Visa or Mastercard. Having local currency at hand is also a good idea as it will making travelling around – by taxi, bus, or train – much easier and you won’t have to avoid locales that don’t allow credit cards.

Despite their convenience, not all countries abound with ATMs and credit card machines. Places like Japan, Korea, and southern Africa will accept plastic in some places, but the more local shops you visit and the closer you get to the rural parts of the country, the more likely you are to come across locals who will only accept their cash currency. The best plan of attack for travelling with money in these places is to know how much money you will need when you are moving from place to place and map out which ATMs you will have access to.

Although the electronic exchange of money is far more regular at home in the United States, plenty of places still see cash as the one and only true way of buying and paying for things. In South America, most of Africa, and Southeast Asia, businesses that except credit cards are few and far between. It is incredibly important to have cash on hand at all times. Luckily, because of how many and varied the local currencies can be, most will accept the dollar as a valid for of buying and paying for things.

While all countries are different when it comes to money, it is important to keep these basic concepts in mind especially how they coincide with your comfort level with carrying different types of payment. If you are looking to buy foreign currency online, check out Xchange of America today at http://www.xchangeofamerica.com/

Before You Leave On Vacation…

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Going on vacation is one of the greatest joys life can offer. It is a reprieve from the toils of everyday life, a step away from the stress of going to the grind of your job day in and day out, a time when you don’t have to worry about getting the bills paid and the groceries bought and getting the tires on your car rotated. Oftentimes people get so excited about their blissful days without worry that they might forget things important for preparation for travelling to another country. Either way, there are lots of things you need to remember to do before you step out your front door of your house to get ready for your fabulous vacation like having ID backups, making yourself theft proof, and taking time to buy foreign currency.

With the amount of identity theft that happens nowadays, people are increasingly aware just how precious your identity is and just how important it is to keep it safe and away from prying eyes. Gathering up your photo identification (passport or otherwise), credit cards, and plane tickets and photo, copying them front and back, and then storing them in a secure place away from the original copies is a good and easy back up plan should anything get lost or stolen. You can even have a close friend or relative at home hold on to a third copy for emergencies. And if photocopies are too low tech, the technological savvy can always scan everything to a file and store it securely on their cell phone or in the cloud.

Having copies of your important information is one of the wisest travel tips out there, but at the same time it provides peace of mind when you take preventative measures toward losing these things especially against thieves. Should you be able, find yourself bags and/or purses that are built for travel – this means waterproof, knife proof, etc. You might even consider carrying a fake wallet filled with small bills and inconsequential cards to throw away should you get mugged. Likewise, purchasing a special sleeve for any chip-embedded credit card to prevent skimmers who can take your info with a hidden scanner would be a wise investment.

Since you won’t be at home and therefore won’t have easy access for money in bad circumstances, it is absolutely crucial that you work out all of the ways you will be carrying money before you land in country. Most will recommend having at least two credit cards on hand and perhaps your ATM card. As so many countries either prefer to deal in cash or are only able to deal in cash, making sure to get yourself the local money of wherever you are going is a great idea. Save yourself the headache and fees of using the exchange at the airport and guard yourself against opportunistic street exchanges and find yourself a reliable way to buy foreign exchange online. Companies like Xchange of America can not only let you buy the currency you are looking for but also let you sell back what you don’t use when you get back home. Just try checking out http://www.xchangeofamerica.com .

Understanding Currency Exchange Rates

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If you are a savvy international traveler, one who has read up on all the things you are supposed to do and not do when you go to a foreign country, then you have probably already heard that making sure you buy foreign currency before your trip is one of the best ways you can prevent money loss and travel stress.

While it is often as easy as paying for the correct currency and having it delivered to your door, it is also important to understand the process of currency exchange as best you can so you can make sure you are getting yourself the best rates possible. Below is a list of info that will hopefully give you the best experience when you go to buy foreign currency.

1. When you see the term “sell rate,” this is referring to the rate at which the foreign currency is being sold. As with most things involving money, the rate at which currency is sold depends upon the demand or lack thereof – determined by things like economic success or inflation – and concordantly the appreciation or depreciation for the currency needed.
2. Parallel to the sell rate is the “buy rate,” which is the rate at which an exchange service will buy foreign currency back from you.
3. When shopping for a currency exchanger, it is important to not confuse the “spot rate” for your sell or “buy rates. Sometimes called the “interbank rate,” this is the rate banks charge each other when money is traded or exchanged in significant amount between them. As a tourist, you will not be able to buy currency at this rate. It is simpler to think of the “spot rate” as a wholesale price and the sell/buy rate as the retail price.
4. Should you come across the term “spread,” it will likely be in reference to the difference between the buy and sell rates. For example: Jack is going to France and buys €5,000 for $7,000. Jill comes home from France and sells the €5,000 she has and receives $6,500. That would make the “spread” $500.
5. Unless you are a wayward wanderer, then you probably won’t need to know what a cross rate is, but it is still good to know the term to avoid confusion. The “cross rate” is the exchange rate between two currencies when neither are the official currency of the current country such as if you wanted to change dollars for yen while travelling in Brazil.
6. “Commission” is an important term to keep a look out for whenever you use an exchange service. This is the term used for the fee that services charge for providing an exchange, which Exchange of America never charges you.

Buying foreign currency can be confusing for anyone, whether you happen to be familiar with the nature of exchange rates or you find anything to do with money and math as something to avoid at all costs. But there are plenty of online services that make the process much smoother for their customers. Check out http://www.xchangeofamerica.com/ to find out more.