I know it makes sense to get money changed out there, but I would feel dreadful not being able to tip porters etc until I had money sorted.
Pam
Lev from the postoffice?
30 Posts
I've just ordered a small amount of currency in town from the Exchange booth where the rate is about the same as M&S, certainly much better than the awful NatWest rate.
I know it makes sense to get money changed out there, but I would feel dreadful not being able to tip porters etc until I had money sorted.
Pam
I know it makes sense to get money changed out there, but I would feel dreadful not being able to tip porters etc until I had money sorted.
Pam
I would like to say i have just ordered some levs from sainsbury's online and their rate is brilliant and they are dellivered to your door free of charge
1) Foreign Currency - 420.00 Bulgarian New Lev (rate 2.789500, GBP £150.56)
1) Foreign Currency - 420.00 Bulgarian New Lev (rate 2.789500, GBP £150.56)
I have searched all over the internet for exchange rates and to my surprise i found Sainsbury the best at the moment As wellwith 2.79 lev to the pound. The post office was just 02.65 lev.
I have searched all over the internet for exchange rates and to my surprise i found Sainsbury the best at the moment
That's a reasonable rate for the UK but I'm flying to Bulgaria today and will be using my Nationwide Flex A/C Debit Card to draw Leva from ATMs - I expect to receive a rate which is close to 2.9 Leva at the interbank rate, with no charges.
The best cash rate that I could find available on 19th July was the Bulgarian high street bank, Raiffeisen, at 2.889, 3.43% better than the Sainsbury rate and 8.27% better than the Post Office.
Baldur
If wanting to change money before you go I have found HBOS the best rate sofar,
But as others have suggested Over in Bulgaria they give a good exchange rate as they are all competing for your custom.
If you can reach Nessebar the exchange kiosk at the bus terminus.
Right at the causeway are very good and honest
Should maybe have said this is a Crown Exchange Kiosk, well, more like a small shop in size...
Used it a good few times last year along with the rest of my party and found it to be very good, I did get ripped off however by an exchange inside Nessebars walls, and when I was talking to the good exchange later on they phoned the police for me and interpreted, so I along with the other 7 in my group were very pleased with them..
We also found that the hotels did not give as good a rate as the Crown or banks
But as others have suggested Over in Bulgaria they give a good exchange rate as they are all competing for your custom.
If you can reach Nessebar the exchange kiosk at the bus terminus.
Right at the causeway are very good and honest
Should maybe have said this is a Crown Exchange Kiosk, well, more like a small shop in size...
Used it a good few times last year along with the rest of my party and found it to be very good, I did get ripped off however by an exchange inside Nessebars walls, and when I was talking to the good exchange later on they phoned the police for me and interpreted, so I along with the other 7 in my group were very pleased with them..
We also found that the hotels did not give as good a rate as the Crown or banks
-
Edited by
daview
2007-07-21 18:41:39
If you can reach Nessebar the exchange kiosk at the bus terminus.
Right at the causeway are very good and honest
Very bad advice.
As has been said many many times, use hotel receptions or PROPER banks.
Do not use any kiosks.
Ignore this advice at your peril!
Sorry, but I'm not prepared to let our members be led astray.
We have pages on money matters HERE
Peter
Peter,
I think by your last comment that you are branding all money kiosks as crooks,,, I have found the vast majority of Bularians to be very honest people, Yes, there are a few crooks, as I found to my expense, but, its the same the world over.
By and large I exchange practically all of my money in the Crown Exchange Kiosks and have never had a problem..
There is also a type of 24 hour window in one of the banks on the main boulevard in Sunny Beach where again I found no problem....
So yes, I would say, Do not change at any old money kiosk, But just ask other guests in your hotel or even the Sunny Beach Tourist Police who can point you in the right direction.
I think by your last comment that you are branding all money kiosks as crooks,,, I have found the vast majority of Bularians to be very honest people, Yes, there are a few crooks, as I found to my expense, but, its the same the world over.
By and large I exchange practically all of my money in the Crown Exchange Kiosks and have never had a problem..
There is also a type of 24 hour window in one of the banks on the main boulevard in Sunny Beach where again I found no problem....
So yes, I would say, Do not change at any old money kiosk, But just ask other guests in your hotel or even the Sunny Beach Tourist Police who can point you in the right direction.
I stick by my advice.
You may be street wise in Bulgaria, but the majority of our members are not. I have seen too many naive tourists swindled in my time by the 'change money merchants' on the streets or official looking change kiosks.
There are even reports of counterfeit Crown exchanges, so the best advice now is stay away from all and use hotel receptions and proper banks only.
When members are as experienced as we are, they can take their own calculated risks (as even I have done), but in the meantime we have a duty to steer our members to what we know to be 100% safe.
Peter
You may be street wise in Bulgaria, but the majority of our members are not. I have seen too many naive tourists swindled in my time by the 'change money merchants' on the streets or official looking change kiosks.
There are even reports of counterfeit Crown exchanges, so the best advice now is stay away from all and use hotel receptions and proper banks only.
When members are as experienced as we are, they can take their own calculated risks (as even I have done), but in the meantime we have a duty to steer our members to what we know to be 100% safe.
Peter
Hi
I am some what confused. I understand that it is better to get only a few levs here and then get the rest of my holiday money when I get there. The question is do I take stirling or do I take travellers cheques and if so in what currency. This is my first time to Bulgeria and I am looking forward to my hols but would like to go prepared with regards to currency
Many thanks
Dee
I am some what confused. I understand that it is better to get only a few levs here and then get the rest of my holiday money when I get there. The question is do I take stirling or do I take travellers cheques and if so in what currency. This is my first time to Bulgeria and I am looking forward to my hols but would like to go prepared with regards to currency
Many thanks
Dee
We have a long thread on money matters HERE. The answer is in the last few posts.
Travellers cheques attract a high commission charge, thus a low exchange rate.
Peter
Use ATM's if you have a Nationwide Flex account, there are no charges for overseas withdrawals.
Failing that sterling, clean unmarked 5 10 or 20 notes.
Patka
Travellers cheques attract a high commission charge, thus a low exchange rate.
Peter
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