How to give holiday cash a flying start

If you want a flying start to your holiday, don't leave ordering your travel money to the last minute.

The earlier you shop around, the better chance you have of coming up with a good deal.

And there are many on offer in the high street now.

Here's how to get real value for your holiday money - even before you leave home - as part of our super three- page travel special.

For instance, the Birmingham Midshires building society has cut its commission on travel money by half during July and August.

The rate has been reduced to just 0.5 per cent on both currency and travellers' cheques.

The Newcastle Building Society and N&P also offer good deals, charging just 0.75 per cent commission on cash and travellers' cheques.

Others charge between one and two per cent for foreign currency and travellers' cheques.

But check on minimum charges and whether there is any additional handling charge.

Thomas Cook charge one per cent commission on their travellers' cheques but there is no handling charge. Others charge up to pounds 3.

Check with your own bank or building society to see what THEY offer.

Abbey National are giving away free magazines if you order at least pounds 600-worth of travellers cheques or currency.

Barclays Bank will buy back any unspent foreign currency bought from Barclays branches, free of commission. The normal commission charge is two per cent.

The offer also applies to cash obtained overseas or through cash dispensers with Barclaycard or Barclays Connect.

But why take wads of cash abroad when you can use plastic?

Visa and Mastercard are accepted all over the world and you can withdraw cash from any dispensers with symbols matching those on your card. It doesn't matter whether it's a credit card or a debit card linked to your current account. You can often use the plastic card that comes with some building society savings accounts to withdraw cash abroad.

Don't worry about language problems.

You'll be asked in which language you want to conduct your trans- action.

But take care when using your plastic abroad.

Card thieves come out into the sun when tourists are around.

Last year crooks made more than pounds 21million out of British holiday victims, according to the Association for Payment Clearing Services.

But by following a few simple rules, you can cut down on the chances of being hit.

It's sensible to guard your cards at all times,

especially when you are at the pool or on the beach. But it's also important to keep a close watch on your cards in shops and restaurants. Unscrupulous shop- workers can make extra copies of sales vouchers while your back is turned.

They then copy your signature, using carbon paper under the vouchers, billing you twice or more for the same transaction.

You won't discover the sting until you check your statement.

Beat the crooks by not letting your cards out of sight.

Another way to play safe is to ask for carbon copies of vouchers and then destroy them immediately.

CPP Card Protection Plan, the card-loss service, says that the top five card-theft holiday countries are Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy and France. Last summer more than 200,000 British cards went missing in Spain alone.

Whether you choose to take cash, travellers' cheques or plastic, you'll need some small change when you arrive at your holiday destination.

If you change money at any of Travelex UK's airport branches, you'll get pre-packed foreign coins free for your destination, which will help with those taxi driver and other tipping worries.

Recent research by Visa UK reveals that 90 per cent of British holidaymakers are concerned about organising and keeping their holiday money safe.

To help, Visa has produced a 48-page 1996 Holiday Money Guide which is available free by calling 0800 106076.

Copyright 1996 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.