Holiday Money Comparison Calculator
Compare a specialist travel card, an online bureau, a high-street bank and an airport bureau for the same amount of spending money — and see exactly how much the convenient option at the airport really costs you.
Estimate only. Exchange rate margins vary by provider, currency pair and day — the figures here are illustrative, not live quotes. Always check the actual rate offered before you commit.
Enter an amount to exchange
We'll compare a specialist card, an online bureau, a high-street bank and the airport bureau for the same amount.
Why the exchange rate you're quoted isn't the real rate
Every provider builds a margin into the rate they offer you, on top of the true interbank ('mid-market') rate that banks use to trade with each other. A bureau boasting '0% commission' can still be one of the worst options once that margin is included — commission-free just means the cost is hidden in the rate rather than charged separately. This calculator expresses that margin directly as a percentage, and shows how much of your money it costs you at the airport compared with ordering ahead from a specialist card or a reputable online bureau.