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.
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