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35 BEST Travel Deal Sites [2024]: Flight, Hotel & Tour Deals

* This article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you.

Short on time? My top two picks for the best bargain travel sites to find cheap deals are Hotels.com and Going .

Our ultimate list of the best travel deal sites to make sure your money is well spent when planning your next trip.

It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling for one week or one year; everyone wants to have their money go as far as possible. 

You can achieve this by finding cheap flights, reasonable prices on car rentals, and other great deals on the best vacation package websites.

Since 2020, travel deals have become harder to find due to labor shortages, the rising cost of fuel, and inflation. 

However, you can still find a good handful every month– if you know the best websites to find the best fares. And that’s is where this article comes in.  

Over the years, I’ve used numerous vacation websites and have narrowed down which are the best booking sites for saving the most amount of money and finding the best deals. 

With my years of first-hand experience, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to the best deal sites so that you can take advantage of them too.  

My style of travel ranges from budget to luxury, and so do these sites.

Note: this post contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so we can keep providing free travel advice and tips.

Here’s a Quick Look at the Best Travel Deal Sites

• Best Tour and Travel Agency Deal Site – GetYourGuide
• Best Hotel Deal Site – Hotels.com
• Best Flight Deal Site – Going
• My Favorite Other Deal Site – Expedia

Table of Contents

Best Travel Websites for Finding Flight Deals

Google Flights

Google Flights is one of the overall best travel websites for flights to use when looking for cheap airfare. 

However, I use this website more as a jumping-off point rather than the only tool to book the cheapest flights possible. 

One of my favorite aspects about Google Flights is that it separates top-rated routes from the more unusual ones.

Also, Google Flights now has a price guarantee if their own price decreases after purchase, which can be pretty amazing.  

Just note that this will only apply to those flights that have the ‘price guarantee badge’ next to them.

For years now, Skyscanner has topped the list of my go-to travel websites when looking for cheap flight deals. 

It allows me to brainstorm an upcoming dream vacation easily by comparing graphs and calendars of prices. 

If my travel schedule is flexible, I can even search for the cheapest month to fly to that destination. 

One of Skyscanner’s better features is the option to search for flights without a destination. 

The ‘explore everywhere’ option gives a list of countries in order, starting from the cheapest to fly to from your starting destination. 

You can then click the box to get more details on the best fares for these flights. 

Another nice feature is the ability to turn on notifications for when prices drop for a certain route. The interface is also very easy to use, which is always a plus. 

If you want to keep it simple, you could honestly get away with just using Skyscanner and Google Maps to start planning a cheaper dream vacation today.

Hopper is a unique travel website that gives you deals only available on the platform. 

You are also able to collect carrot cash that you can redeem on their site for even better deals. 

Personally, I’ve found Hopper to be better in the United States than outside of it. Even with this limitation, flights in the United States can be expensive, so a deal is a deal. 

When you first join the website or app, you’ll immediately get money off your first flight, so that alone makes it worth using at least once.

Is Hopper all it’s cracked up to be? Check out our full Hopper review !

Skipplagged

Skipplagged is a unique resource that you can use on top of Google Flights and other travel sites. 

If you do flight research for long enough, you’ll come across destinations that are cheaper to fly to if you have it as a layover instead of the final destination. 

For example:

• If you want to fly to Panama City in Panama, the flight might cost you $200 one-way from Antigua. 
• You can then look at a flight from Antigua to Medellin and see that the flight has a layover in Panama City and only costs $150. 
• That’s $50 in savings if you get off at your layover.

Skipplagged cuts out the middleman in this scenario and helps you easily find these types of cheap flights. That $150 Medellin flight will appear in your search results for Panama City, marked as a ‘Skiplagged rate.’ It’s a sneaky way to score cheap nonstop flights.

Check out our Skiplagged review for more information on how this travel booking site works .

Going (Formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights)

Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) is a newsletter and website that began in 2015 when a guy named Scott wanted to share flight deals with friends and family. 

Today, Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) is one of the top travel sites to find cheap flights around the world (don’t worry, you no longer need to know Scott personally to get on the email list). 

Once you sign up, you can choose your home airport and any nearby airports and you’ll then start receiving monthly or bi-monthly deals directly to your email. 

The Going (Scott’s Cheap Flights) newsletter list has a free version and a premium version. 

The free version works great for those who don’t travel that often. 

If you’re a regular traveler, however, I’d recommend getting the premium version since it’s not that expensive compared to how much you can save on flights. 

Plus, you’ll not only receive their best flight deals but error fares as well (which are flights that an airline mistakenly lists as much cheaper than it’s worth.)

Secret Flying

Secret Flying is a company very similar to Going. On their site, they show you trending flight deals from all around the world. 

These deals can have savings of up to 90%. There’s also a search bar in case you’re looking for something very specific. 

Although I prefer Going over Secret Flying, it doesn’t hurt to have multiple options to check before you purchase a flight just in case you missed a great deal.

CheapOair has been around since 2005 and is one of the earliest travel websites to offer great deals on flights. 

They’ve since expanded their game to include certain travel packages, rental car bookings, and other activities. 

They also have a rewards program called ClubMiles where every 1,000 points equal $5 of rewards for their site.

Momondo is another free tool that allows you to compare prices on flights and travel packages. 

It used to be the main competitor to Skyscanner, but Skyscanner has since pulled ahead and is the app most travelers prefer these days. 

With that said, Momondo can still be a good site to check to see if you can find a lower price for a flight. 

It’s now also owned by Kayak, which makes sense when you see the different options that come up when you’re searching for travel deals. 

Some of the best ways this site can help you save money are through its flexible dates tool & multi-city option. 

The flexible dates tool is very easy to use for a quick glance at comparing prices and the multi-city option can help those long-term travelers plan their trips better.

Dollar Flight Club

Dollar Flight Club is the most comparable to Scott’s Cheap Flights (or Going). 

It has three different levels of membership. The free plan, premium, and premium plus. 

Similar to Going, they send the best flight deals straight to your inbox so you don’t have to do any of the work. These deals can also be up to 90% off.

With the premium plans, you can also get discounts on other discount travel sites for airfare and online travel agencies that they work with, like Babbel and Jubel.

Best Travel Booking Sites for Hotels Deals

Hotels.com is, in my opinion, the best website for booking hotels. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to find the best hotel deals here. 

What makes this site so unique is its rewards program. 

For each night you stay at a hotel, you’ll get a stamp. After collecting 10 stamps, you’ll get one night free (or the average price of your 10 stays), which can rack up a lot of savings.

Airbnb has changed the accommodation game since its arrival. 

The main perk of going through Airbnb compared to a hotel is that you get more of a feel of living in your destination. This is because people are renting out their homes to you. 

It’s also very possible to find great deals with this website. The best way to get a deal with Airbnb is if you plan to stay for longer periods. 

If you stay for a week or more, there are often weekly discounts that apply to your stay. If you plan to stay for one month or longer, the savings can be astronomical. 

The owners will oftentimes give you a great deal if you message them directly, and it’s what makes slow travel so enjoyable. 

Case in point–when our editor, Mimi, and her partner stayed at an Airbnb in Tahoe for a month, they were able to get it down to $3,000 total instead of the $7,000+ that was initially listed. 

Owners will often appreciate a guaranteed long-term stay and will be open to lowering prices to secure that. And really, it never hurts to ask!

Hostelworld

Hostelworld is the king of finding the best hostels from around the world. This platform is amazing for those travelers out there who are on a budget, particularly solo travelers.

The reviews are very important on this website because you don’t want to get stuck in a party hostel when you’re trying to sleep, so just do your research and you’ll be fine. 

There are all kinds of hostels, but the one thing hostels all have in common is that they’re usually a fraction of the price of a hotel. 

And, if you don’t like the idea of sharing a dorm, some still offer cheap private rooms. 

Hostels can also be a great way to meet other travelers, especially if you’re traveling solo but even if you’re traveling with a friend or two. 

Be sure to look for the ones with a free breakfast!

Booking.com

Booking.com is one of the best travel websites for booking accommodations because of how many options it gives you. 

You can find hotels and hostels on the website, although it focuses more on hotel stays.

Another huge perk of it being one of the biggest travel sites is the number of reviews. 

Reviews are huge when it comes to choosing which accommodation you want. Since Booking is such a popular site, there are usually a lot of reviews to read through for each property. 

Booking.com also just started offering its own reward program. 

Everyone starts out at Genius Level 1 and can find 10% discounts on select accommodation deals. 

Genius Level 2 unlocks after you stay at five places within two years, and it gives you 15% off!

The best deals come when you unlock Genius Level 3. 

Once you’ve stayed at 15 places, you can start enjoying 20% off on properties and even start getting rewards for each stay. You can then use the rewards balance to book other properties.

Although I love Hotels.com, it’s hard to ignore how strong of a contender Booking.com is as one of the best hotel deal sites, especially with its loyalty program.

HotelTonight

HotelTonight is great for those travelers who like to save and also don’t enjoy booking accommodation far in advance. 

This company specializes in last-minute deals. If you’re more of an off-the-cuff traveler who likes to decide where you’ll be staying for the night only once you arrive, this is the perfect website and app.

It allows you to still save some money on accommodation when booking things last-minute, which can be hard to come by in the hotel industry.

Kayak is a large search engine for everything travel-related. This site is easy to use and has some great tools to compare prices to get the cheapest possible rental car or hotel.

One of the best features of Kayak is its ‘Pricebreaker’ option. 

Once you turn on this option, you can get up to 50% off top hotels, but you won’t know which one until after the booking is complete. 

It’s a bit of Russian Roulette, but if you’re flexible, you can get some great savings from it.

Hotwire is on this list of travel deals because of its exclusive deals for hotels that it gives to its customers. 

The way this system works is that hotels often have unsold rooms so they sell them at a super-discounted price. 

The only downside to this is that you don’t get to see the hotel name until after booking. However, you’re still able to see reviews, amenities, and the area where the hotel is.

Agoda is another great tool to use when looking for hotel deals. You can use it all over the world, but it’s especially great for properties located in Asia. 

Agoda also has a nice feature for recommending other hotel ideas if your travel dates are flexible. This is how to find the best deals.

Super (Formerly SnapTravel)

Super (what used to be SnapTravel) is more than a travel company these days. Not only can you save up to 50% on hotels, but they also have a shopping section.

Their shopping section is where you’ll find different deals on items you can purchase. These items include everything from apparel to furniture, health and beauty products, electronics, and beyond.

Super now also has its own credit card, which gives you up to 10% cash back when booking things on the website.

Best Websites for Tour and Travel Agency Deals

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is a great tour operator to use for finding guides with lots of reviews. It’s very popular in places like the United States and Europe. 

With thousands of reviews on popular activities, great photos, and an easy-to-use interface, GetYourGuide is one of the best tour booking sites. 

If you use the app or sign up with your email, you can enjoy up to 10% off on bookings. 

Although I’ve found the quality of their tours to be hit or miss sometimes (which is why the reviews are important to look at!), they offer a lot of dirt-cheap tours. 

I usually find their tours to be cheaper and to attract a younger clientele than their main competitor, Viator. 

Also, for Viator tours, I’m usually always with other Americans, whereas for GetYourGuide it’s usually a mix of Americans, Europeans, and Australians.

GetYourGuide is one of the best vacation booking sites for solo travelers to book tours on, since it helps you get out and easily meet people while doing a fun activity.

Costco Travel

Costco Travel is owned by one of my favorite stores for discounts and deals, Cosco Wholesale. 

Costco Travel finds some of the best travel deals around and only gives them to their members. 

When purchasing through Costco Travel, you know that the quality will be as top-notch as their stores because everything is hand-picked by their skilled travel buyers.

Costco members also receive an annual 2% reward on all Costco Travel purchases.

Viator is an extremely popular tour company owned by Tripadvisor. This means you know you’re getting a good product with many reviews to back it up. 

On their website, you can search for a place or activity to help find what you’re looking for, or you can scroll down to see their most popular tours. 

When you download the app, you can also get exclusive promo codes and deals. 

Viator has a wide range of cheap to more expensive tours and usually attracts an older, mostly American clientele. 

The quality of most of their tours is top-notch, and their depth of tour options for most destinations is unbeatable.

My Other Favorite Travel Deal Websites

Expedia is one of the largest travel companies in the world and one of the best vacation deal websites. 

The Expedia group owns the companies of Orbitz, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Travelocity, Trivago, VRBO, and more. 

Because of this, Expedia is an all-in-one travel agent that allows you to book discounted travel packages. 

On the website, you’re able to purchase many things related to travel, like cruises, flights, hotels, resorts, tours, and even car rentals. 

The search engine for rental car bookings is comparable to travel websites like Kayak. 

These bundles can save you a lot of money as well as being part of their rewards program.

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor is one of the best-known and overall best websites for travel. 

There’s a reason store owners want that green logo on their front window. It means something. 

With thousands of reviews on activities and restaurants, you can simply book whole vacation packages here or find a cruise line.

No travel deal or vacation package is a good deal if the experience is bad. 

What makes Tripadvisor a great travel deal site is the millions of reviews on all things travel. You’ll know if an experience is likely to be worth the money when you’re using this site.

Travelocity

Travelocity is comparable to other sites like Expedia, but it won’t have as many cheap vacation packages as those other sites. 

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find good deals. It’s still one of the best vacation booking sites on the market these days. 

In fact, you can sometimes find better deals to save money than sites like Expedia because Travelocity isn’t connected with other large travel agencies and their vacation package deals. 

Plus, if you use their app, you can earn up to 15% off on certain vacation packages.

Daily Drop is one of the fastest-growing newsletters in the travel space. This daily newsletter is all about travel tips and hacks to find the best travel deals around the world. 

These deals range from hotels to flights to cruises and use various tactics, such as credit card points and hotel loyalty programs. 

This isn’t the place to find easy and quick last-minute deals; rather, it’s more where you can learn how to become a top-notch travel hacker to always save on future travel.

Homestay is a great way to meet locals and stay in their homes. This will still cost money, but a lot of times, it can be cheaper than staying in a hotel. 

Depending on the host, they might even make meals for you as well.

Workaway is one of the largest volunteer sites for travelers on the web. 

On the site, you can apply for different jobs, such as working on a farm, greeting guests at hostels, or bartending. In return, the host will let you stay at their place for free. 

They sometimes also include other amenities such as free tours and meals.

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is one of my favorite travel sites on the internet. If you’re a slow traveler or just want to take a week off, this is a great tool. 

Most homeowners on this site want you to watch their pets while on vacation. In return, you can stay at their house for free!

You can filter it to have certain pets, no pets, and even a free car to use! Trusted Housesitters is the best website I’ve found to help you travel for as long as possible for cheap.

Discover Cars

Discover Cars is one of the best websites for car rentals on the web today. 

This site looks at over 500+ rental car companies from around the world to help give you the best deal on rental cars. 

Simply type in your pick-up location and dates and they will show you all of the best options for a car rental to keep you saving money. 

If you’re looking for a rental car for your next trip, Discover Cars needs to be on your list.

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a very cool concept in which people from all around the world lend out their bed or couch to a stranger for free. 

This is a fantastic way to meet the locals and for those hosting, it’s a great way to meet foreigners. 

Couchsurfing has changed a lot over the years. It used to be 100% free but now costs around $15/year. 

This is still an extremely great deal considering how much money you can save on accommodation.

Rome2Rio 

Rome2Rio is one of the best travel sites you can add to your arsenal. Choose any two locations, and it will show you all the different options for how to get from point A to B. 

I used it a ton in South America for travel tips on how to find the cheapest ways to get around. 

For instance, when looking for the best routes from Quito to Baños in Ecuador, I clicked the bus option and instantly found the cheapest company to book a ticket from.

Tip : It’s often cheaper to book with the company directly than going through a third party.

Travel Zoo is another large search engine that helps you find the best deals from across the world.

A useful feature of this site is its “Last-Minute Deals” section. Here you can find the best travel deals, cruises, hotels, flights, and more!

Priceline is another one of the best sites to find travel deals this year. 

It was founded in 1997 and still has the same goal now as it did back then: to help you save money when trip planning. 

On the site, you’re able to search for hotels/flights and then bundle these together with other things like a rental car to save even more money. 

Priceline also has a VIP membership program that can save you up to 50% on hotels, 20% on car rentals, and a 10% coupon for express deals after every purchase. 

Another feature that many people might not be aware of is Priceline’s express deals. You can save up to 70% on hotels but you won’t know which one until after booking.

Orbitz hit the scene in 2001 to compete against the fast-growing companies of Expedia and Travelocity, and it’s one of the best travel package sites.

On the Orbitz site, you can search for any type of travel package you’re interested in as well as look at the day’s top deals. If you’re a member, then the prices get even better. 

As a member, you can get instant hotel savings of up to 10% once you sign up. 

They also have something called Orbucks, where you can get reimbursed up to $50 a day on travel expenses, making your vacation package even more affordable.

Cruisewatch

Cruisewatch is a website that you should definitely bookmark if you love going on cruises. 

This is one of the best websites to use to find great deals on cruises. 

You can sign up for Cruisewatch and then let them do all the work for you by sending you any price drops you might be interested in. 

Plus, if you book a cruise by destination, you can save up to 71%. 

Their search engine also allows you to find that perfect cruise, or it can find you many options to choose from if you don’t care about the dates or cruise line. 

Keep an eye on prices, as their price prediction has an 80% accuracy rate.

Bonus Travel Deal Sites

• Travel Pirates : This is a team of travel deal hunters that give you insane prices for flights, hotels, tours, and all-inclusive vacation packages. It helps if you’re flexible with your travel dates.
• Holidu : If you’re looking for vacation rental homes, this is one of the best websites on the market with up to 55% in savings.
• Airfare Watchdog : This is a great website for getting notifications for cheap airfare and its feature “the weekender” helps those looking for a quick getaway.
• Dayuse Hotels : If you’re a digital nomad looking to use a hotel room just for the day to get some work done, this is a great site to find cheaper options. It’s also ideal for anyone who wants a place to crash for the day after a long haul flight.
• Hotels By Day : This is another hourly hotel website that can help save you money, up to 70% off. 
• The Flight Deal : This is another tool to add to your list of travel websites. It’s essentially a blog that highlights hot deals on airfare, travel credit cards, and more. Check back every day for the latest in best travel deals right now.

FAQs About Travel Deal Sites

What is the best website to find vacation deals?

The overall best vacation websites to find travel package deals would be Kayak or Expedia . 

There are other sites that sometimes have better fares for airline tickets and hotels or have a better rewards program, but Kayak and Expedia do everything all in one place. 

These two best vacation deal sites are great for trip planning because you can do a price comparison before you book vacation packages.

Where is the best place to find last-minute deals?

The best place to find last-minute travel deals would have to be Hotwire . 

This is because their hotel deals are almost always going to be the best price you can find. 

Some people might not like waiting until the last minute, but it’s sometimes necessary to find the lowest prices.

What is the most used travel deal website?

The most used travel deal website is Booking.com . 

It currently ranks 1st, right above TripAdvisor. This is due to the fact that Booking.com normally has the most accommodation options out of any website.

How do I book the best travel deals?

When planning a trip, many people like booking their flight (especially international flights) for a specific date. The same goes for hotels. 

However, if you want the best travel deals, then you need to be flexible . 

Being flexible on hotel dates and flights is huge. Prices will rise and fall depending on when and where you go. 

Traveling in the low or even shoulder season is generally cheaper than going in the high season. And the experience can sometimes be even better with fewer crowds!

Another tip for getting the best travel deals is something called The Greek Island Trick . 

This is where you purchase the cheapest possible ticket to the continent of the country you’re going to. 

Once there, you can then find another cheap mode of transportation to your final location. 

This works especially well in Europe or Asia, where you can find ultra-cheap regional flights, buses, and trains. 

It doesn’t work quite so well in the US with how expensive our flights, trains, and overall transportation is here.  

This mode of travel usually takes more time, but the cost savings will be worth it for some.

Is it cheaper to book vacations through a travel agent?

In this day in age, you usually don’t get cheaper vacations when booking through a travel agent. 

It can be far more convenient to travel this way, but you’re paying extra money to have someone do the work for you.

Are travel deals worth it? Is it actually cheaper to book through these travel deal sites?

Travel deals are totally worth it if you’re looking to make your money last as long as possible and are capable of being a flexible traveler. 

The top websites we’ve mentioned above can save you money, and lots of it.  

The pros of good travel deal sites are simple. They can find you the best vacation packages for cheap and most likely will do the majority of the work for you.  

The cons of travel deal sites stem from them being 3rd party retailers. You may lose out on perks like free cancellation and free breakfast.

This means if something goes wrong with your booking, there’s a possibility you’ll have trouble getting it sorted out or your money back.

This is the subject of many of the negative reviews for these types of sites, so it’s important to always read the fine print and have good travel insurance.

How far ahead should you book a flight? What’s the Goldilocks window?

The Goldilocks window varies depending on whether you’re booking for peak or off-peak season. For domestic flights in peak season, you should book between three and seven months in advance. Off-peak, that range goes down to between one and three months. 

If you’re booking international flights in peak season, this timeframe should be increased to between four and ten months in advance. The best time for off-peak international travel booking is between two and eight months. 

The Goldilocks window refers to the timeframe above. If you buy flights too far in advance or wait until the last minute, then you run the risk of missing out on a cheap flight.

Do flight prices go down on Tuesdays?

In the early days of the internet, airlines would release new flights on Tuesday nights. 

They did this manually because the technology wasn’t as good as it is today. This is where the rumor started about Tuesdays being the best day to purchase plane tickets. 

Now, these same flight routes are updated constantly every day based on algorithms. 

My suggestion would be to frequently look at Google Flights in incognito mode, so you know you’re getting the best price.

Why are some websites cheaper for flights?

Some of the best sites are also partner sites with airlines. Other times these websites can buy up flights when they’re cheaper than they currently are to offer users a better deal. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phillip Anderson

Phillip Anderson is a freelance travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast. With years of travel experience under his belt, Phillip is an expert in finding the best deals through travel apps and websites. He knows how to find cheap domestic and international flights, like a flight to Peru for as low as $350.

When looking for cheap accommodations, Phillip combines his knowledge of websites like Airbnb, Booking.com & Hostelworld with more unique sites like TrustedHousesitters, for even more savings. Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or local experiences, he teaches travelers to make informed decisions, ensuring their adventures are both memorable and economical.

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Hi, I'm Mimi! I'm an outdoorsy Californian who has spent over 28 years immersed in the incredible natural beauty that California has to offer. My goal is to inspire others to get out and find their next adventure in California. Whether it’s escaping to an alpine lake in the Sierras, finding peace among the giant redwoods, or road tripping down the PCH, there’s always more to explore in this beautiful state.

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Commission is the fee that travel money providers charge for the service to exchange your money into foreign currency . The charge is usually included in the exchange rate they advertise. You will see that many foreign exchange companies advertise 0% commission, they are still charging you by including the charge in the rates.

All the travel money prices we quote include any fees and commissions, including delivery!

The simple answer is yes! Usually, the minimum order amount for foreign currency is £100, and the maximum is usually £7,500, although some providers allow you to exchange more.

Travel money is normally sent via special delivery service with Royal Mail. Travel cash orders worth more than £2,500 will be sent via a courier or multiple Royal Mail packages. This is for insurance reasons, making sure your travel money is safe.

This depends on the currency provider. Some providers offer next-day delivery, sending your travel money using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm service. There will be an extra cost for this and you can see how much when you compare the holiday money prices.

Don't forget, many foreign currency providers also allow you to pre-order currency and you can collect it in store, this means you can avoid delivery charges.

Most do, any holiday money that you have leftover after your trip abroad can be sold using a buy-back service that will convert it back to pounds. Our comparison tool will show you the providers offering the best buy-back rates .

Every few of minutes we compare the exchange rates and latest currency deals from the best travel money providers in the UK. You can see instantly who is offering the best deals and choose a service that suits your needs best.

Also, if you've come home from a trip abroad and have leftover currency, we compare many foreign currency buy back companies, showing the best rates to convert your foreign currency back into pounds.

Hundreds of customers order travel money through our site daily and have a great experience. However, as with ordering anything online, the process is never completely risk-free and you should always take care when transfering money to any company.

We undertake comprehensive checks on all of our providers and monitor them to make sure they meet our high standards and continue to do so. Having said that, no company is guaranteed not to come into trouble and we cannot guarantee the solvency of any of the providers listed on our website. We always recommend that you conduct your own due diligence before placing an order with any company.

There are many destinations where taking some local currency is extremely useful to make sure you are covered in places where credit cards are not accepted. Many of the smaller retailers globally will not allow credit cards, so cash is the only option.

Read our blog post on taking cash on holiday .

The best time to buy any travel money is when the pound is performing strongly relative to the currency you are buying, this means it will have a higher exchange rate, so will give you more currency for your money. The amount you receive is calculated by multiplying the exchange rate by the amount of pounds you want to spend, so the higher the exchange rate, the more foreign currency you get.

Exchange rates are constantly changing but we show you the historical exchange rate performance for each of the currencies so you can have more of an idea of whether now is a good time to buy your travel money.

Exchange rates tend to be very similar wherever you are in the world to those offered in the UK, however waiting until you are away means you may be stuck with poor exchange rates, fewer options of places to offer competitive rates or even worse, you may have to pay big additional fees and commissions. By buying your travel money in the UK there are no hidden fees, charges or nasty surprises, you know exactly how much you are getting.

Once you have found the best rate, place an order on the currency suppliers’ site, and pay for your currency.Each currency supplier has different payment options, including bank transfer, debit card, with some suppliers offering payment by Apple pay and Android pay. Once your order has been confirmed your order will be prepared and your currency sent to you by registered delivery, some suppliers even offer next-day delivery.

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Travel money may be the last thing on your mind when preparing for a much-needed holiday. While you may be swamped with finding the right travel insurance or sorting out travel delay compensation , picking the right spending option will maximise your holiday savings. And leaving it too late to swap your cash could mean getting stung by high exchange rate debit card fees or bank fees. You could even end up wasting money by using the wrong payment method.

Post Office research has found British travellers are collectively losing an estimated £845 million in fees by using their bank cards abroad. Its study of 2,000 holidaymakers found 45% incurred charges for using their bank card outside of the UK in the past 12 months, with the average annual bill coming in at £21.79 each.

Instead, using specialist apps, the best credit and debit cards for travelling abroad or even your supermarket could help you to save money on foreign currency, freeing up your cash to spend on holiday.

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Here’s how to secure better exchange rates and get the best deal on travel money.

1. Don’t exchange currency in the airport

The general rule when it comes to travel money is to avoid airport exchanges. But, a survey by Compare the Market found that almost three in 10 holidaymakers bought holiday currency at the airport on their last holiday.

Exchange bureaux at the airport have a captive audience as once you’re in the airport there isn’t much choice about where you get your cash. You will typically get poorer exchange rates at the airport and have less money to spend once abroad.

So sort out your travel money and currency exchange before you reach the airport to make your money go further. 

2. Use the right travel money cards 

It may be tempting to just use your usual credit or debit card when spending abroad . But you could be hit with high charges on overseas spending and as much as 5% for cash withdrawals when using a mainstream high street bank card. 

According to research by TotallyMoney , some credit card providers charge huge fees – as much £4.59 on a £20 withdrawal This represents a 22.95% charge in real terms.

Some specialist travel credit cards including the Halifax Clarity MasterCard and Barclays Rewards Visa don’t charge for overseas spending or ATM withdrawals.And a number of current account providers also offer fee-free spending abroad as well as competitive exchange rates. This includes Chase’s current account, First Direct’s 1st account and Santander ’s Edge account. Meanwhile, challenger banks Monzo and Starling provide fee-free spending and withdrawals abroad too.

Check the small print though as while most of these cards can be used in European or American destinations, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to use them in more far-flung places.

Another option for travel money is to use a prepaid travel card or a currency card that links with your current account from providers such as Currensea, FairFX, and Revolut . The Post Office has also launched a Travel Money Card which is available at its 11,500 branches nationwide . Similar to a travel debit card , there are no charges for overseas spending or withdrawals.  

"While it is possible to pay with your bank card on holiday – lots of banks will charge a fee for every single transaction, which can really add up," says Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel.

"Card fees can be avoided by using a pre-paid travel card.

“But it’s not just card fees to consider, exchange rates can also vary daily and also between banks, so if you pay as you go on a bank card, you can never be sure you’re getting the best deal for your holiday money.”

3. Supermarket loyalty programmes

Most savvy shoppers are familiar with supermarket loyalty schemes that give you discounts on your grocery shopping.

But it isn’t just cheaper sausages and soap on offer from these supermarket giants. Registered customers can also get lower exchange rates on travel money.

For example, Sainsbury’s customers can currently get a euro exchange rate of 1.1629 EUR for £1. But if you are a Nectar member you get a rate of 1.1638 EUR, which means you end up with more in your pocket. It’s the same for Tesco Bank and Clubcard members. Tesco Bank offers a standard euro exchange rate of 1.16 EUR, but if you’re a Clubcard member, you get 1.164 EUR. 

This won’t make much difference if you’re taking out smaller amounts, but the savings start to add up the more you withdraw and could give you some extra spending money.

4. Shop around 

Your supermarket may seem convenient, especially if you can make a saving as a loyalty scheme member. But it’s important to shop around for the best travel money deals, by using comparison websites such as Go.Compare and Travel Money Max . 

MoneyWeek found bureaux offering better euro exchange rates than the supermarkets, but a lot will depend on what is available near you and if you want the convenience of just getting your holiday cash with your frozen chips. 

5. Find the best travel money providers

When converting pounds to other currencies, you can either go to your high-street bank or order travel money online. We’ve rounded up the best travel money providers to help you find the best deal. Note: this is based on withdrawals of £1,000. 

Rates on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

Our team, led by award winning editors, is dedicated to delivering you the top news, analysis, and guides to help you manage your money, grow your investments and build wealth.

Marc Shoffman is an award-winning freelance journalist specialising in business, personal finance and property. His work has appeared in print and online publications ranging from FT Business to The Times, Mail on Sunday and the i newspaper. He also co-presents the In For A Penny financial planning podcast.

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Today’s best exchange rates

How do you get the best holiday money exchange rate, use our currency converter, high exchange rates, delivery charges, special offers, pros and cons, five golden rules of travel money, 1. know how much cash you'll need.

Carrying around a large amount of cash isn't the safest thing to do. At the same time, not having enough cash can cause a lot headaches too. It's a good idea to take a little more than you think you'll need.

But it's also good sense to have a backup prepaid , debit or travel credit card that you can rely on - assuming you're going to a destination that widely accepts card transactions.

2. Shop around

Not all currency exchange companies are created equal. Some may have good exchange rates, but higher fees. Others may have higher rates, but no fees. You have to make sure which one offers the best value to you.

This is why it’s worth comparing the deals on offer from several companies before ordering your travel money. Factor in the fees and the exchange rate and see where you end up better off. Often the amount of money you're exchanging can be a deciding factor.

3. Don't buy your travel money at the airport

Airport holiday money providers have notoriously high prices because they offer a last-chance solution for those who are just about to board a plane. By planning ahead you can save a small fortune.

4. Don't carry too many large notes

Notes of large denominations can be tricky, as small shops and taxi cabs, which are more likely to require cash, might not have enough change to accept a large note.

Some retailers are also often wary of accepting large notes. Smaller notes and change can also be handy when it comes to tipping or buying small everyday items.

5. Don't use your credit card to buy travel money

Avoid buying foreign currency with a credit card as credit card providers treat the transaction as a 'cash advance' . Not only will you be charged daily interest, you're also likely to be hit with a fee.

Budgeting for your holiday

How much travel money you need to take depends on your plans. You'll need to budget for your holiday to make sure you don't run out of money before the end.

Deciding how much money to take depends on were you're going, whether debit or credit card usage is prevalent, and if you want to have some local currency on hand for emergencies.

Having some cash is extremely important, as there's always a possibility your cards could get declined or blocked for some reason, and it may take some time to resolve the issue.

Also, some countries still rely predominantly on cash transactions, so you should factor that into how much cash you decide to take.

What are the top alternatives to buying travel money?

Travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards - i.e. the ones with  no foreign transaction fees  - offer two key advantages over travel money:

Great exchange rates  - when you spend on a travel credit card you get the Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer

Purchase protection  – for purchases costing between £100 and £30,000 you're covered by  Section 75 of the consumer credit act , meaning if something goes wrong you can make a claim with your card provider should the vendor fail to pay up

However, not everywhere accepts travel credit cards and using them at a cash machine abroad can come with hefty fees. It can also be easier to overspend on a credit card, leaving you with debts on which interest is charged.

Travel money cards

Currency cards and travel bank accounts let you spend overseas without being charged a foreign transaction fee. Their key strengths are:

Great exchange rates  - you card provider will pass on the Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges

No charges for ATM use overseas  - if you need extra cash on holiday, you can withdraw it without being charged by your provider. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply 

The downsides include that there can be limits on how much you can withdraw abroad using a travel money card, and that they're not accepted quite as widely as cash. Some travel current accounts also come with fees.

Prepaid travel cards

Prepaid travel cards  can be loaded with currency and used abroad without paying foreign exchange fees. You can load a prepaid card with a specific foreign currency or a variety of different currencies, depending on your travel plans. The key advantages are:

Low or no fees to use abroad  – prepaid travel card providers charge far less than traditional banks for overseas usage

Safer than carrying cash  - you can cancel or freeze the card if it's lost or stolen, protecting your balance

However, you’ll need to watch out for general usage fees, which often apply when you load the card with cash and may also be charged monthly.

Can you get commission-free travel currency?

Yes and no. It depends on how you define it. Commission refers to the service fee that a currency exchange broker charges for exchanging your money.

Many companies advertise 0% commission to exchange money online or on the high street, but, instead of charging commission, they offer a less competitive exchange rate. This is why you need to compare the whole deal rather than just opting for a zero-fee travel money deal.

Are there restrictions on getting currency delivered?

When you buy your currency online, it's normally sent via Royal Mail's Special Delivery service. This means you have to sign for the package. Cash orders that exceed £2,500 will be sent in batches because that's the maximum value that can be insured for each delivery.

Can you get next-day delivery for currency?

Some travel money providers do offer next-day delivery. These brokers send out currency using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm service.

Our comparison shows which operators offer this option and how much they charge for it. With some companies, you also have the option to pre-order your travel money for collection in person from a local branch, meaning you don't have to pay for delivery.

Will anyone buy my currency back?

If you've got leftover travel money from a trip abroad, you can use a  buy-back service  to convert it back into pounds.

The buy-back rate tells you how much sterling you'll get back.

Remember to factor in the rate and delivery costs, and compare exchange rates. You can check out the best euro-to-pound exchange rate by looking at our comparison table.

About our comparison

Who do we include in this comparison.

We include every company that gives you the option of buying euros online. Discover  how our website works .

How do we make money from our comparison?

We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison. We get paid commission if we help you take out one of their products or services.  Find out more here .

You do not pay any extra and the deal you get is not affected.

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In this guide

If you’re going abroad, it’s never a bad idea to carry some of the local currency. Since it’s normally cheaper to organise your cash before you jet off, we list some of the best and cheapest providers around.

If you’re holidaying overseas to catch some sun or you’re on an urgent business trip abroad, there are a variety of ways to spend your money. One of these is to exchange your cash for foreign currency to provide a great alternative to card payments.

But making sure your wallet is topped up with the right notes is different to choosing the right credit card. In this article we explain:

What is the best option for travel money?

Is a prepaid card better than cash, how to get the best deals on a currency exchange.

Read more: How do exchange rates work?

While you’ll be able to make all your purchases on a card in many countries, it’s never a bad idea to have a backup spending option. It’s always useful to have cash. You might you lose your card or it could be declined and some places just do not have the facilities to accept cards.

However, if cash is stolen or lost to a scam there aren’t any protection schemes in place. A travel credit card, meanwhile, does offer some level of protection through Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Our guide explains this law in more detail , but in essence it says that your credit card provider is jointly responsible if the goods you purchase are faulty or if you don’t receive a promised service. The protection only kicks in on spending between £100 and £30,000.

Read more: Consumer rights UK: what you need to know

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Instead of a travel credit card, you could choose to keep your spending on a prepaid card. Some people prefer the latter option because it’s easier to manage their cash. Once the money is spent there’s no risk of running into debt.

It’s important to remember that prepaid travel cards aren’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which means that if your provider goes bust you can’t claim compensation for your losses.

Still, these cards must adhere to some regulation. The Financial Conduct Authority requires your e-money institution to ringfence this money within a regulated bank so that it can’t be lent out.

If you do want this protection, then consider another card such as Chase* which enables fee-free spending abroad. Our guide explains and lists other alternatives. 

But when compared to cash, prepaid cards typically offer better rates – meaning you’ll get more for your money. Some people may wish to keep the bulk of their money on a prepaid card and have some cash on hand for emergencies.

If you’re planning to take some foreign currency with you on holiday, you can order your travel money online or via a high-street lender.

To help you figure out who to use, we list some of the best and cheapest providers below:

Post Office

M&S Bank

It’s almost always best to avoid using the bureau de change in the airport. By the time you get to the terminal, these providers know your options are limited and use this as a reason to increase their prices.

Last year Eurochange, a currency broker, released a survey which explored the difference in cost. It found that someone buying £1,000 worth of euros at three of the UK’s largest airports spends about £176 more than if they were to buy their currency through one of their high-street branches.

“These figures are striking and show how crucial it is for travellers to plan ahead when it comes to travel money,” said Charles Stewart, managing director at Eurochange.

Iain Donachie, head of money services at Tesco Bank, echoed this sentiment. He encouraged travellers to compare their options well before their departure – and if they come across a good deal they should take advantage of it.

“Plan ahead and buy your foreign currency online if you can, this is where you will find the best rates and give your spending money a little boost. It also means you will avoid receiving a poorer exchange rate at the airport,” he said.

When comparing your options, also consider checking your local supermarket for travel money offers and see if you can use your loyalty card to your advantage. Examples of loyalty schemes include Tesco’s Clubcard or Sainsbury’s Nectar card memberships, which sometimes can be used to gain better rates from their respective banks.

Read more: Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Sainsbury’s loyalty cards compared

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How long does it take to receive my money?

This depends on a variety of factors such as your provider, the demand of the currency, and how you’ll have it delivered. Some providers allow you to collect your order within 60 seconds, while others will deliver it to your door within three to five working days.

Will the money be delivered to me?

Travel money brokers are not the only ones who will deliver money to your home. In our listings above you can see which providers offer this service.

Can I use a credit card to buy foreign currency?

Buying foreign currency on a credit card is often considered as a cash advance, which incurs its own fees and daily interest charges. So, to keep things cheaper, it’s often recommended you buy your travel money through other means.

Will I have to pay a commission on my currency exchange?

Some brokers charge a commission to buy foreign currency. This usually works out as a percentage of your purchase. For example, one broker charges 0.7% commission on its foreign exchanges. If you bought £1,000 worth of euros this works out to a £7 fee.

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

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Best Travel Money Exchange Rates Compared & Reviewed

This guide explains the cheapest and most expensive ways to buy travel money. It can help save you money if you are thinking about going abroad and trying to work out the best way to spend while you’re there.

Compare Travel Money Exchange Rates

Commission charges when you buy foreign currency have mostly been phased out. Now most currency operators make money on the difference between the interbank exchange rate and the rate they actually give you.

So the best way to know if you’re getting a good deal is to compare the actual exchange rate you’re getting.

For each of the currency exchange locations below we have used the euro as an example – but where you see a location giving a bad rate (versus the benchmark interbank rate) for euros, you can be pretty much guaranteed you’ll get a bad rate on any other currency at that place too.

Here are the ways to get the most for your money when buying foreign currency, ranked best to worse.

(All exchange rate figures accessed on 31 May 2023.)

What’s in this guide?

1. Currency cards – BEST RATE

Currency cards are debit card-style payment cards designed to be used while you are on holiday or travelling outside the UK to pay for goods and services, usually anywhere you see the Visa or Mastercard symbol. They either come as regular debit cards with travel money functions, or as a separate card that connects to your current account.

Currency cards offer some of the best exchange rates around, and are available from, for example, Starling, Monzo, Revolut , and Curresea.

The euro rates for Monzo and Starling are based on the Mastercard rate so are the same:

• £1 = €1.152 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• On the (free) Curresea Essential plan the euro rate is:
• £1 = €1.152
• On the (paid for) Curresea Elite and Premium Plans the euro rate is:
• £1 = €1.163
• Ease : Currency cards are easy to apply for and usually arrive within a few days. If your bank already offers a travel card service as part of your account you may not even need to apply for a new card. Plus you don’t need to worry about changing up loads of cash before you go away.
• Safety : If you lose cash, it’s usually gone forever. If you lose your currency card you can cancel or freeze it in the app that comes with it to prevent anyone else using your holiday money.
• Virtual wallet: You can add most currency travel cards to your phone’s virtual wallet, so you can still pay if you only have your phone with you.
• Charges : Fees and charges to use your currency card abroad can vary significantly so it’s a good idea to compare different providers before you choose which one to go with. Be aware the card provider – typically either Visa or Mastercard – can add its own fees of 1% to 3% on top of transactions.
• ATM limits : Some card providers limit how much you can withdraw from an ATM in another currency, after which point more charges will kick in.
• No section 75 protection : Debit card payments and purchases are not covered by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. But you might be able to make a claim for a refund under a voluntary scheme called ‘chargeback’.

2. Cash point abroad

Withdrawing cash from an ATM abroad can be a good option if you use one of the cards mentioned above, or a travel credit card. They are designed for use while travelling, so give the best rates on foreign exchange, and limit the fees and charges you pay while using them abroad. It is for this reason that cash point abroad is 2nd on this list.

Currensea , for example, as well as offering one of the best exchange rates, allows free ATM withdrawals of up to £500 using its Essential Card (2% fees over), and with its Premium Card (which costs £25 a year) you can make fee free ATM withdrawals up to £500 (1% over).

Just remember – if the ATM tells you a fee applies, always choose to be charged in the local currency of the country you’re in (this also applies to card purchases).

However beware – this is important – if you just take your normal debit card or credit card abroad you can expect high fees from both your bank and the ATM you withdraw cash from every time you use it.

For example, Barclays charges a 2.99% fee for using your standard debit card abroad when making purchases, withdrawing cash or for refunds.

So while you get a pretty decent exchange rate with Barclays (which uses the Visa rate), once the fee is added the real rate is much less. It works out as:

• Visa rate: £1 = €1.161 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate) before charges
• Barclays debit rate after 2.99% fee added £1 = €1.128
• Cheap if you use the right cards: Taking money out at an ATM abroad can be one of the cheapest ways to access cash if you use a card designed for travel that has fee-free options and a good exchange rate (see out Best Rated above).
• Don’t have to carry so much cash : Carrying huge wads of cash is a theft risk. Carrying a couple of cards (one for use and one for back up) is much safer.
• High costs if you use the wrong card : Avoid taking your regular debit or credit card abroad as to use it you will have to pay high fees.

3. Highstreet in the UK

UK highstreets offer a number of exchange rate options, from inside department stores like John Lewis, to specialist foreign exchange rate shops like No1 Currency. The rates will vary from place to place.

At No1 Currency, for example, the online rates are below, although the website says the in store rates may differ from what is advertised.

• £1 = €1.136 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €113.67

At John Lewis, on the same day the rate was a little lower.

• £1 = €1.133 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €113.38

At Marks & Spencer, the rate was:

• Click & Collect: £1 = €1.138 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
•  £100 = €113.80
• In-store bureau de change: £1 = €1.119
• £100 = €111.90

At a TUI branch the rate was:

• £1 = €1.139 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €113.90
• Click and collect rates : No1 Currency for example gives you a better rate if you order online then pick up in store, rather than have your currency delivered.
• Perks: For example at John Lewis you can earn points when you pay for currency with your Partnership Credit Card.
• Delivery charges : No1 Currency only offers free delivery for orders of £800 or more. At John Lewis the minimum for free home delivery is over £500.
• Minimum orders online: John Lewis, for example, has a £250 minimum for online orders.

4. Online with a supermarket

Most supermarkets sell travel money these days and it can be a convenient way to pick up some currency while you do your weekly shop. You can buy on the day or order online to collect.

As an added bonus, supermarkets offer a better rate on foreign currency for their loyalty card holders, pushing supermarkets up the ranking in terms of rates.

• Standard rate: £1 = €1.130 (vs €1.16 interbank rate)
• £100 = €113
• Tesco Clubcard rate:  €1.135
• £100 = €113.50

Sainsbury’s

• £1 = €1.131 (vs €1.16 interbank rate)
• £100 =  €113.17
• Sainsbury’s Nectar card rate: €1.1340
• £100 = €113.40
• Loyalty perks and points : Loyalty card holders get better exchange rates, plus you can earn loyalty points when you pay for the currency just like any other purchase.
• Convenience : Order online then pick up when you do your weekly shop.
• Minimum order amounts: For example Tesco has a minimum order amount of £400 worth of currency when you buy online, and a minimum of £500 to have a free home delivery. There is no minimum order amount for Sainsbury’s but a £4.99 fee to have currency bought online delivered at home.

5. Post office

The Post Office is a handy one-stop-shop for lots of holiday related things, from travel insurance to international driving permits, and including travel money. While the Post Office doesn’t offer the best rates on the market, it does have several other advantages that could make it a good option, especially if you are in a hurry.

• £1 = €1.116 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €111
• Rate increases : Order online for the best rates on every currency. The more you buy, the better the rate.
• Fast pick up service : You can pick up euros and US dollars from your nearest branch in as little as 2 hours, from selected branches. Order by 2pm (1pm Saturday) to collect the same day, from 2 hours later. Order after 2pm (1pm Saturday) to collect the next working day, from 11am. Or you can choose delivery to your home.
• Refund policy : Will refund 100% of the holiday money you bought if your trip abroad is cancelled
• Queuing : With a number of Post Offices closing, and banks shutting branches that force Post Offices to do more services with less, queues to get you travel money in person can be long.
• Limited currencies: Post Office in my experience don’t carry that much currency and only in a few of the most common types. Beware buying last minute – if you try to just pop in on the day to buy your currency without pre-ordering you may find they have run out, or don’t stock it.
• Buying limits : The minimum you can buy online of a currency is £400 worth, and the maximum is £2,500.

6. At the airport

The only times I have bought currency at the airport it has been out of desperation and from a lack of forward planning – and I have always regretted it. It is typically one of the most expensive (i.e. worst exchange rate) places to buy foreign currency.

But if you’re in a panic because you forgot to get out any cash before your trip, it is at least convenient to be able to grab some foreign currency before your flight.

Two of the most common foreign exchange kiosks you’ll find at UK and global airports are Travelex and Eurochange. The rates below are for their online services – rates in the airport are likely to be worse.

Travelex (online)

• £1 = €1.130 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)

Eurochange (online)

• £1 = €1.131 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €113.10
• Location : If in the rush to get away you forgot to pick up any currency, airport foreign exchange kiosks offer a last minute lifeline.
• Availability of currencies: Because of their location, currency kiosks in international airports tend to be well stocked in multiple currencies, even the less common ones.
• Switching currency : If you are visiting multiple countries on a trip but don’t want to carry large amounts of currency, changing up just what you need at each airport you pass through is an option.
• Expense : You will never get the best foreign exchange rate at an airport.
• Lack of comparison : Even if there is more than one currency store at the airport, they all tend to offer the same rates. Once you’re there you have no other options, you have to take what you can get.

7. Online with a bank

Buying travel money from your local bank might seem like the obvious choice, but surprisingly the rates on offer are likely among the worst you’ll get anywhere in the UK. However the limits on how much you can purchase can be higher (though you won’t get a better rate the more you buy so why bother?)

• £1 = €1.105 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €110.51
• £1 = €1.106 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)
• £100 = €110.67
• High purchase limits : At Barclays, for example, you can order up to £5,000 per person within a 90-day period, and a maximum of £2,500 from that amount can be sent for home delivery to a single residential address.
• Fee free deliveries : HSBC, for example, offers fee-free deliveries on your travel money to HSBC Full and Cash Service branches or to your home. Other banks may charge.
• Limited to customers : You may find you have to be a customer. For example, you’ll need a Barclays debit card or Barclaycard to place your order for currency online there.
• Expensive : Among the worst rates for currency exchange you’ll find anywhere in the UK.

8. Bureau de change abroad – WORST RATE

Bureau de changes abroad are typically in tourist hotspots. And what do we know about tourist hotspots? Rife for pickpockets and overinflated prices. This is the attitude you should take to foreign currency shops in these locations.

One example that proves the ‘expensive option’ point is Ria Money Transfer & Currency Exchange, situated in the busy Plaza de Callao in central Madrid, Spain.

Ria’s exchange rate on 31 May 2023 was:

• £1.00 = €0.99 (vs €1.16 inter bank rate)

Convenient : If you really need cash while you’re abroad, maybe because you’re in a place where your cards are not widely accepted, a local bureau de change may be a lifeline – just expect to pay heavily for that life raft.

• Cost, cost, cost: Buying foreign currency from a currency shop or kiosk in a tourist hotspot (where you are most likely to find them) is an extremely expensive way of getting your hands on cash. Avoid if at all possible.
• Theft risk : Pickpockets may hang around bureau de change just like they hang around ATMs, because they know you have just withdrawn what is probably a large amount of money. Secure your cash hidden away before you leave the kiosk.

Is it still worth getting travel cash ahead of your holidays?

Yes. Absolutely. Cards aren’t accepted everywhere, as I found to my detriment when I arrived in Buenos Aires and tried to take out local currency on my credit card at the foreign exchange desk at the airport.

“Absolutely not possible”, I was told. A combination of a lack of provision to buy currency on credit card there, and the Argentinian peso being just too volatile for credit card providers to let you buy it on their service.

All I had in hard currency was US$100 in Argetininian pesos I had changed in the airport at Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, where I had just come from, and a US$100 bill. Luckily I’d pre-paid my Buenos Aires hotel in advance, and I could easily find restaurants that would accept my credit card. But taxis only took cash, so I spent a lot of time walking – thinking about how I should have brought more pesos with me.

We’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to travel money.

Yes, in most cases. Cash withdrawal fees will probably apply of around 3%, just like they would at home for taking cash out on a credit card, and these will be on top of any currency conversion fees.

Be aware though – in countries with a highly fluctuating exchange rate, like Argentina, you may not be able to buy foreign cash with your credit card (not even at the bureau de change at the airport, for example). You still may be able to pay for goods and services with your credit cards, but check how widely they are accepted before you travel.

Yes, on the whole. When buying travel money online, like with buying anything online, you’re best off sticking to well known brands, whether that be banks, supermarkets, or currency exchange stores.

A large institution or well known brand is less likely to go bust, and that is important because foreign exchange is not a regulated service. This means your cash is not protected if the company you tried to get your foreign currency from closes suddenly.

Yes. Most places that sell you travel money will buy it back from you. But just like when you’re swapping your pounds for foreign currency, when you swap it back you should compare the exchange rates on offer. As a general rule, a location that offers a good rate one way, offers a good rate the other way.

Travel money providers – from the currency shops and bureau de change, to the banks and supermarkets, anywhere basically that sells currency – make money by giving you slightly less than the central banks give them for the foreign money you want to buy.

For example, if a currency provider tells you they will give you €1.131 for every pound you give them, but the central bank rate for euros is €1.157 per pound, the difference is €0.026, which they pocket. This may not sound much, but multiplied over millions of transactions a  year, it adds up.

Compare, compare, compare the single unit price – which means the £1 for a €1 rate, or whichever currency you choose, versus the interbank rate, which you can get by just Googling “1 GBP in EUR”.

Places that sell currency, online or in a shop, have to show you the exchange rate for that day. While it’s probably not practical to go traipsing around comparing shops, it’s easy enough to do so online. If you run up against minimum purchase amounts online, still go with the company providing the best rate but visit their location in person.

Also try not to get yourself in a position where you’re desperate to buy foreign currency, either at home or abroad. This means having enough cash on you in remote locations, and tourist hotspots, and before you travel (to avoid the airport currency shops).

Laura Miller has been a financial journalist for more than 10 years, and was on staff at the Telegraph before going freelance in 2019. Her experience includes hosting podcasts and panels, and she writes for the Times and Sunday Times, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Sun, as well as trade titles. She now lives by the sea in Aberystwyth, west Wales.

You may also be interested in:

Before you go!

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Get the best exchange rates on your travel money

Use our comparison site, our expert tips and country guides to make your money go further

Get the best exchange rates

From Australian dollars to UAE dinars ; get the best travel money deal by comparing the exchange rates from the UK’s top currency brands.

Travel Money Tips

Follow our expert tips when travelling abroad and we guarantee to save you money

Use a travel money comparison site to buy your currency

Always take cash and cards

Check the cost of posting cash to your home vs click and collect

Always understand debit and credit card charges

Always pay in local currency

Check overseas ATM charges before pressing 'enter'

Buy your travel money before you go to the airport

Always ‘haggle’ if you go to a bureau de change

Travel Money Country Guides

If you want to know more about how travel money works for a particular country, see our travel money guides below for some of your favourite destinations.

United States

Frequently asked questions.

What you need to know about using your debit and contactless card abroad

What you need to know about using your credit card abroad

What you need to know about exchange rates

What you need to know about using a pre paid card

Save money with these travel-related offers on your credit cards this month

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.

A great way to obtain continuous value from your rewards credit cards is through the targeted promotions available to you.

You may be most familiar with Amex Offers , which provide excellent discounts on travel, retail and other transactions. However, other issuers have stepped up their games and seen some useful offers from more banks lately; this month, however, doesn't have many good offers from Citi or Chase.

This monthly roundup highlights some of the most lucrative travel-related credit card promotions currently available. But don't forget to use a shopping portal , too, to earn even more rewards on your spending.

Amex Offers

Amex Offers is the most prolific and easy-to-understand program, and I've saved hundreds of dollars from these promotions over the years.

To view your offers, log into your online Amex account, scroll down to where you see a tab for "Amex Offers & Benefits," then click on the ones that are available (and of interest). If you find one you'd like to use, click the "Add to Card" button to activate it and see the terms for the offer. Most of these have expiration dates and other conditions that you must meet.

Hopefully, you're targeted for some of the following deals, as they can help you save big on upcoming travel:

• Air New Zealand: Spend $1,250 or more, get $200 back (expires May 7).
• Zipair Tokyo: Spend $750 or more, get $150 back (expires May 14).
• Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in Canada: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (expires May 15).
• Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy: Spend $1,000 or more, get $200 back (expires May 31).
• Caesars Rewards Las Vegas Destinations: Spend $200 or more, get $40 back (expires May 31).
• Delta Air Lines (select routes only): Spend $500 or more, get $150 back (expires May 31).
• Delta Air Lines (select routes only): Spend $600 or more, get $120 back (expires May 31).
• Delta Air Lines (select routes only): Spend $750 or more, get $150 back (expires May 31).
• Hilton Hotels (select destinations only): Spend $1,000 or more, get $200 back (expires May 31).
• Viceroy Hotels: Spend $1,000 or more, get $200 back (expires May 31).
• IHG Hotels & Resorts: Spend $200 or more, get $40 back (expires June 16).
• Delta Air Lines: Spend $300 or more, get $75 back (expires June 30).
• Best Western: Spend $100 or more, get $20 back (expires June 30).
• Camelback Resort: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (expires July 10).
• Lotte New York Palace: Spend $750 or more, get $150 back (expires July 23).
• Norwegian Cruise Line: Spend $1,000 or more, get $250 back (expires July 24).
• Waldorf Astoria, Conrad & LXR hotels: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (expires July 31).
• Lotte Hotel Seattle: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (expires Aug. 1).
• The Ned NoMad Hotel: Spend $500 or more, get $100 back (expires Sep. 4).
• Park 'N Fly: Spend $100 or more, get $20 back (expires Sep. 5).

Eligible cards and other details

All personal and small-business American Express cards are eligible for Amex Offers, though which offers you're presented with will vary by card. They include popular options like The Platinum Card® from American Express , the American Express® Gold Card and The Business Platinum® Card from American Express as well as cobranded cards such as Delta credit cards and Hilton credit cards .

Related: The secret to getting more (and sometimes better) Amex Offers on your card

BankAmeriDeals

You can earn cash back through the BankAmeriDeals program, available to most cardholders with a Bank of America or Merrill card. To access these offers, log into your online account and click on "Rewards & Deals" in the menu at the top.

These are the best travel-related offers currently available:

• Lyft: 10% back on a single purchase, with a maximum of $3 back (expires May 15).
• GoDo Travel: Up to 30% back (expires May 15).

You can access BankAmeriDeals on credit and debit cards from Bank of America, though ATM-only cards and some of Bank of America's cobranded credit cards are excluded. You can, however, access these deals on cards like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card , Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card .

Capital One Offers

Many popular stores are available on the Capital One Offers platform; discounts do not have stated expiration dates. All of the savings will apply as statement credits to your eligible account.

Here are some of the current travel-related offers you might be interested in using:

• Agoda: 5% back.
• Avis: 2.5% back.
• Best Western Hotels: 7% back.
• Booking.com: 4% back.
• Budget Rent-A-Car: 3% back.
• Camping World: 2% back.
• CheapOair: Up to $24 back.
• CheapTickets: 1% back.
• Choice Hotels: 6% back.
• Country Inn & Suites by Radisson: 2% back.
• Expedia: Up to 10% back.
• Extended Stay America: 5% back.
• Great Wolf Lodge: 2% back.
• Hertz: 5 % back.
• Hotels.com: 3% back.
• Hotwire: Up to 6% back.
• IHG: 5% back.
• Marriott: 4% back.
• Marriott Homes & Villas: 1% back.
• Orbitz: Up to 4% back.
• Park 'N Fly: 2% back.
• Priceline: Up to 5% back.
• Radisson Hotels: 1% back.
• Red Roof Inn: 1% back.
• Rentalcars.com: 2% back.
• RVshare: 8% back.
• Travelocity: Up to 3% back.
• TravelPro: 3% back.
• Trip.com: Up to 6% back.
• Tripadvisor: 4% back.
• Viator: 12.5% back.
• Vrbo: 6% back.

All consumer Capital One cards are eligible for Capital One Offers — including the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . However, the issuer's small-business cards do not participate.

As a forewarning, receiving credit for Capital One Offers can take longer than other issuers. While you'll usually receive credit in a few business days (at most) with other issuers, Capital One's terms say it can take up to three billing cycles.

Related: Complete guide to saving money with Capital One Offers

Chase Offers

Chase Offers often have a quicker expiration date than other issuers, but you'll frequently find great savings for everyday spending on everything from restaurants to travel purchases. You'll also find offers for rebates on gas with Chase more often than with other issuers, which can help you save at home, on a road trip or even when filling up your next rental car.

Here are some of the current offers:

• HotelTonight: 5% back, with a maximum of $22 back (expires May 4).
• Zipcar: 10% back when you spend $18 or more, with a maximum of $10 back (expires May 8).
• Trip Advisor: 5% back on a Things To Do purchase, with a maximum of $16.50 back (expires May 15).
• Chevron Pay-at-Pump: 2% back, with a maximum of $1 back (expires May 18).

Furthermore, Chase tends to provide promotions for brands it already partners with — such as Hyatt — so adding these offers allows you to double-dip your earnings. Your offers might vary depending on the specific cards you carry.

All Chase personal and business credit cards have the potential for Chase Offers. They include popular options like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Ink Business Preferred Credit Card , no-annual-fee options like the Chase Freedom Unlimited and cobranded cards like the World of Hyatt Credit Card and the United Explorer Card .

However, note that the number of targeted discounts will likely be larger on those cards you use most frequently. Like Amex, these must be activated before your purchase.

In addition, discount percentages often have an earnings cap. Be sure you read the full terms of each offer to know what you'll get back.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Citi Merchant Offers

Citi Merchant Offers can provide solid value, but what you see across your cards can vary greatly from one product to another or from one customer to another. Unfortunately, most members typically don't see many travel-related offers. Here's what's currently available:

• JetBlue: $50 back on a purchase of $250 or more (expires May 31).
• Sunoco: 3% back on a purchase of $35 or more, with a maximum of $5 back (expires May 31).
• Hawaiian Airlines: $30 back on a purchase of $150 or more (expires May 31).
• Caesars Rewards: $30 back on a purchase of $150 or more (expires May 31).

All Citi personal credit cards have the potential for these Merchant Offers. This includes cards that earn Citi ThankYou points — such as the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees ) — and cobranded cards like the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® . Remember to add the offers to your card before purchasing; otherwise, you won't receive the rebate.

Also, if you have an American Airlines cobranded card , check the SimplyMiles platform for even more bonus opportunities. These stack with Citi Merchant Offers and also count as Loyalty Points to earn American elite status .

Related: The best Citi credit cards

Bottom line

I always check my card offers before making a big purchase so I don't miss out on discounts. Additionally, these card offers are helpful when I need gift ideas around the holidays. The right offer can change which product is cheaper on your upcoming purchases.

And remember: Just because you add an offer to your card doesn't mean you have to make the purchase. It provides the option to use it if you decide to later.

Make a habit of checking your card promotions regularly, because they can help you save hundreds of dollars yearly. Remember to bookmark this page, as we update it monthly with the latest deals.

22 Secrets to Save Money on Travel

We all dream of taking that perfect solo or family vacation, but planning on a budget can be hard.

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Many Americans are hitting the road this year but planning a dream vacation on a budget can be hard. Airfares and vacation rental prices could surge this summer due to demand.

Don't give up hope just yet on saving a few bucks. There are still ways to get good deals on all of your travel plans. Here are 22 tips and strategies for getting the best prices with the least hassle on airfares, cruises, hotels and vacation packages.

What to Expect Traveling in a Post-COVID World

Fly When No One Else Wants to

Fares rise and fall with air traffic — so says the law of supply and demand. In general, plan to fly on a Tuesday or Wednesday or in the afternoon on Saturday to bag a cheaper domestic flight.

• Early mornings and late nights are also less popular and more affordable times to fly, as are Thanksgiving and the eves and days of Christmas and New Year’s . If you want to find the best month to take your trip, plug your home airport and getaway location into Google Flights or Kayak Explore to see the cheapest times to fly. Besides saving money, avoiding peak travel days will often mean you’ll travel on slightly less-crowded flights and go through shorter airport security lines.

Great Getaways That Won’t Break the Bank

Sponsored Content

Be Flexible About Where You Go

You can use features available on Kayak to pinpoint on a world map all the destinations you can visit within your airfare budget. This interactive tool lets you select a departure city and time and duration of travel, then adjust a sliding scale to set a maximum ticket price. Airfares that fit into your budget will populate a map, and you can click on a destination for details. It also lets you be flexible on timing, too — you can search by month and see if certain days come with cheaper fares. (But if you need to stick with exact travel dates, you can specify your search, too.)

How Retired Singles Can Safely Travel While Saving Money

Sign Up for E-mail Alerts

Sign up for free e-mail alerts from airlines or other travel sites such as Google Flights , Scott’s Cheap Flights or Airfarewatchdog to get early access to coupon codes and flash sales. Plus, getting pinged regularly with ticket prices can help you develop a point of reference to recognize good deals. Or, you can follow Twitter handles such as @TheFlightDeal for flights.

24 Best Travel Websites to Save You Money

Buy Your Tickets at the Right Time

There is much debate about when to book your flight to get the best deal. For a domestic trip, you should get your ticket 21 to 115 days before your trip. Ticket prices during that window will be within 5% of its lowest point, according to a CheapAir.com survey. For an international flight, book the trip at least six months in advance, according to the travel website The Points Guy . As for cruises, cheap last-minute deals have dried up over the years, so you may find fare sales posted 2 to 3 years in advance.

Also, be sure to set a price alert on Kayak. Just enter your itinerary, and the site will keep track of price trends.

Think Twice Before You Close a Credit Card

Going Last Minute? Consider Buying a Vacation Package

If you’re booking a last-minute flight, consider buying a vacation package. Online travel agencies lock in lower fares early and combine them with cheap hotel stays. At the eleventh hour, when airfares may spike elsewhere, these bundles may cost less than purchasing the flight alone.

Assessing the Risks of International Travel

Keep an Eye on Fares, Even After You book

You have the right to change or cancel your flight plans for free within 24 hours of booking, thanks to rules introduced by the Department of Transportation in 2012. So if you find a better fare within that window, you can snatch the savings with no penalty.

Because of COVID-19, many airlines are also waiving fees for canceling or changing a flight. You could book a flight and then set a Google Flight alert to notify you if the price changes. You then rebook at the lower rate, though you will usually get the price difference in a credit to the airline rather than cash.

Avoid Extra Baggage Fees

Check your airline's policies and fees for both checked and carry-on bags. If you fly with a certain airline you may want to open up one of its credit cards to avoid a checked bag fee. Plus, as a bonus, at least one of your travel companions on the reservation can enjoy a free bag, too. Southwest continues to allow two free checked bags.

If you’re the gambling sort, you can see if your airline announces "complimentary checked luggage" at the gate. This sometimes happens if flights are full and overhead bin space is expected to fill up quickly. But fair warning: Your bag still has to be considered carry-on size.

Credit Card Perks for Car Rentals

Add a Free Destination

Prior to the pandemic, international travelers were able to squeeze an extra destination into their itinerary at no cost--or for a smidge more than what they were already paying for the flight. For example, I celandair lets passengers hop off in Iceland when traveling between North America and Europe.

However, some airlines suspended this option during COVID-19. Check your airline’s policies before booking the trip. If you can’t find details online, call the airline to inquire about no-cost stops on your route.

Get a Travel Rewards Card

Keep these ingredients in mind when shopping for a travel-friendly credit card: no foreign transaction fee, a microchip and generous rewards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve Visa ($550 annual fee) offers a chip for secure transactions. You earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within 90 days of opening your account. If you would rather trade significant rewards for no annual fee, consider the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature, which is chip- and PIN-enabled.

Best Rewards Credit Cards

Stay in Hotels Off Season

Going off season is a particularly savvy strategy if you select a destination that’s designed for large peak-season crowds. When desperate to fill rooms, hotels will slash rates or throw in perks, such as spa credits. For example, consider business or convention hotels after the suits have departed for the weekend and beach resorts in the late spring ( after spring break) or fall.

Book Directly Through a Hotel’s Website

Many places offer lower rates for online booking. You can also sign up to get hotels’ e-mails about special promotions and discounts. Just remember the lowest rates are usually prepaid and non-refundable. If you think your plans might change, you’ll have to pay the higher, more flexible rates.

Keep Tracking Lodging Rates After You've Booked

Don’t forget to take advantage of best-rate guarantees from hotel chains such as Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy when booking directly. If you find a better rate on a third-party site for the same hotel and room type within 24 hours of making your reservation, Marriott Bonvoy, for example, will beat the lower rate by up to 25% or you can choose to receive 5,000 points. Orbitz offers a similar guarantee to its rewards members. After booking, if you find a better rate on another site or Orbitz.com within 24 hours of booking, the online travel agency will refund or credit you the difference. But your claim has to meet all the parameters of Orbitz’s price-guarantee checklist.

Pick Up the Phone

Sometimes a call can yield greater savings than booking on the web. For hotels, contact the front desk and see whether the agent can beat the online rate. Mention anything that could get you a discount, such as being a senior, a member of AAA or a government employee. If the agent won’t budge, ask for the duty manager.

Where to Go for the Best Off-Season Travel

Book Blind for Rock-Bottom Rates

" Priceline Express Deals " and Hotwire.com’s "Hot Rates " can cut up to 60% off regular hotel rates. With either site, you specify your length of stay, preferred neighborhood and a guaranteed minimum star class. But you won’t know the exact hotel or location until after you pay — a bigger risk when visiting unfamiliar areas, particularly overseas. (Blind booking works great for car rentals; a sedan is a sedan is a sedan. It’s more of a gamble for flights because you won’t know exact departure times or airlines.)

Fight Back Against Resort Fees

Call your hotel to confirm an online reservation — especially if you booked at the last minute — and check to see whether you’re being charged additional fees. Hotels may be willing to waive fees, especially for frequent visitors or rewards-program members . Also, request a copy of your bill the night before you check out so that you have time to dispute any extra charges that got tacked on.

Resort Fees: No Day at the Beach

Exploit Website Quirks

Say you’re booking a hotel for a five-night stay starting on Saturday night. Check to see if the price of each night is the same as the total cost of booking the five-night stay all at once. In most cases they should be, but if not, book for individual nights and call the front desk to link your reservations. Or you can consider switching to a cheaper, comparable hotel midway through your trip.

Check Airline Vacation Packages

Hotels and airlines don’t like to advertise sales because it hurts the brand. However, they’ll often package a trip to disguise the discount. Online travel agencies (think Travelocity ) are well known for their bundled bargains. But don’t forget to check packages offered directly by airlines, such as United Vacations and Southwest Vacations , as well as smaller travel operators such as Apple Vacations and Gate 1 Travel . Daily deal sites have gotten in on the act, too, with Groupon Getaways and LivingSocial Escapes .

Find All-Inclusive Deals

Seek all-inclusive deals to pay just once for your whole vacation — including lodging, food, drinks and activities — and make it easier to stay within your budget, especially if you’re traveling with children. As the peak summer season cools off, beach resorts should get more generous with their perks.

Or, you can price it a la carte to see if a package makes sense.

Active Retirees Seek Adventure Travel

Defy Hurricane Season

Cruise lines offer the most enticing deals for travel from June 1 to November 30, which is hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean. Demand is low because of the risk of storms, but ships can generally circumvent the worst of the bad weather . If your cruise is canceled (which rarely happens), you’ll receive a refund or credit toward a future cruise. Check out Cruise Critic’s " Hurricane Zone ," which provides storm updates and links to hurricane-season deals.

• Warning: the cruise company won’t reimburse you if rerouting delays force you to shell out for extra hotel nights or other itinerary changes . You may want cover your bases by booking travel insurance through a third-party provider, such as Squaremouth .

Hurricane Season: Home, Family and Financial Planning Tips

Use a Travel Agent to Book Cruises

Especially for first-timers, cruises can prove more complicated than your standard trip by air or land. A good cruise agent can help you avoid any costly booking snafus, as well as score you solid deals, cabin upgrades and other extras. At CruiseCompete.com , submit your cruise preferences, and the site will relay your request to a variety of travel agents, who will then make you their best offers.

• But beware of upselling : Agents typically receive a commission from the cruise line, so it’s in their best interest if you book a cruise bundle that includes airfare and hotel. Think twice — and check flights and hotels on your own — before purchasing one.

How Cruise Ships Are Setting Sail During COVID

Book a River Cruise

Cruise lines are known to nickel-and-dime passengers. So if you’re looking for a less expensive but still relaxing trip, consider a river cruise. Most ships bundle wine and beer and shore activities into the price, whereas mainstream cruises charge extra. Plus, you’ll typically get a more intimate experience with a smaller group of passengers.

Sail into Big Savings with a Repositioning Cruise

Ships need to take these one-way voyages in order to relocate for the season. For example, ships that cruise near Alaska in the summer head south once fall arrives. And cruise lines invite passengers aboard for the ride at deeply discounted rates. Look to Cruisecritic.com for current information on repositioning cruises.

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Get the best euro exchange rate

Compare the latest euro exchange rates from the UK's top currency providers

How to get the best euro exchange rate

If you're travelling to Europe, it's important to shop around and compare currency suppliers to maximise your chances of getting a good deal. We can help you to find the best euro exchange rate by comparing a wide range of UK travel money suppliers who have euros in stock and ready to order online now. Our comparisons automatically factor in all costs and commission, so all you need to do is tell us how much you want to spend and we'll show you the top suppliers who fit the bill.

Are you looking to get the best euro exchange rate for your next trip abroad? At Compare Holiday Money, we compare the euro rates from dozens of top UK foreign exchange providers to help you find the most competitive currency deals online and on the high street.

We continuously scan and track the latest euro rates from a wide range of currency providers to help you find the companies offering the best deals. Our clever currency comparisons automatically factor in all costs and charges like delivery fees and commission, so all you need to do is tell us how much you want to spend and we'll show you the best euro rates available to buy online right now.

Compare deals

Some of the best travel money deals are only available when you buy online. By using a comparison site, you're more likely to see the full range of deals on offer and get the best rate.

Some of the best travel money deals are only available from specialist online currency providers who offer better euro rates than high street bureaux de change.

Always place your order online, even if you plan to collect your currency in person. Most supermarkets and high street currency suppliers offer better exchange rates if you order online beforehand.

Most supermarkets and currency suppliers offer better rates if you buy or reserve your currency online. If you're planning to buy euros in store, place your order online beforehand to guarantee the online rate.

Combine orders

If you're travelling with others, consider placing one large currency order instead of buying individually. Many currency suppliers offer enhanced rates that improve as you order more.

You'll often get better rates the more you order. If you're travelling with a group, consider placing one large currency order instead of everyone buying euros individually.

Remember, exchange rates aren't the only important factor when finding the best euro deal. Delivery costs, commission and payment surcharges can all affect the amount of money you'll receive. See our comprehensive euro travel money comparisons to find the absolute best deal with all costs and charges factored in.

Online foreign exchange providers who specialise in travel money usually offer the best euro exchange rates, and you'll get the best deals when you buy online for home delivery. If waiting isn't an option, or if you'd rather buy your euros in person, supermarkets typically offer the best euro rates on the high street - but don't just walk in off the street unannounced. Reserve your euros online (ideally the day before you want to collect them) as most supermarkets offer enhanced exchange rates on their website compared to the rates they advertise in store. By ordering online you'll lock-in the better online rate and can collect your euros in person at a time that's convenient for you.

Euro rate trend

Over the past 30 days, the Euro rate is up 0.4% from 1.1677 on 11 Aug to 1.1724 today. This means one pound will buy more Euros today than it would have a month ago. Right now, £750 is worth approximately €879.30 which is €3.53 more than you'd have got on 11 Aug.

These are the average Euro rates taken from our panel of UK travel money providers at the end of each day. You can explore this further on our British pound to Euro currency chart .

We found 17 foreign exchange providers offering euros today. The table below shows the results ordered by best euro rate, assuming you wanted to buy £750 worth of euros for home delivery.

Remember, exchange rates aren't the only important factor when it comes to getting a good currency deal. Delivery fees, payment surcharges and other hidden costs can all affect the amount of money you'll receive. See our euro travel money comparisons to help you find the best euro rate today.

Timing is key if you want to maximise your euros, but the best time to buy will depend on the current market conditions and your personal travel plans.

If you have a fixed travel date, you should start to monitor the euro rates as soon as possible in the period leading up to your departure so that you've got time to buy when the rate is looking favourable. For example, if the euro rate has been steadily increasing over several weeks or months, it could be a good time to buy while the rate is high.

Some people prefer to buy half of their euros as soon as they've booked their holiday, and the remaining half just before they depart. This can be a good way of maximising your holiday money if the exchange rate continues to rise after you've bought, but will also help to minimise your losses if the rate drops.

You could also consider signing up to our newsletter and we'll email the latest rates to you each month.

If you need your euros sooner and don't have time to wait for the rates to improve, you can still save money by comparing rates from a range of different providers before you buy. Online travel money suppliers usually have better euro rates than high street exchanges, but supermarkets are a good compromise if you want to collect your currency in person and still get a decent rate. Just remember to buy or reserve your euros first before you collect them from the store so you benefit from the supplier's better online rate.

Euro banknotes and coins

Over 340 million people use the euro every day according to the European Central Bank, making it the second most-traded currency in the world after US dollars. Twenty out of 27 EU Member States have adopted the euro as their official currency, and euros are used officially and unofficially in many non-EU countries and territories throughout Europe such as Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.

Euros are governed and issued by the European Central Bank which is based in Frankfurt, but the actual production of euro banknotes and coins is handled by various national banks throughout the Eurozone. Spain and Greece are responsible for printing €5 and €10 banknotes, Germany prints €100 notes, and the other EU member states are responsible for printing €20 and €50 notes.

One euro (€) can be subdivided into 100 cents (c). There are seven denominations of euro banknotes in circulation: €5, €10, €20, €50 and €100 which are frequently used, plus €200 and €500 notes which are no longer printed but are still in circulation and remain legal tender. The designs printed on each banknote are intended to be symbolic of the European Union's identity and unity, as well as highlighting the diversity and richness of different European cultures. The front of each banknote features architectural styles from different periods in Europe's history, including Classical, Gothic, Renaissance and modern, while the reverse side features bridges that represent communication and cooperation between the different countries within the European Union.

Euro coins are available in eight denominations: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2. Each EU member state is responsible for minting its own coins, and can choose their own design for the 'tails' side. For example, German coins feature the 'Bundesadler' or Federal Eagle which has been the German coat of arms since 1950, while French coins depict Marianne; an important symbol of French national identity. Next time you've got a handful of euro coins, take a look at the tails side and see if you can guess which EU country they came from!

There's no evidence to suggest that you'll get a better deal if you buy your euros in Europe. While there may be better exchange rates available in some locations, your options for shopping around may be limited once you arrive, and there's no guarantee the exchange rates will be any better than they are in the UK.

Exchange rates aside, here are some other reasons to avoid buying your euros in Europe:

• You may have to pay commission or other hidden fees to a currency exchange that you wouldn't have paid in the UK
• Your bank may charge you a foreign transaction fee if you use it to buy euros when you're abroad
• It can be harder to spot scammers and fraudulent currency exchanges in Europe

Lastly, it can be handy to have some cash on you when you arrive at your destination so you can pay for any immediate expenses like food, transport and tips. You don't want to be searching for the nearest currency exchange when you've just landed and you're desperate for a cup of tea - or a cocktail!

Twenty out of 27 EU member states have adopted the euro as their official currency. These are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

The following European countries and territories who are not part of the EU also use the euro as their official currency: Andorra, Kosovo, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and Vatican City, French Guiana and Martinique, the Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira.

Tips for saving money while visiting Europe

The most budget-friendly destinations in Europe are generally those located in the east such as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. In contrast: Luxembourg, Ireland and France usually top the list as some of the most expensive holiday destinations. Regardless of where you're planning to visit, you can save money during your trip by following some simple tips:

• Research your accommodation: Hotels can be expensive, so one way of saving money is to look for more budget-friendly accommodation such as hostels, holiday rentals, or even campsites. AirBnB can be an affordable option too, especially if you rent a room instead of an entire apartment; and you'll get to experience what it's like to live like a local. Salud!
• Use public transport: Make the most of any metro systems, buses, or trams to get around instead of relying on private taxis or rental cars. Many European countries also offer national and regional travel passes for public transport which can work out significantly cheaper than buying individual tickets.
• Eat like a local: Opt for local restaurants or street food vendors that offer authentic cuisine at lower prices. Avoid dining at expensive tourist restaurants, and try cooking your own meals if your accommodation has a kitchen. Not only is this a great way to save money, but it can also be a fun cultural experience to shop around in European supermarkets and cook with local ingredients.
• Plan your itinerary: Look out for free attractions such as museums, parks, churches and historical sites, and plan your itinerary around these. Many cities in Europe also offer free walking tours which can be a great way to get an overview of a new location while learning about its culture and history.
• Find discount vouchers: Many tourist attractions and activities offer discount vouchers and codes that can save you money on entry fees and other perks. Look for vouchers online; sign up to newsletters and follow the social media accounts of places you're planning to visit.
• Take cash: Using cash will help you to stick to a budget more easily than paying by card, and you'll also avoid foreign transaction fees. If you do take a card with you, look out for ATMs that are affiliated with your UK bank to avoid ATM fees, and if you're asked whether you want to pay in pounds or euros - always choose euros. If you pay in pounds the merchant can set their own exchange rate which won't be in your favour.

Choosing the right payment method

Sending money to a company you might not have heard of before can be unsettling. We routinely check all the companies that feature in our comparisons to make sure they meet our strict listing criteria, but it's still worth knowing how your money is protected in the unlikely event a company goes bust and you don't receive your order.

Bank transfer

Your money is not protected if you pay by bank transfer. If the company goes bust and you've paid by bank transfer, it's unlikely you'll get your money back. For this reason, we recommend you pay by debit or credit card wherever possible because they offer more financial protection.

Debit cards are the most popular payment method and they offer some financial protection. If you pay by debit card and the company goes bust, you can instruct your bank to make a chargeback request to recover your money from the company's bank. This isn't a legal right, and a refund isn't guaranteed, but if you make a chargeback request your bank is obliged to try and recover your money.

Credit card

Credit cards offer full financial protection, and your money is protected by law under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Section 75 states that your card issuer must refund you in full if you don't receive your order. Be aware that many credit cards charge a cash advance fee (typically around 3%) for buying currency, so you may have to weigh up the benefits of full financial protection with the extra cost of using a credit card.

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