mike

Dollars to GBP? Which bank or exchange should I use. Would Am. Express be an option (better exchange rate than straight cash to cash)? I can get Am. Ex. checks for free from my bank here in the States. Thanks, M.

why?

You're still going to eat it in the conversion process. Three little letters.... A-T-M It's the only way to go.

Michelle

There is an American Express office right across the street from Harrods(how handy and ATM's are the best way to go! Or you can buy pounds in the US..no matter which way you go, you lose,so ATM's are the best way to go

joe

I tries cashing AMEX checks at a bank between The National Gallery and Picadilly. The clerk told me to go around the corner to the American Express office, there would be no commission charged there.<BR>Of course that was five years ago.I have never carried travelers checks since I only use ATMs.

Christina

I don't recall rates exactly in London as I haven't been there in a few years, but in general in other countries, you won't see a lot of difference in exchange rates between travelers' checks vs. US cash, so I would take the TCs for safety reasons myself. Generally, you get a better exchange rate abroad (Europe, UK) than in US, so I would not buy the TCs in GBP, but in USD (they will charge you a fee to cash them in GBP anyway, in most places I've seen, so you are often worse off as you're losing twice on the transaction). ATMs have costs, also, of course, so it is not necessarily a cheaper way to go. I assume you have a reason for your decision. I got about the same from using TCs in France this summer vs. my ATM card due to my bank's ATM fee and the typical good rates given for TCs in France; don't recall custom in England. Am Express is often good in many cities, but not always the best rates.

mike

Thanks everyone for your replies. Sounds like AM. EX. checks (my bank doesn't charge a fee for the checks) in USD, then converting them at an AMEX. station "there" is the way to go. M.