Flying into Edinburgh from the US...All the advice I see says it is better to get currency from a [bank] ATM than to do a currency exchange. Does that also apply to International Currency Exchange's Click and Collect [https://www.iceplc.com/click-and-collect/]? Anyone have experience with that 'service'?
Posted by
Chicago
7837 posts
no good; it is geared toward using only pound sterling to get other currencies.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5326 posts
Some of the forex specialists do have offers on buying foreign currency, especially well traded ones such as $ and €. However, why waste time going to specific shops rather than the ATM?
Posted by
Medford, OR, USA
5835 posts
Airport has ATMs (cash machines): http://www.edinburghairport.com/prepare/services-and-facilities/cash-machines
Cash machines (ATMs) are available at various points in the terminal
building, before and after security.All cash dispensers will accept valid UK bank and building society
cards (e.g. Link affiliated) without surcharge. They also accept major
credit cards.
See landside terminal map for ATM locations:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/edinburghairport/files/2016/06/20160608_landside.pdf
Posted by
Freedonia
15000 posts
Once again, the first poster has given bad information. You can use other currencies.
But as stated, why limit yourself to one location. What if you need more currency while in Edinburgh. Get used to using the ATM's (called Cashpoint machines in the UK) as they are easy to find and convenient. My only suggestion would be to use ones tied to a bank and get money when the bank is open just in case there is a problem--which is rare.
Personally, I have never used the service but if it makes you feel more comfortable, it doesn't seem bad.
Posted by
Chicago
7837 posts
You can't use USD dollars Frank without getting charged thats the point.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8375 posts
Here are two pieces of information to know when using ATM machines for cash. First, it is always a good idea to notify your bank that you will be traveling. That way they won't shut down your card with worries about fraud. Second, what card you use matters. At the very least, be aware of what costs are associated with your card. Some debit cards carry no foreign transaction fees and no ATM charges. Other cards have one or both of these fees. You don't want to be surprised upon your return.
Finally have more than one source of money. If you are traveling solo, it is better to carry two different ATM cards in case something goes "wrong" with one of them. If you are traveling with a partner, make sure that they also bring along an ATM card so that there is a back up available.
Honestly, whether you use an exchange or an ATM, the decision is yours. I have the ATMs to work quite well.
Posted by
Houston
3518 posts
Click and Collect sounds iffy to me. And it does appear to be aimed at UK residents who are wanting USD or EUR.
They only accept GBP in cash, otherwise you have to use a credit or debit card to pay for this particular service and that means if your card charges you fees you will pay those (they do offer other exchange options like you would find at other exchange booths). On their web site, it states that the exchange rate you are given when you print your voucher is NOT necessarily the rate you will be charged. The rate stated for a customer buying EUR when I went through the process is currently 1.15 EUR per GBP compared to 1.18 interbank. So you lose there.
Unless your debit card has outrageous fees, I would stick to using bank or postal ATMs.