Updated: 20 February 2026 | By Mustafa Bilgic
Planning a holiday? Use our travel money calculator to see exactly how much foreign currency you'll get for your pounds — and compare airport, bank, post office, and specialist rates side by side.
The table below shows indicative mid-market exchange rates for the most popular currencies among UK holidaymakers. The actual rate you receive will be lower (by 1-8% depending on provider). Use this as a reference alongside the calculator above.
| Destination | Currency | Mid-Market Rate (Feb 2026) | Best Online Rate (est.) | Airport Walk-in (est.) | £100 gets you (online) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurozone (Spain, France, Italy, Greece) | EUR € | 1.178 | 1.167 | 1.095 | €116.70 |
| USA / Caribbean | USD $ | 1.256 | 1.244 | 1.175 | $124.40 |
| Turkey | TRY ₺ | 43.50 | 43.10 | 40.10 | ₺4,310 |
| Thailand | THB ฿ | 44.20 | 43.80 | 41.00 | ฿4,380 |
| Australia | AUD A$ | 1.955 | 1.936 | 1.820 | A$193.60 |
| Japan | JPY ¥ | 192.50 | 190.60 | 179.00 | ¥19,060 |
| Dubai / UAE | AED د.إ | 4.613 | 4.569 | 4.310 | د.إ456.90 |
| Morocco | MAD د.م. | 12.40 | 12.28 | 11.50 | د.م.1,228 |
| Canada | CAD C$ | 1.738 | 1.721 | 1.620 | C$172.10 |
| Mexico | MXN $ | 23.80 | 23.57 | 22.10 | $2,357 |
| Egypt | EGP £E | 62.50 | 61.88 | 58.00 | £E6,188 |
| Maldives | MVR ރ | 19.35 | 19.16 | 18.00 | ރ1,916 |
Not all money exchange options are equal. The difference between the worst and best options can be 6-8% — on a £2,000 holiday budget that could be £120–160 in your pocket or theirs. Here is a full comparison of your options:
| Option | Typical Rate vs Mid-Market | Fees | Convenience | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Travel Card (Wise/Revolut) | 0.0 – 0.5% below mid-market | Usually free or tiny (0.5%) | App-based, instant | Excellent |
| Starling / Monzo Bank Card | ~0.0% below mid-market | Free abroad (ATM limits apply) | Use your existing debit card | Excellent |
| Online Bureau (Martin's site, ICE) | 0.5 – 1.5% below mid-market | Free delivery over threshold | Order online, deliver to home | Very Good |
| Post Office (online order, click & collect) | 1.0 – 2.0% below mid-market | None for collection | Collect from branch | Good |
| Supermarket Bureau (Tesco/M&S/Sainsbury's) | 1.5 – 2.5% below mid-market | None | In-store convenience | Good |
| Travel Credit Card (Halifax Clarity) | ~0.0% (Visa/MC wholesale rate) | No foreign fees; interest if not paid in full | Use existing card abroad | Very Good (for cardholders) |
| High Street Bank (walk-in) | 2.5 – 4.0% below mid-market | Sometimes a transaction fee | Available in branches | Below average |
| Standard UK Debit Card abroad | 2.75 – 3.0% non-sterling fee | Plus possible ATM fee abroad | Always with you | Poor (use fee-free card instead) |
| Airport Bureau (walk-in on day) | 5.0 – 8.0% below mid-market | May add commission fee too | Available last-minute | Very Poor |
| Hotel Desk Currency Exchange | 6.0 – 10.0% below mid-market | Often additional commission | Very convenient | Worst option |
To illustrate the real cost of exchanging at the airport, here is a side-by-side comparison using a typical £1,500 holiday budget exchanged into Euros in February 2026:
| Provider | EUR Rate | Euros Received | Cost vs Best Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (online transfer) | 1.168 | €1,752 | — |
| Post Office (online order) | 1.155 | €1,733 | -€19 (-£16) |
| Sainsbury's Bureau | 1.148 | €1,722 | -€30 (-£26) |
| Barclays / HSBC (walk-in) | 1.130 | €1,695 | -€57 (-£49) |
| Standard debit card (2.99% fee) | 1.143 | €1,700* | -€52 (-£45)* |
| Heathrow Airport Bureau (walk-in) | 1.092 | €1,638 | -€114 (-£98) |
| Hotel Desk Exchange | 1.065 | €1,598 | -€154 (-£133) |
* Debit card rate assumes Visa/MC wholesale rate minus 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee.
The following budgets are per person per day and cover meals, local transport, and modest activities or drinks. They exclude accommodation, flights, and tours unless noted. All figures are approximate and based on a mid-range traveller (not backpacker, not luxury).
| Destination | Daily Budget (GBP pp) | Meals | Transport | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (Costa del Sol / Mallorca) | £45 – £70 | Menu del Dia lunch: €15-20; dinner: €20-35 | Buses cheap (€2-3); taxis €10-20 | Beach resorts cheaper; Barcelona/Madrid higher |
| Greece (Corfu / Santorini / Athens) | £50 – £80 | Taverna meal: €15-25; gyros: €4 | Island ferries €15-40; buses inexpensive | Santorini significantly more expensive |
| Turkey (Antalya / Istanbul) | £25 – £50 | Excellent value — street food ₺50-100 | Dolmus minibuses very cheap | Exceptional value with current TRY rates |
| USA (Florida / New York) | £80 – £130 | Tip now 20-25%; meals $20-50pp | Uber/Lyft reasonable; NYC subway $2.90/ride | Florida parks add £80-120/day for tickets |
| Portugal (Algarve / Lisbon) | £40 – £65 | Piri-piri chicken €12-18; pastel de nata €1.50 | Affordable buses; Uber available in cities | Algarve slightly pricier than 3 years ago |
| Thailand (Phuket / Bangkok) | £35 – £60 | Street food ฿100-200; restaurant meal ฿300-600 | Tuk-tuk ฿100-300; BTS Skytrain ฿16-59 | Resort islands (Koh Samui) higher than Bangkok |
| Italy (Rome / Amalfi / Venice) | £60 – £100 | Tourist trap pasta €18-30; trattoria €12-20 | Rome metro €1.50/ride; Venice water bus €9.50/day | Venice has surcharge tourism tax (€5-10/day) |
| Dubai / UAE | £70 – £120 | Mall food courts reasonable; fine dining expensive | Metro/Nol card excellent and cheap | Alcohol very expensive (£10-15 per drink in bars) |
| Mexico (Cancun / Playa del Carmen) | £50 – £80 | Tacos: $30-60 MXN; restaurant: $150-300 MXN | Collectivos very cheap; taxis pre-negotiate | All-inclusives popular — add-on costs minimal |
| Morocco (Marrakech / Agadir) | £30 – £55 | Tagine in medina: MAD 80-150; rooftop cafe: MAD 100-200 | Cheap; petit taxis require negotiation | Haggling expected in souks; very good value |
This is the single most impactful tip. Online bureaus (such as ICE, Travel FX, or the Post Office Click & Collect service) consistently offer rates 3-5% better than airport walk-in bureaus. For a £1,500 exchange, that is potentially £45-75 in savings — equivalent to a day's spending money.
Specialist travel cards from Wise, Revolut, and Starling Bank convert at or near the mid-market (interbank) rate with zero foreign transaction fees. This is typically the best rate available to consumers. Revolut offers a free tier with limited free conversions; Wise charges a small percentage fee but no margin on the exchange rate itself.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) is a trap. When a card machine or ATM abroad offers to convert the amount to GBP for you, always decline and pay in the local currency. The DCC exchange rate is set by the merchant and is invariably 3-6% worse than your bank's rate. The "convenience" of seeing the pound amount costs real money.
Modern bank apps are better at detecting genuine overseas transactions, but it is still good practice to set a "travel notification" in your app if the feature is available. This prevents false fraud blocks — especially if you are using your card in multiple countries.
Many foreign ATMs charge a local fee per withdrawal (typically £2-5 equivalent). If you need cash, withdraw larger amounts less frequently rather than small amounts multiple times. With a Starling or Monzo card, overseas ATM withdrawals are free up to monthly limits (typically £200-300/month for free accounts).
A common marketing claim is "0% commission" or "no fees." This simply means the provider hides their profit within the exchange rate rather than charging a separate fee. The only true test is: how many units of foreign currency do you receive per pound? Use our calculator to compare providers side by side.
A practical strategy: put 75-80% of your travel budget on a fee-free travel card and carry 20-25% in local cash. Cash is essential for markets, taxis where card is not accepted, tips, and small local businesses. Having both reduces your dependency on finding an ATM at awkward moments.
Some travel cards have daily ATM limits that differ from their general spending limits. Check your card's terms before travel — especially for destinations like Japan and Germany where cash is still heavily used. Wise allows up to 2 free ATM withdrawals per month (up to £200 total); additional withdrawals incur a fee.
Airport currency exchange bureaus operate with extremely high fixed costs — particularly the rent for prominent terminal locations. They compensate by offering exchange rates that are typically 5-8% worse than the interbank mid-market rate. On a £1,000 exchange for Euros, this means you receive approximately £50-80 less in Euros compared to an online specialist. The convenience of the location is what they are selling, not value.
The most cost-effective method is using a specialist travel debit or credit card (Wise, Revolut, Starling, Monzo, Halifax Clarity) that offers near-interbank exchange rates with zero foreign transaction fees. Use this for the majority of spending. Carry a modest amount of local cash (15-20% of your budget) for tips, markets, and cash-only businesses.
Yes, always. Exchanging money before travel — whether ordering online for home delivery, or collecting from a supermarket bureau (Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's) — will give you a significantly better rate than walking up to an airport counter on the day of travel. Pre-order online at least 48 hours in advance for the best rates and free delivery options.
DCC is when a card terminal or ATM abroad offers to complete the transaction in GBP rather than the local currency. Always choose the local currency. The merchant sets the GBP conversion rate, which is typically 3-6% worse than what your bank or travel card would charge. You will often see a message like "Do you want to pay £XX.XX or continue in local currency?" — always choose local currency.
For a mid-range holiday in Spain in 2026, budget between £45-70 per person per day excluding accommodation and flights. This covers a sit-down lunch (Menu del Dia: €15-20), evening meal at a local restaurant (€20-35pp), soft drinks, and local transport. In tourist-heavy areas (Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona) budget £70-90. In quieter inland towns, £35-50 is adequate.
It depends entirely on the card. Standard high street bank debit and credit cards typically charge a non-sterling transaction fee of 2.75-2.99% on every purchase. Over a two-week holiday, this adds up significantly. Specialist travel cards (Wise, Starling, Halifax Clarity) charge no foreign transaction fee and convert at the real exchange rate. A travel credit card also gives you Section 75 consumer protection on purchases over £100.
As of February 2026, indicative mid-market rates are: GBP/EUR approximately 1.178 and GBP/USD approximately 1.256. The best rates available to consumers (via Wise or a travel card) are typically 0.3-0.8% below mid-market. Rates change daily — always check on the day you need to exchange for the most accurate figure.
The Post Office is generally a good mid-tier option. Online ordering for Click & Collect at a branch typically gives rates 1-2% below the mid-market rate — significantly better than high street banks (2.5-4% below) and far better than airports (5-8% below). It is particularly useful if you prefer physical cash and want a reputable UK institution. Avoid walk-in rates, which are slightly worse than online orders.
If you have a fee-free travel card (Wise, Starling, Monzo), using a local ATM abroad is an excellent option — you get a near-interbank rate and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Check your card's free ATM allowance (usually £200-300/month for free). If using a standard UK debit card, local ATM withdrawals can cost 2-3% plus possible local ATM fees — in that case, pre-ordering cash is likely better value.
A practical guide: carry 20-25% of your total holiday spending budget in local cash, and put the remainder on a fee-free travel card. For a 7-night holiday at £60/day (£420 total): take approximately £100-105 worth of local currency in cash and put £315-320 on card. Always have some emergency cash — ATMs can be down, and some local businesses are cash-only.
Options for leftover currency include: (1) Keep it for a future trip — most currencies keep for years; (2) Sell it back to a bureau or bank — you get the buy rate, which is lower than what you paid, so you make a small loss; (3) Donate to airport charity collections (many airports have boxes for children's charities); (4) Load onto a Wise multi-currency account where it can be held and spent next time without conversion.