Tag Archives: currency exchange services

Top Ways to Save on Currency Exchange

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When looking for a suitable currency exchange service, you’ll likely want to choose one that can save you both time and money. That’s what you get with Xchange of America – with plenty of options to choose from, currency exchange has never been easier. You can choose currencies from some of the most popularly traveled countries including several in South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and more, with some of the best exchange rates that you’ll find anywhere. The price is competitive with brick and mortar currency exchange services or often better, as Xchange of America focuses on providing its customers with the best experience possible and a variety of exchange services at a low price.

Use an online currency exchange

Using an online currency exchange service will ensure that you save as much money as possible – most legitimate and licensed online exchanges like Xchange of America offer low rates, faster service, and order processing 24/7. You save the hassle of having to travel or trying to time your purchase for when the exchange rate is favorable – it’s always a good time to buy currency at Xchange of America, even if you don’t have very much time left before your trip. Using an online exchange has many advantages over traditional locations, and lets you take care of your other trip planning obligations before you head out. If you haven’t used one before, you will likely notice more cost savings and better customer support as well.

Avoid airport currency exchange services

By avoiding the need to use an airport currency exchange service, you can avoid being charged 15-50% extra or more for service fees or other extraneous fees that can make your currency exchange simply not worth it. If you wait until the last minute, the chances are that you will have no other option other than using an airport exchange, while traditional currency exchange services will also charge you high fees in many cases. Using an online currency exchange is often far more effective and will ensure that you get the currency you need on time. You’ll also save plenty of time and have the option of planning your other trip obligations instead of scrambling at the last minute.

Don’t wait until you have traveled

The options are often just as limited once you have traveled to your destination – you may arrive in a country with very few currency exchange services, or you might not have any at all in the area that you are in. Having to take an unplanned trip to a currency exchange service is never ideal – you’ll have to take more time out your schedule that could be spent on doing the things that you love, and then you might not even get a fair rate at the end of it all. It’s so much more convenient to simply order online as soon as you have the opportunity, and with the process taking just a few seconds at Xchange of America,  you can order whenever you need and have your currency shipped right to your home.

Why You Should Bring Cash With You When Traveling

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It’s a must to bring cash with you whenever you are traveling to any foreign country in the majority of cases, whether it’s a first world country or developing. You’ll find that many local businesses, service providers, drivers and other professionals prefer to be paid in cash.

Credit cards or debit cards will not be widely accepted in every country, and although there are other options like traveler’s checks, it is still a good idea to have cash with you for several different countries. Don’t assume that your currency will be widely accepted, even if it’s the U.S. dollar or euro, and don’t assume that you’ll easily find a currency exchange abroad.

It can be difficult to find a currency exchange service overseas with limited time

When traveling to a new area you might have some difficulties with finding an appropriate currency exchange service. Perhaps the services in the area you are staying are too expensive, or they may be located a far and inconvenient distance from where you are staying.

You may have to spend a significant sum of money just on transportation in order to get to an appropriate currency exchange service. You can avoid this hassle during your travels by purchasing currency before you depart. This way you won’t have to take time out of your busy schedule to find a currency exchange service, and you’ll have cash from the very beginning for any unexpected expenses.

Credit cards often charge a foreign transaction fee that can add up

You may also get stuck with a foreign transaction fee on your credit card. You may not even be aware of it until you start using it and get stuck with a bill. The fees can vary anywhere from 3 to 10 percent of your transaction, which is no small amount of money.

You can call your credit card company ahead of time to determine what specific fee you would have if any, but again you will still be better off exchanging your currency for the local currency to avoid these fees. Plus, credit cards are not accepted everywhere, especially in developing countries. There’s also the issue of credit card fraud and the outdated magnetic stripe technology which can result in your card being stolen.

Cash is king

During the first 24 hours of your trip, cash is king, no matter where you go in the world. You’ll need to get settled in, grab a bite to take, take a taxi to your hotel, or a train, tip your doorman, purchase snacks, and other minor expenses. Using a credit card is not convenient or practical in several of these circumstances.

If you don’t have cash with you, you’re going to likely run into a number of difficult and awkward situations, where you may not be able to tip someone or where you may have to scramble to find an ATM or currency exchange service. The first few days of your trip will go a lot more smoothly if you simply plan ahead of time and buy currency online.