Buying USD in Sydney

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AVC

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Hi all, any suggestions on where to buy USD in Sydney?

I'm looking at a few K just for incidentals. Most of my OS purchases will go on my Amex at 1.5% international transaction fee which, at 1.5 points per dollar will still see me ahead n points.

I'm a NAB customer (who are giving $1.33) but I can't see if there's any hidden fees for obtaining USD at a branch. Far be it for a bank to do it as a service for their customers.
 
Just get maybe $200 and then run the rest off a 28 Degrees card when you are in America. The card can be put into credit so I got just a shade under 1.07 on the $1,000 I withdrew of my credit balance.
The card is free of fees when it issues and even Mrscove is impressed with it.
 
Must get one of those for Europe. How do they compare with the ANZ Euro card? Anyone know?

Far better. I was I Europe in July with family. We compared transactions and I was routinely 5% ahead of them.

I only use 28 deg as a credit card, and withdraw small amounts of cash using ING direct. I'll probably switch that to Citibank Plus for cash though.
 
Just get maybe $200 and then run the rest off a 28 Degrees card when you are in America. The card can be put into credit so I got just a shade under 1.07 on the $1,000 I withdrew of my credit balance.
The card is free of fees when it issues and even Mrscove is impressed with it.

WOW! I'm impressed too! Just checked out the site. Never heard of it before here. Looks great and uses the Mastercard Exchange rate
Thanks for the info!
 
Re: Buying USD in Sydney -

The Amex travel exchange in Haymarket (George St) doesn't charge a commission if you have an Amex card ...we have a Platinum card...I'm not sure if this only applies to platinum or not
 
The Amex travel exchange in Haymarket (George St) doesn't charge a commission if you have an Amex card ...we have a Platinum card...I'm not sure if this only applies to platinum or not

How does the buy sell spread compare?


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How does the buy sell spread compare?


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I did an Amex Forex redemption for points at lunchtime today

Checking my phone, the buy/sell rate on smh.com.au was around 1.077, they gave me a rate of 1.0377 for US cash.

Using a plat cc, no fees incurred.
 
I did an Amex Forex redemption for points at lunchtime today

Checking my phone, the buy/sell rate on smh.com.au was around 1.077, they gave me a rate of 1.0377 for US cash.

Using a plat cc, no fees incurred.

That's pretty big. But being a points redemption it I'm not going draw any conclusions about value, as there are a few unknown factors to consider.
 
Hi all, any suggestions on where to buy USD in Sydney?

I'm looking at a few K just for incidentals. Most of my OS purchases will go on my Amex at 1.5% international transaction fee which, at 1.5 points per dollar will still see me ahead n points.

I'm a NAB customer (who are giving $1.33) but I can't see if there's any hidden fees for obtaining USD at a branch. Far be it for a bank to do it as a service for their customers.

I always used American Express (no commission with plat card until Travel Money opened almost next door - no commissions and better rates of exchange. 300 George St almost at Hunter St. Been using them for about a year now and always get a great rate and usually better than the bank advertised rates which I check (just in case)
 
Don't forget good old Australia Post - no commission, pay by eftpos, next day pickup. Real easy.
 
Don't forget good old Australia Post - no commission, pay by eftpos, next day pickup. Real easy.
Welcome to AFF :D

Have you checked the exchange rates with Auspost?

While "no commission" you may find significant "arbitrage" built in.
 
IMO the best way of doing this is using a 28 Deg card after you land in the states.
 
I would like to know as well...

CBA has new Traveldex ATM at branch on ground floor of 1 Harbour Street (Darling Walk next to IMAX), which dispenses 4 types of foreign currencies - USD, PNd, Euro and NZ$.
Rate is set by third party, and appears to be better than over the counter at branch and the other banks too.
Check it out.
Only hassle is within the branch premises, available to non-CBA customers too. I also heard they have similar FX ATM at main branch only in Brisbane and Perth!!
 
CBA has new Traveldex ATM at branch on ground floor of 1 Harbour Street (Darling Walk next to IMAX), which dispenses 4 types of foreign currencies - USD, PNd, Euro and NZ$.
Rate is set by third party, and appears to be better than over the counter at branch and the other banks too.
Check it out.
Only hassle is within the branch premises, available to non-CBA customers too. I also heard they have similar FX ATM at main branch only in Brisbane and Perth!!

There is a similar ATM next to the travelex booth in the Post Office in the city cross arcade in Adelaide. What exchange rate do these machine offer? How close to the cross rate? ie what is the margin?
 
I might be wrong but the fact it is a "Travelex" ATM suggests to me the rates may not be that favourable!
 
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