Barcelona Travel Forum

Hello, my husband and I are travelling to Barcelona for a convention for a a week in August this year.

I live in South Africa where the rate of exchange for the Euro is almost 12 ZAR (my currency) for 1 EURO. The rate is relatively favourable today and I need to purchase Euros. I have read a post from 2007 advising against travellers cheques as it is difficult and expensive to change them into cash. I have also read numerous posts about the fact that it is not safe to carry much cash (because of pickpockets)and to rather use a credit card. For me, the credit card means that I have no idea what rate I will be charged on the day (it was ZAR 13.7 for 1 EURO in March for example).

After that rather lengthy ramble, my request is:does anyone have updated advice on the availability of offices to change travellers cheques, can it only be done at a bank, is the commission to make the change high, does the suggestion to pay by credit card stand? Any recent information will be most appreciated.

As a regular traveller in Europe and in the Uk ( where I live) I can say that Travellers Cheques are not welcome at most places, and where they are the exchange rate used will generally be unfavourable - probably one of the worst you will get.
Check with your Bank what charges will be applied to your account for making withdrawals at an ATM using your Debit Card.
Also with your Credit Card provider to ask the same question about using it for making purchases, paying hotel and restaurant bills etc.
It is usually very expensive in interest charges to withdraw cash on a credit card.
My UK Bank charge 0.84% on ATM Deit withdrawals, which is the Visa charge, but no additional charges or Commission, and applies the interbank exchange rate rather than the Tourist rate. Most banks routinely charge around 2.75% on withdrawals and purchases and may apply a less favourable exchange rate.So it is as well to check these details before you go.

I can't answer you directly, but I also have a similar problem. the NIS - local money - is today 5.53 to the Euro. It fluctuates daily and often goes up to 6 NIS for 1 Euro.

In addition if I use a credit card it costs me for every withdrawal a high percentage, plus bank charges which are expensive.

All this and I am, per force, a budget traveller. I have definitely found that carrying cash is best. That means of course using a number of different means of hiding my money.

In a waist pouch I carry only what I need for the day. Otherwise I use the hotel safe, different kinds of hidden money belts and hidden pockets in various parts of my clothing and on my body.

There is some tension involved in having to carry too much cash, but otherwise the cost of my trip could be up to 1/3 more expensive.

You will do what suits you best. I can only tell you my personal experience. I have never been robbed, but I am very aware and very careful.

Thank you both for your valuable input.

I want to clarify that I will have travellers cheques in Euros. I will not need to exchange the currency just change the cheques into cash.

If Barcelona is anything like Brussels in Belgium that I recently visited, then the number of 'officinas de cambio' will be much diminished from what was present years ago when there was great business changing European currencies. Currently, changing money at the airport, at hotels or in businesses is still likely to be at very unfavorable rates, and you might find difficulty changing travelers checks at these locales. I would expect that having checks in Euros might solve this problem. I still carry US American Express checks for emergencies because I can get them fee free from my bank and could always use them to get US cash at the American Express office if exchange at a bank was too expensive.

As mentioned, you must be very careful with the credit card you use. The foreign exchange may incur as much at a 4% fee plus the highest rate of interest on the money withdrawn from an ATM until you pay your bill. For most purchases you do not get the immediate high interest charge but the fees still apply. You also may be giving up a possible discount with cash.

good luck.

it does not make much difference if the traveler checks are in Euros. The problem is these are not accepted as direct way of payment in shops, restaurants, anywhere! You have to cash them at a bank or at the very few change offices still around, pay a hefty fee, and last but not least, you'll depend on office hours/working days

Having some traveler checks as backup money may be ok, but if this is your only source of money you may get in trouble and it may get very expensive at the end of the day.

Thank you all. I will go with your suggestions. Belsaita, I see that you live in Barcelona. I have enjoyed reading many of your tips including the one about the salad (sorry I can't remember the Spanish) day trip. It all sounds like fun.

I'll chime in and just say that ATM cards are the way to go. Just make sure your bank is a fairly common one or in one of the usual ATM systems like Cirrus or Star and you shouldn't have a problem.

Badger

Thanks Badger , I will check this out with my bank.