There's always fees and commissions associated with buying travel money
. You ought to be aware of what they are before exchanging any foreign currency. It is not just the current exchange rates which will determine the amount of money you end up with for your vacation.
Exchange rates vary a lot and depend on the company you are purchasing the currency from. Sometimes rates can be balanced in your favor as you will get more money for your dollar, but sometimes exchange rates can be low and you may get less money when completing the transaction.
All exchange companies operate differently and you ought to ensure you've ample time for getting your currency at the best rates. Those of us that wait to the final minute will end up being charged a very high rate at the airport. This is the worst place to buy or exchange your currency. You ought to get your currency early and also make sure you travel with other forms of cash such as a credit or debit card.
Many places may not allow you to make payment on a card so you will need to have some cash close by. Normally the best place to get great exchange rates and lowest fees is from a bank. The rate at the bank is about 2.5% of all the money you are exchanging. Many times if you have an account with a partner bank then you may sometimes get a reduction on the exchange fee.
It's a good idea to order your currency no less than seven days ahead because most banks do not carry every type of foreign money. Some of the highest fees you will expect to pay are upwards and above eight percent but even with companies in the airport pre ordering can dramatically lower this fee. Another very popular option is to use travellers checks for exchanging your cash though they are not as common as they once were many years ago.
Travellers checks are still to this day used widely because if something should happen and they become stolen or lost then they can easily be replaced. Just try to make sure you possess the serial numbers.
Additionally if you decide to use travellers checks then you can get a refund when you return from your trip. This guaranteed insurance does mean that the check will cost greater than getting cash but most times it will be worth it.