buying travel money

Buy Currency Online

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Xchange of America is the go-to destination for anyone looking to buy currency online. Our service has been used by individuals, companies, credit unions, banks, and a variety of other institutions for over 15 years because we offer quick, simple, and secure transactions, a variety of payment options, and a wide range of currencies to choose from. Foreign currencies are reliably shipped right to your door and can be delivered as soon as the next day, depending on payment method and processing times.

How to order foreign currency online

When you buy currency online at Xchange of America, you can select from over 40 different kinds of legal tender from countries all across the world. Don’t see what you need? Just give us a call, and we’ll see what we can do to accommodate your request.

Start by selecting the type of currency you want to purchase and then enter in how much of it you need. The price will then automatically be calculated so you know exactly how much the currency you want to purchase is worth in US dollars. If you need to buy multiple different currencies in one order, simply click on the “Add another currency” button to add more to your order. Then, you’ll choose how you want to pay for it.

At Xchange of America, we want to make the process as simple and convenient for you as we can. When you order foreign currency online from us, you can choose from one of several different payment options – credit/debit card, bank wire, e-check, cashier check/money order, or collect on delivery (COD). Credit/debit cards will always be the fastest payment option, however, all of our payment methods are secure & easy to use.

Buy currency online at Xchange of America today

Whether you need to buy currency online to your door in preparation for an amazing vacation or are looking to order foreign currency online for any other reason, Xchange of America is the best place to get your foreign currency shipped to your door that’s fast, secure & reliable!

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Travel Money Comparison

Get the best exchange rates when you buy or sell foreign currency online

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What Currency do you want to buy?

How much do you want to spend, what currency do you want to sell, how much do you want to sell, buy currency, sell currency, why use a travel money comparison site.

Have you ever started researching the best rates between different travel money providers?

We know it can be overwhelming: the different suppliers, their different offers and of course, the ever-changing currency exchange rates. It's a lot of information to process and compile!

Our comparison site takes the stress out of researching and does it all for you. FInd the travel money supplier that will get you the best rate today.

• ✓ Compare Travel Cash is a non-biased travel money comparison site.
• ✓ To ensure our independence, we always use transparent, objective and verifiable criteria in our comparisons.
• ✓ Our mission is to show you the best rates so you can save when buying your travel money.
• ✓ We constantly update our exchange rates as they change for each money exchange supplier, and whilst we try to do this in almost real-time, there will be times when our data is slightly out of date (in normal circumstances, not more than 5 minute). Our travel money comparison site is designed to save you money by showing you the latest rates.
• ✓ We check out all the companies we list, ensuring they are reputable suppliers and pass our standards before we list them.
• ✓ We value your privacy.  We do not sell your data - you don't even need to give us your information to use our site.  Even if you choose to, it is safe with us, we will never pass it on to third parties.
• ✓ You won't get cheaper rates if you go directly to the supplier, at times, we may have discounts and incentives that you would not get by going direct!
• ✓ We do sometimes make money - but we don't make it from you.  We will never add fees or commissions to the travel money rates on the site.

Frequently asked questions

It's a great idea to buy your currency online to ensure you get the best exchange rate. You can often get much better deals online compared to what you can find on the high street or the airport. In fact ccording to recent surveys, 9 out of 10 tourists find that exchanging money at airports is the most expensive option.

The best thing about buying your travel money online through a comparison site is seeing all currency prices in one place, so whether you are buying euros , buying dollars or other currencies you get the best rate for your travel money and more importantly save time!

The quickest way to get the best currency exchange rate is by using our comparison tool . We compare the latest information from all the best travel money providers in the market to show you the best currency exchange rates.

Keep an eye out for the following when searching for the best currency exchange deals so you can choose the best option for buying your holiday money:

• High exchange rate - The higher the exchange rate number, the more holiday money you will get to the pound
• Delivery Charges - different currency providers charge different amounts for delivering your holiday money to your door
• Special offer - We will let you know if the providers are offering travel money deals

Commission is the fee that travel money providers charge for the service to exchange your money into foreign currency . The charge is usually included in the exchange rate they advertise. You will see that many foreign exchange companies advertise 0% commission, they are still charging you by including the charge in the rates.

All the travel money prices we quote include any fees and commissions, including delivery!

The simple answer is yes! Usually, the minimum order amount for foreign currency is £100, and the maximum is usually £7,500, although some providers allow you to exchange more.

Travel money is normally sent via special delivery service with Royal Mail. Travel cash orders worth more than £2,500 will be sent via a courier or multiple Royal Mail packages. This is for insurance reasons, making sure your travel money is safe.

This depends on the currency provider. Some providers offer next-day delivery, sending your travel money using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm service. There will be an extra cost for this and you can see how much when you compare the holiday money prices.

Don't forget, many foreign currency providers also allow you to pre-order currency and you can collect it in store, this means you can avoid delivery charges.

Most do, any holiday money that you have leftover after your trip abroad can be sold using a buy-back service that will convert it back to pounds. Our comparison tool will show you the providers offering the best buy-back rates .

Every few of minutes we compare the exchange rates and latest currency deals from the best travel money providers in the UK. You can see instantly who is offering the best deals and choose a service that suits your needs best.

Also, if you've come home from a trip abroad and have leftover currency, we compare many foreign currency buy back companies, showing the best rates to convert your foreign currency back into pounds.

Hundreds of customers order travel money through our site daily and have a great experience. However, as with ordering anything online, the process is never completely risk-free and you should always take care when transfering money to any company.

We undertake comprehensive checks on all of our providers and monitor them to make sure they meet our high standards and continue to do so. Having said that, no company is guaranteed not to come into trouble and we cannot guarantee the solvency of any of the providers listed on our website. We always recommend that you conduct your own due diligence before placing an order with any company.

There are many destinations where taking some local currency is extremely useful to make sure you are covered in places where credit cards are not accepted. Many of the smaller retailers globally will not allow credit cards, so cash is the only option.

Read our blog post on taking cash on holiday .

The best time to buy any travel money is when the pound is performing strongly relative to the currency you are buying, this means it will have a higher exchange rate, so will give you more currency for your money. The amount you receive is calculated by multiplying the exchange rate by the amount of pounds you want to spend, so the higher the exchange rate, the more foreign currency you get.

Exchange rates are constantly changing but we show you the historical exchange rate performance for each of the currencies so you can have more of an idea of whether now is a good time to buy your travel money.

Exchange rates tend to be very similar wherever you are in the world to those offered in the UK, however waiting until you are away means you may be stuck with poor exchange rates, fewer options of places to offer competitive rates or even worse, you may have to pay big additional fees and commissions. By buying your travel money in the UK there are no hidden fees, charges or nasty surprises, you know exactly how much you are getting.

Once you have found the best rate, place an order on the currency suppliers’ site, and pay for your currency.Each currency supplier has different payment options, including bank transfer, debit card, with some suppliers offering payment by Apple pay and Android pay. Once your order has been confirmed your order will be prepared and your currency sent to you by registered delivery, some suppliers even offer next-day delivery.

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Today’s best exchange rates

How do you get the best holiday money exchange rate, high exchange rates, delivery charges, special offers, pros and cons, five golden rules of travel money, 1. know how much cash you'll need.

Carrying around a large amount of cash isn't the safest thing to do. At the same time, not having enough cash can cause a lot headaches too. It's a good idea to take a little more than you think you'll need.

But it's also good sense to have a backup prepaid , debit or travel credit card that you can rely on - assuming you're going to a destination that widely accepts card transactions.

2. Shop around

Not all currency exchange companies are created equal. Some may have good exchange rates, but higher fees. Others may have higher rates, but no fees. You have to make sure which one offers the best value to you.

This is why it’s worth comparing the deals on offer from several companies before ordering your travel money. Factor in the fees and the exchange rate and see where you end up better off. Often the amount of money you're exchanging can be a deciding factor.

3. Don't buy your travel money at the airport

Airport holiday money providers have notoriously high prices because they offer a last-chance solution for those who are just about to board a plane. By planning ahead you can save a small fortune.

4. Don't carry too many large notes

Notes of large denominations can be tricky, as small shops and taxi cabs, which are more likely to require cash, might not have enough change to accept a large note.

Some retailers are also often wary of accepting large notes. Smaller notes and change can also be handy when it comes to tipping or buying small everyday items.

5. Don't use your credit card to buy travel money

Avoid buying foreign currency with a credit card as credit card providers treat the transaction as a 'cash advance' . Not only will you be charged daily interest, you're also likely to be hit with a fee.

Budgeting for your holiday

How much travel money you need to take depends on your plans . You'll need to budget for your holiday to make sure you don't run out of money before the end.

Deciding how much money to take depends on were you're going, whether debit or credit card usage is prevalent, and if you want to have some local currency on hand for emergencies.

Having some cash is extremely important , as there's always a possibility your cards could get declined or blocked for some reason, and it may take some time to resolve the issue.

Also, some countries still rely predominantly on cash transactions , so you should factor that into how much cash you decide to take.

What are the top alternatives to buying travel money?

Travel credit cards.

Travel credit cards - i.e. the ones with  no foreign transaction fees  - offer two key advantages over travel money:

Great exchange rates  - when you spend on a travel credit card you get the Mastercard or Visa exchange rate, which is about the best you can find as a regular consumer

Purchase protection  – for purchases costing between £100 and £30,000 you're covered by  Section 75 of the consumer credit act , meaning if something goes wrong you can make a claim with your card provider should the vendor fail to pay up

However, not everywhere accepts travel credit cards and using them at a cash machine abroad can come with hefty fees. It can also be easier to overspend on a credit card, leaving you with debts on which interest is charged.

Travel money cards

Currency cards and travel bank accounts let you spend overseas without being charged a foreign transaction fee. Their key strengths are:

Great exchange rates  - you card provider will pass on the Mastercard or Visa rate to you without adding extra charges

No charges for ATM use overseas  - if you need extra cash on holiday, you can withdraw it without being charged by your provider. Watch out for local ATM fees though, as these might still apply 

The downsides include that there can be limits on how much you can withdraw abroad using a travel money card, and that they're not accepted quite as widely as cash. Some travel current accounts also come with fees.

Prepaid travel cards

Prepaid travel cards  can be loaded with currency and used abroad without paying foreign exchange fees. You can load a prepaid card with a specific foreign currency or a variety of different currencies, depending on your travel plans. The key advantages are:

Low or no fees to use abroad  – prepaid travel card providers charge far less than traditional banks for overseas usage

Safer than carrying cash  - you can cancel or freeze the card if it's lost or stolen, protecting your balance

However, you’ll need to watch out for general usage fees, which often apply when you load the card with cash and may also be charged monthly.

Can you get commission-free travel currency?

Yes and no. It depends on how you define it. Commission refers to the service fee that a currency exchange broker charges for exchanging your money.

Many companies advertise 0% commission to exchange money online or on the high street, but, instead of charging commission, they offer a less competitive exchange rate. This is why you need to compare the whole deal rather than just opting for a zero-fee travel money deal.

Are there restrictions on getting currency delivered?

When you buy your currency online, it's normally sent via Royal Mail's Special Delivery service. This means you have to sign for the package. Cash orders that exceed £2,500 will be sent in batches because that's the maximum value that can be insured for each delivery.

Can you get next-day delivery for currency?

Some travel money providers do offer next-day delivery. These brokers send out currency using Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm service.

Our comparison shows which operators offer this option and how much they charge for it. With some companies, you also have the option to pre-order your travel money for collection in person from a local branch, meaning you don't have to pay for delivery.

Will anyone buy my currency back?

If you've got leftover travel money from a trip abroad, you can use a  buy-back service  to convert it back into pounds.

The buy-back rate tells you how much sterling you'll get back.

Remember to factor in the rate and delivery costs, and compare exchange rates. You can check out the best euro-to-pound exchange rate by looking at our comparison table.

About our comparison

Who do we include in this comparison.

We include every company that gives you the option of buying euros online. Discover  how our website works .

How do we make money from our comparison?

We have commercial agreements with some of the companies in this comparison. We get paid commission if we help you take out one of their products or services.  Find out more here .

You do not pay any extra and the deal you get is not affected.

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Find our best exchange rates online and enjoy 0% commission on over 60 currencies. And you can choose collection from your nearest branch or delivery to your home

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Delivery options, available branches and fees may vary by value and currency. Branch rates will differ from online rates. T&Cs apply .

Why get your holiday cash from Post Office?

• Order online, buy in branch, or choose delivery to your home or local branch 
• 100% refund guarantee* if your holiday’s cancelled, at the same exchange rate, excluding bank and delivery charges. Just send your receipts and evidence of cancellation to us within 28 days of purchase. *T&Cs apply
• Order euros or US dollars to collect in branch in as little as 2 hours

Today’s online rates

Rate correct as of 18/04/2024

Travel Money Card (TMC) rates may differ. Branch rates may vary. Delivery methods may vary. Terms and conditions apply

Win £5000 with Post Office Travel Money Card

A chance to win £5000 when you top up a new or existing Travel Money Card*. Offer ends 12 May

*Exclusive to travel money cards. Promotion runs 4 March to 12 May 2024. 1 x £5,000 prize available to be won each week. Minimum equivalent spend of £50 applies.

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Manage your holiday essentials together in one place on the move, from your Travel Money Card and travel insurance to extras like airport parking.

New-look travel app out now

Our revamped travel app’s out now. It makes buying, topping up and managing Travel Money Cards with up to 22 currencies a breeze. Buying and accessing Travel Insurance on the move effortless. And it puts holiday extras like airport hotels, lounge access and more at your fingertips. All with an improved user experience. Find out what’s changed .

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Read our travel money FAQs or contact our team about buying currency online or in branch:

Visit our travel money support page

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Compare travel money exchange rates

Get the best exchange rate by comparing travel money deals from the UK's top foreign exchange providers

Why compare exchange rates?

It's important to shop around for the best currency deals if you want to maximise your holiday money. Right now, there's a 5.4% difference between the best and worst euro exchange rates available online. It may not sound like a lot, but that's an instant saving of £54 if you were buying £1000 worth - just by choosing the best place to exchange your cash. Less-common currencies offer even more potential savings: you could get 11.0% more Turkish lira by going with the best deal. For Indian rupees, the saving is 7.7%, and for Thai baht it's 13.0%. That's a lot of extra Mekhong!

However, exchange rates aren't the only important factor when it comes to getting the best currency deal. Commission, delivery fees and payment surcharges can all affect the amount of currency you'll receive, which is why it's important to use a comparison website to check the best deals for you.

Our travel money comparisons can help you to get a great deal on your currency. We compare the exchange rates from a wide range of different providers, along with their fees and any other charges, so you can see how their rates stack up after all costs have been included. You can choose how you want to pay and whether you want to pick your currency up in person or get it delivered to your door. We'll even show you exclusive online-only deals that aren't available on the high street! Comparing is quick and easy - just select the currency you want to buy, tell us how much you want to spend and we'll do the rest.

It's almost always cheaper to buy your currency online compared to buying in-store.

• Some of the most competitive currency suppliers are online-only. Their operating costs are generally lower than high street stores, so they can afford to offer you better exchange rates
• Most suppliers offer free home delivery when you spend a minimum amount
• Many high street currency suppliers such as supermarkets and the Post Office offer better rates if you place your order online beforehand. By reserving your order online, you can guarantee the supplier's online rate and still collect your currency in person at a time that suits you

If you're spending less than £300, it can be more cost-effective to buy your currency in-store because the delivery charge may cancel out any savings you might have made on the exchange rate if you bought online. However, some currency suppliers charge a handling or processing fee for small orders when you buy in-store, so it's worth checking beforehand if you're only spending a smaller amount.

We recommend you place your order at least three working days before you need your currency. Most currency suppliers will dispatch your order on the same day they receive your payment if you pay before lunchtime, otherwise they'll post it on the next working day. Your order will be sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery which is a fully tracked and insured service that's guaranteed by Royal Mail to arrive on the next working day.

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Currency calculator.

Our currency calculator is a quick and easy way to check our latest foreign currency exchange rates.

What do I need to bring to collect my foreign currency?

The benefits of exchanging your holiday money with M&S Bank

Wide range of foreign currencies.

We offer a wide range of foreign currencies in our Bureaux, with more available to order online. It is easy to compare travel money with M&S Bank. See footnote * *

As well as the euro and US dollar , our range includes currencies such as the UAE dirham, Bulgarian lev , Turkish lira , Thai baht and Mexican peso .

Travel money sale now on!

Click & Collect sale on euro and US dollar available until 11 April 2023.

£150 minimum order. Exchange rates will still fluctuate daily during the sale period, but you’ll receive the best rate applicable on the date your order is placed. Rates shown when placing your order are sale rates. Offer subject to availability, buy back not included. Cancellation fee and full T&Cs apply.

SameDay Click & Collect

• Order between £150 and £2,500
• Euro and US dollars available to order and collect in over 450 stores *
• Order and collect euro , US dollars , Turkish lira , New Zealand dollar , Australian dollar , Thai baht , Canadian dollar , South African rand and UAE dirham, from our Bureau the same day

Find my nearest Click and Collect store

Click & Collect † See footnote †

• A wide range of currencies available to collect from our in store Bureaux See footnote * *
• Order and collect from the next day

Our best rates on euro and US dollar when you Click & Collect

To get an even better exchange rate on euro and US dollar , use our Click & Collect service. Pay now and lock in today's rate, then collect from a store at a time convenient for you.

CHANGE4CHANGE

If you would like to donate your unused foreign currency to charity we have Change4Change collection boxes in our Bureaux, with all the money we collect going to Breast Cancer Now. Since 2007, we have raised over £630,000 for the charity via your Change4Change donations.

Find a Bureau

Travel money buy-back service

When your holiday is over, we'll buy back your leftover holiday money at the buy-back rate on the day you return it to the Bureau de Change. That's all unused notes in any denomination we sell.

Find out more about M&S Travel Money Buy Back service

If you would like to donate your unused foreign currency to charity we have Change4Change collection boxes in our Bureau stores, with all the money we collect going to Breast Cancer Now. Since 2007, we have raised over £630,000 for the charity via your Change4Change donations.

Find a bureau

When your holiday is over, we'll buy back your leftover holiday money at the buy-back rate on the day you return it to the bureau de change. That's all unused notes in any denomination we sell. Proof of purchase may be required so please retain your receipt, just in case.

Up to 55 days' interest-free credit when purchasing with an M&S Credit Card See footnote ** **

Representative example: based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200, our 24.9% rate per annum (variable) for purchases gives a representative rate of 24.9% APR (variable). Credit is subject to status.

No cash advance fee when M&S Travel Money is purchased using an M&S Credit Card.

What you'll need to bring

To collect foreign currency you've purchased online, you will need:

• A valid UK photographic driving licence, passport or EU national identity card (Romanian & Greek National ID Cards are not accepted)
• Your card you used to place your order - both ID and payment card must have the same name
• Your order number (this can be found on your confirmation email)

To purchase foreign currency in one of our Bureaux, you will need:

• A valid UK photographic driving licence, passport or EU national identity card - both ID and payment card must have the same name

Find my nearest M&S Bureau de Change

Use the M&S Bank Bureau Finder to find your nearest M&S Bureau de Change and opening hours.

Find a Bureau de Change

Manage your existing travel insurance policy

Want to renew, change or cancel your policy or need to make a claim?

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Thinking about a skiing holiday in Europe, North America or Asia? Use our guide to help you with your trip.

Planning to travel with cash?

Our guide explains how much money you can take abroad.

Learn more about the euro

How many countries use the euro? When was the euro first introduced? Find out more.

Using your credit card abroad

Going on holiday? Get to grips with how you can use a credit card outside of the UK.

What is RFID blocking technology?

If you are concerned about having your passport or credit card skimmed whilst abroad learn more about RFID technology.

What influences exchange rates?

Discover what factors contribute to the exchange rates that you see today.

How to budget for long term travel

Going on a long-term trip? Read our guide on how to budget successfully to ensure you have the most memorable time possible.

Visiting a Christmas market?

Learn more about the many Christmas markets across Europe.

Frequently asked questions

Can i use a credit card to purchase travel money.

Yes, you can use a credit card to purchase travel money. However, please check with your card provider as they may apply fees or charges e.g. cash advance fees or other fees.

Our Bureaux accept the majority of UK issued major credit cards.

How much cash can I travel with?

You can learn more about taking cash in and out of Great Britain and declaring cash by visiting gov.uk .

Should I get foreign currency before I travel?

Buying your travel money before you travel can be an important part of pre-holiday preparation. You can use our Currency Converter to get the latest exchange rates across worldwide holiday destinations.

You can also check out our handy holiday checklist to help with planning ahead of your trip.

Where can I collect M&S Travel Money from?

You can collect M&S Travel Money from over 100 bureaux de change or from over 350 stores nationwide. You can find your nearest M&S Bureau de Change using our Bureau Finder .

Where can I get the best exchange rate?

Exchange rates change on a regular basis and vary depending on the currency you order. At M&S Bank, we offer our best rates for euro and US dollar via the Click & Collect service, where you can order your currency and collect from the next day in an M&S location local to you. If you order online before 4pm, you can collect the same day. For all other currencies, check our website for more information.

How much travel money can I order?

For orders placed via Click & Collect, there is a minimum £150 order and maximum of £2,500. For Bureau de Change walk-ups, there is no minimum order.

How do I confirm my Travel Money purchase using my M&S Credit Card?

There are three ways to verify your payments - you can use our M&S Banking App, a one-time passcode via text message or by using a card reader to verify your payment. Use our how-to videos or step-by-step guides to find out more.

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Useful information

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Important documents

M&S Travel Money Terms and Conditions

M&S Travel Money Click & Collect Sale Terms and Conditions

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* Subject to availability

** With the M&S Credit Card, you'll receive up to 55 days' interest-free credit when you pay your balance in full and on time each month.

† Next Day collection is subject to availability. Please confirm your collection date and location at the checkout.

Travel Money

• Clubcard Prices Clubcard Prices

Clubcard Prices are available for all currencies, just enter your Clubcard number on the next page. Full T&Cs below.

• Click & Collect Click & Collect

Collect for free from more than 350 Tesco stores with a Bureau de change.

• Home Delivery Home Delivery

Free delivery on orders worth £500 or more.

Exchange rates may vary during the day and will vary whether buying in store, online or via phone.

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Find a Store to get your Travel Money

With Click & Collect you can order your travel money online and pick it up from selected Tesco stores near you, or you can buy instantly from an in-store travel money bureau.

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3 easy ways to purchase Travel Money

Click & collect.

• Order online and choose to collect from over 500 Tesco store locations Order online and choose to collect from over 500 Tesco store locations
• Pick a collection day that works for you Pick a collection day that works for you
• Order euro or US Dollars Order Euros or US Dollars before 2pm and you can pick-up from most stores the next day

About Click & Collect

Home delivery

• Order online by 2pm Mon-Thurs for next day delivery (excludes bank and public holidays), to most parts of the UK Order online by 2pm Mon-Thurs for next day delivery (excludes bank and public holidays), to most parts of the UK
• Free delivery for orders of £500 or more Free delivery for orders of £500 or more
• Secure delivery via Royal Mail Special Delivery Secure delivery via Royal Mail Special Delivery

About Home Delivery

Buy in-store

• Buy your foreign currency instantly in our travel money bureaux in selected Tesco stores across the UK Buy your foreign currency instantly in our travel money bureaux in selected Tesco stores across the UK
• Turn unspent travel money back into Pounds with our Buy Back service Turn unspent travel money back into Pounds with our Buy Back service

About Buy Back

Best Travel Money Provider 2023/24

Now in it’s 26th year and voted for by the public, the Personal Finance Awards celebrate the best business and products in the UK personal finance market. We’re delighted that you voted us as Best Travel Money Provider 2023/24.

Additional Information

Ordering and collection.

You can pick a collection date when you're ordering your money. Order before 2pm and you can pick up Euros and US Dollars from most Tesco Travel Money bureaux the next day. Other currencies can take up to five days. Alternatively, you can order any currency for next weekday delivery to most of the selected customer service desks.

Please make sure you collect your money within four days of your chosen date. If you don't, your order will be returned and your purchase will be refunded, minus a £10 administration charge.

Will I be charged if I cancel my order?

Collection fees

Click and collect from stores with a Bureaux de change:

• Free for all orders

For non-bureaux stores with a click and collect function:

• £2.50 for orders of £100.00 - £499.99
• Free for orders of £500 or more

What to bring

For security, travel money will need to be picked up by the person who placed the order.

• a valid photo ID – either a passport, EU ID card, or full UK driving license (we do not accept provisional driving licenses)
• your order reference number
• the card you used to place the order (you’ll also need to know the card’s PIN)

Home Delivery

We can send your travel money directly to you via secure Royal Mail Special Delivery. You can even pick the delivery date that suits you best.

We also offer next-day home delivery on all currencies to most parts of the UK if ordered before 2pm Monday-Thursday.

Check the Royal Mail site to find out if your postcode is eligible for next day delivery

Delivery costs

£4.99 for orders of £100 - £499.99 Free for orders of £500 or more

• You’ll need to make sure there’s someone at home to sign for your delivery.
• Bank holidays and public holidays will affect delivery times.
• We are unable to cancel or amend home delivery orders after they have been placed.

Clubcard Prices

Clubcard Prices are available on the sell rate only for currencies in stock online, on your date of purchase. The Clubcard Price will be better than the standard rate advertised online on the date of purchase. When purchasing online you must enter a valid Clubcard number to obtain the Clubcard Price rate. Exchange rates may vary whether buying in store, online or by phone.

Clubcard Prices apply to foreign currency notes in stock on your date of online purchase. Due to constant market and currency fluctuations, rates on the date of purchase cannot be compared to another day’s rates. The actual rate you receive may vary depending on market fluctuations. Clubcard data is captured by Travelex on behalf of Tesco Bank.

Check out the Tesco Bank privacy policy to find out more.

Buying foreign currency using a credit or debit card

No matter how you purchase your travel money, whether it be in store, online or over the phone, you will not be charged any card handling fee by us. However, regardless of your card type, your card provider may apply fees, e.g. cash advance fees or other fees, so please check with them before you purchase your travel money.

Click & Collect cancellations

You can cancel a Click & Collect order any time prior to collection. We'll refund you with the full Sterling amount that you paid for your order, unless you cancel less than 24 hours before your collection date, in which case we'll charge a £10 late cancellation fee.

We are unable to refund any fees charged by your card issuer, so please contact them if you have any further queries.

When you get home, we'll buy your travel money back

Let us turn your unspent holiday money into Pounds. It couldn't be simpler.

Just pop into one of our in-store Travel Money Bureaux when you get home. We buy back all the currencies we sell in most banknote values and also the Multi-currency Cash Passport™. Buy back rates may vary during the day.

It doesn't matter where you bought your travel money, even if it wasn't from a Tesco Travel Money Bureau, we'll still buy it back.

More about currency buy back

How our Price Match works

If you find a better exchange rate advertised by another provider within three miles of your chosen Tesco Travel Money Bureau, on the same day, we'll match it.

Price Match only applies in store on a like-for-like basis on sell transactions and does not apply to any exchange rate advertised online or by phone. This is not available in conjunction with any other offer. We reserve the right to verify the rate you have found and the three mile distance (using an appropriate route planning tool).

See full terms and conditions below.

Tesco Travel Money is provided by Travelex

Tesco Travel Money ordered in store is provided by Travelex Agency Services Limited. Registered No. 04621879. Tesco Travel Money ordered online or by telephone is provided by Travelex Currency Services Limited. Registered No. 03797356. Registered Office for both companies: Worldwide House, Thorpewood, Peterborough, PE3 6SB.

Multi-currency Cash Passport is issued by PrePay Technologies Limited pursuant to license by Mastercard® International. PrePay Technologies Limited is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 (FRN: 900010) for the issuing of electronic money and payment instruments. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

How much travel money will I need?

Whether it’s a burger in Brisbane or a taxi in Toronto, get a feel for how far your travel money might go with our foreign currency guides. We’ll help you manage your travel budget like a pro.

Currency Experts

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Why Travel Money

YOUR MONEY YOUR WAY

Travel money, hays travel foreign exchange, 4 great ways to buy your holiday money, click & collect.

Great rates & currency expertise come as standard with our Click & collect service & with no minimum spend, your holiday money is just a few clicks away. 

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Terms & Conditions

Exchange Rates

Always great value and no minimum spend*

• Euro 1.1494
• US Dollar 1.22
• Australian Dollar 1.8701
• Bulgarian Lev 2.1556
• Canadian Dollar 1.6609
• Czech Koruna 27.4513
• Danish Krone 8.3282
• Hungarian Forint 437.1689
• Icelandic Krona 162.1638
• Indonesia Rupiah 18399.0841
• Mexican Peso 19.5332
• New Zealand Dollar 2.025
• Norwegian Krone 13.0256
• Polish Zloty 4.7622
• South African Rand 22.7671
• Sweden Krona 13.0039
• Swiss Franc 1.097
• Turkish Lira 37.0099
• Thai Baht 42.6324
• United Arab Emirates Dirham 4.2571

Travel Money Card

• Use anywhere Mastercard® prepaid is accepted worldwide.
• Carry less cash.
• Top up in 15 currencies including Euro, US Dollar, Australian Dollars and UAE Dirhams.
• Phone support available worldwide 24/7.
• Manage on the go via Hays Travel Currency Card App.

Connect to your google pay wallet

You can now link your Hays Travel Mastercard with Google Pay for swift and secure transactions wherever you go. Say goodbye to carrying physical cards and hello to effortless payments with just a tap of your phone. Simplify your travel experience today!

BUY YOUR HAYS TRAVEL MASTERCARD

The Hays Travel Money Card is the safe and easy way to take your money on holiday!

It is free to use in millions of locations worldwide where Mastercard Prepaid is accepted: including restaurants, bars, and shops when you spend in a currency loaded on the card.

This easy-to-use pre-paid card allows contactless transactions, chip and PIN, worldwide cash withdrawals wherever you see the Mastercard Acceptance Mark, and also 24/7 phone support.

Take your money card with you on every holiday, simply top up and go!

• BUY IN BRANCH

WHY CHOOSE HAYS TRAVEL?

For your next departure, buy your holiday money from Hays Travel. Always commission free currency with competitive online and high street exchange rates.

• Wide selection of currencies available
• Hundreds of nationwide Hays Travel branches offering on-demand Foreign Exchange; buy from branch to receive high quality customer service from the travel experts or order online for convenient home delivery
• 0% commission when we buy and sell foreign currency

Home Delivery

Ordering currency from the comfort of you own home has never been easier, with our great rates & over 60 currencies to choose from as well as next day delivery why not chose your currency to be delivered to your doorstep? 

Holiday Money to your door

Order before 3pm for next working day home delivery via Royal Mail Special Delivery. *Customer must be home to sign for delivery. Over 60 currencies to select from. Free delivery on all orders £500 and over Convenient Saturday delivery available for no extra charge Minimum order value of £200 up to a maximum of £2500 Peace of mind, your local Hays Travel branch will buy back any leftover currency purchased through Hays Home Delivery commission free

Call Into a Branch

With over 400 branches to choose from arranging your holiday money has never been more convenient – Why not call into branch today where one of our experienced & Friendly Foreign Exchange Consultants will be on hand with our great rates, expert advice & fantastic service. 

Bank on our branches for your Holiday Money

Over 400 branches Nationwide - Use our branch locator to find your nearest Hays Travel branch.

A wide selection of currencies & Hays Travel Money Cards available Instantly in-store

Competitive high street rates and always commission free

Exotic Currency Ordering service – Over 70 currencies available to order

Buyback Guarantee – Save money on your leftover Currency.

All major currencies Bought Back Commission Free

Experienced & Friendly Staff instore

• FIND YOUR NEAREST BRANCH

Buy Currency

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Enter the currency you need, or if you don't know what currency you need for your trip, simply enter the country that you're travelling to

Rate last updated Thursday, 18 April 2024 02:33:01 BST

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How do we compare? Every day we check the exchange rates of major banks and high street retailers and adjust our rates accordingly to ensure that we give you a highly competitive overall price on your foreign currency.

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• Travel Money Card

Secure spending abroad made easy.

• Safe and secure
• Choice of 22 currencies
• Seamless spending with Apple Pay and Google Pay  
• Manage your travel money effortlessly via the Travelex Money App
• In case your card is lost, stolen, or damaged, our 24/7 global assistance team is here for you

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Whether you're going to Australia or Thailand, we've got you covered. With a choice of over 40 currencies and our Travelex Money Card, we make it easy for you to get your travel money. Have it delivered straight to your door next day or pick it up from any of our UK stores at major airports, ports and retail locations.

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Choose from 40+ currencies

Select to have your currency delivered to your home or collect at one of our stores across the UK

Relax knowing that your travel money has been taken care of by the world's leading foreign exchange specialist

The Travel Hub: Tips & Guides

Discover top tips, indulgent guides and no end of travel inspiration at The Travel Hub!  From the hottest destinations to last minute travel and family fun, here's to making your next trip the best one yet.

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Dave Ramsey’s Tips for Saving Money on Travel

F or those with money to spend and the time to spend it, the sky’s the limit . However, for most Americans, money is tight and time is valuable . Vacationing is a luxury — if you can afford it, you can’t afford to overspend on it.

Find: 6 Vacation Splurges You’ll Almost Always Regret

See Our List:  100 Most Influential Money Experts

According to a recent Forbes consumer survey, an overwhelming 87% of respondents plan on travelling as much in 2023 as they did in 2022, and 49% expect to travel more. But as financial expert Dave Ramsey stated, you can’t let a vacation mindset derail your money goals.

Of course, Ramsey would prefer you to skip the vacation altogether if you are honestly trying to save money. “When your goal is to save money now, a vacation is the worst thing you could spend your money on,” he said, per The Motley Fool.

Discretionary expenses like travel take away from money you could be investing and, according to his Ramsey Solutions site, travelers tend to be carefree with their spending while on vacation, wasting an inordinate amount of money on silly purchases while away.

Take Our Poll: What Kind of Money Advice Would You Most Trust From a Celebrity Expert Such as Warren Buffett, Mark Cuban or Suze Orman?

However, many modern pundits suggest that spending money on experiences makes people happier than buying possessions or assets. With that in mind, even a “saving and investment first” expert like Ramsey has some tips on saving money on travel. Here are five things to keep in mind if you want to save money while you’re on holiday, per Ramsey’s site .

1. Stop Eating Out for Every Meal and Cut Out Expensive Snacks

As the restaurant industry may never return to its pre-pandemic state, eating out continues to be pricey. Going to restaurants is a major attraction for travelers and often the main attraction in world-famous foodie cities. While cooking on vacation runs antithetical to holiday fun, eating one meal per day where you are staying will help fight inflation’s significant impact on restaurants, from upscale eateries to less expensive truck stops or food chains.

Full meals are expensive, but at least they are usually planned and budgeted. Buying spur-of-the-moment snacks at amusement parks, sporting/entertainment events and popular tourist sites is done out of convenience and priced to trap vacationers looking to spend money. Skipping treats will save you plenty. Remember, every dollar you don’t spend at a restaurant or on a costly treat is a dollar you can spend elsewhere on your travels — or on saving for your next adventure.

2. Skip Flying to Drivable Destinations

The urge to fly away on vacation makes sense. You will maximize your time away by getting to your retreat quicker, and the mere fact that you’re flying makes the vacation rarer and more adventurous. However, don’t let your mind trick you into booking an airline ticket for a destination you can easily drive to.

According to Ramsey Solutions, “Filling up your gas tank a few times is cheaper than buying a lot of plane tickets. Then you’ll have more cash for the actual trip. Besides, some of the best bonding happens when you spend a few hours together on the road.”

3. Think Twice About Buying Pointless Souvenirs

It goes without saying that buying souvenirs is part and parcel of a fun holiday experience. However, traditional clothing that will never get worn, cheaply-made trinkets that will get thrown out upon arriving home, bulky items that are a pain to carry — these are things you should think twice about buying.

Leaving spare space in your suitcase for something usable and personal is a great idea, while spending for the sake of spending on vacation is a costly mistake. You should never deny what will make you happy, but you’ll return to a picture taken while away more frequently than an impulse buy cluttering up your house or apartment.

4. Don’t Stay Too Long or Do Too Much

Dragging out a vacation can eventually grate on your nerves and paying between $150 and $300 a night for too many days makes it hard to enjoy your time traveling. Citing psychologist Daniel Kahneman’s behavioral science work, Business Insider’s Chris Weller suggested that spending more on a longer vacation is probably not worth the expense. “You most likely aren’t ‘changing the story’ enough to create new memories about the experience,” he wrote. “Instead, it all eventually blends into one amorphous memory.”

Likewise, do you want your lasting memory of a trip away to be that of running yourself ragged just to prove you have been somewhere or done something? “I know the urge to see and do as much as possible is strong, especially when vacation days are limited, but it’s hard to enjoy each activity if you’re constantly in a rush,” said Marek Bron, a travel blogger at  Indie Traveller . Bron suggests cutting your itinerary by a third. That way you give yourself more time to relax while traveling, decompress when you return and save money throughout.

5. Budget for Your Vacation and Check for Discounted Attractions

When traveling, it’s easy to fall into a vacation mindset and simply shell out for any expense without giving it a second thought.

Ramsey Solutions suggested that budgeting for your vacation, deciding when to travel, picking a destination and determining the cost of your trip before you leave will keep your spending in check — and will prevent clouding of your judgment when away. If your vacation involves paid events or local attractions, you should be scouting out ways to experience them by using discounts or coupons (or finding deals through visitor or tourist centers).

Keeping a bunch of travel tips in mind seems counterproductive to shifting into vacation mode, but enjoying your time away should be exciting and relaxing, not financially stressful.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Dave Ramsey’s Tips for Saving Money on Travel

Why Billionaires Are Buying Up Sports Teams

The economics of sports franchise ownership have exploded beyond imagination. The latest status symbol for owners: 80,000 seats and more toilets than you could dream of.

At the press conference introducing the Charlotte Hornets’ new owners last August, Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall strode onto the stage looking like gleeful Roy brothers in an alternate ending of Succession . Onlookers may have thought the investment titans had dunked on the GOAT—and perhaps they had. But in buying a majority stake in the team from Michael Jordan, they made the five-time MVP a vastly more valuable player, paying him $3 billion—an 11-fold return on the $275 million he paid in 2010.

If the public knew anything about these new owners, it was that Plotkin’s company lost nearly $7 billion in four days in 2021 during the GameStop short squeeze, an epic fail recounted in the movie Dumb Money (in which Seth Rogen plays Plotkin). Perhaps not coincidentally, Schnall did most of the speaking to the press and, amid a barrage of bromides, let slip an unwitting truth: “We can’t screw this up.”

While trying to acknowledge the pressure to deliver a winner, Schnall was also admitting an open secret among the billionaire class: If you have the resources to buy a sports team in a major league, particularly the NFL and NBA, you can’t fail.

It’s a gravity-defying proposition, in which you can win by losing. Under Jordan the Hornets suffered the longest playoff drought of any NBA team and barely won 40 percent of their games. In a football example, the Washington Commanders’ winning percentage since Daniel Snyder purchased the team in 1999 has been just as bad as the Hornets’, but that was only one in a bouquet of red flags. The team’s name was a racial epithet for decades. NFL and congressional inquiries found that its culture was rife with harassment, bullying, and intimidation, including, in many instances, by Snyder—who decamped to London under the cloud of a criminal fraud investigation. And still, selling a distressed property under duress, the man acknowledged as the worst owner in sports received the highest price in sports history, $6.1 billion.

Far from feeling fleeced, the buyers were ecstatic. And these emptors needed no caveats; Plotkin and Schnall had previously owned smaller shares in NBA teams, and Josh Harris, whose investment group purchased the Commanders, already owned the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. They knew that since 2007 average valuations in the Big Four leagues (NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB) have gone up between five and eight times, and no team in the modern era has ever folded. They knew that even as valuations have turned skyward, every sale in the past two years has exceeded the bullish appraisals. They also knew that the ranks of billionaires have nearly doubled in the last decade, so there would be no shortage of takers if they decide to sell. Team ownership requires not just great wealth but an incredible level of liquidity. “It’s not a leveraged buyout like we had in the ’80s. Debt limits in all the leagues are low,” says Michael Rapkoch, a capital advisor who founded Sports Value Consulting. “So the people buying teams have to put up mostly cash. Real money. Billions.”

So what does the ultra-high-net-worth individual who has everything buy himself? Not another superyacht but something genuinely unsinkable and grand enough to host 18,000 to 80,000 paying guests, plus millions more watching at home, eight or 41 or even 81 times a season. While financial advisors are obliged to tell clients that past performance is no guarantee of future results, that warning is like hearing “Watch your step” as you board your own Gulf­stream G650. Soaring team values, investment security, and extreme scarcity make franchise ownership a magnet for magnates, the rare investment capable of making even dumb money look smart. “Over the last 10 years the frothiness of the market and the numbers are just mind-boggling,” says Kurt Baden­hausen, the sports world’s preeminent valuations expert, who created industry-standard rankings at Forbes and now produces them for the business journal Sportico . “Bankers, investors, team owners—everybody’s blown away.” Rapkoch is one of the awestruck. “The market is expanding,” he says, “and we’re absolutely bullish on this industry.”

Longtime sports commentator Bob Costas has seen a confluence of forces fundamentally alter the proposition of team ownership. “The explosion in television revenues,” he says, “and other ways to monetize that investment—global marketing, the internet, streaming services, merchandising—none of those things existed 50 years ago. It’s an almost can’t-lose proposition.”

In 2021 Certuity, a boutique wealth management firm for ultra-high-net-worth people, opened an investment fund that gives its clients a small taste of sports team ownership. “We were looking for investments that were not as correlated or sensitive to moves in the economy, interest rates, or earnings,” says Dylan Kremer, Certuity’s chief investment officer. “Professional sports jumped to the top of the list.”

The other form of security that drives value, according to Rapkoch, is teams’ sheer ability to survive. “WeWork was worth, what, $49 billion? Now it’s gone. What happened to Kmart? AOL? The Washington Commanders will be here in 20 years. There’s no doubt about that.” Indeed, names may change, and franchises may relocate, but no Big Four team has folded in seven decades. And the leagues have crushed or consumed upstart rivals, leaving them high castles protected with, as Kremer calls it, “moats around the business.”

If You Build It

Times have changed since Jerry Jones scraped together everything he had to raise $90 million in cash for his $140 million purchase of the financially strapped Dallas Cowboys, now the world’s most valuable team at $9 billion. But as with that Cowboys purchase, in which the value of the stadium outstripped that of the team, the pendulum is swinging back toward real estate—only on an epic scale.

In November, a week after Mark Cuban announced he’d be leaving Shark Tank , the business titan shared the news of a deal that made the show’s other “shark” investors look like goldfish. He had reached an agreement to sell a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks to billionaire Miriam Adelson and the Dumont family, owners of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, for $3.5 billion. Before founding Cost Plus Drugs, Cuban made his multibillion-dollar fortune selling Broadcast.com. Now he has netted an even more astronomical return: $3.2 billion on the $285 million he paid for the team in 2000. It’s telling what he held on to: oversight of all basketball decisions and his role as the public face of the team, on the sidelines haranguing the referees. And, most notably, a 27 percent stake.

Lost in the flashing dollar signs was the fact that Cuban was playing the long game, positioning himself for an even greater payday. “I still own 27 percent,” he said. “Twenty-seven percent of a watermelon is a whole lot better than 27 percent of a grape.” Cuban sees real estate as the fuel for growth potential: state-of-the-art arenas and stadiums in mixed-use developments that allow sports capitalists to rejuvenate entire neighborhoods while enriching themselves.

Sure, the Golden State Warriors’ winning four NBA championships from 2015 to 2022 helped the team’s value soar to more than $7.7 billion—the highest in the NBA—but it also helped pave the way for owner Joe Lacob to move the team across the bay from Oakland into the Chase Center, a building almost too luxe to host sporting events, with clean Scandinavian lines, an interior designed by Gensler, and a soaring lobby atrium described as “Saarinen-esque” by Architect magazine. The arena is the heart of a complex with more than 500,000 square feet of office space, another 100,000 for retail, and a public plaza with Seeing Spheres , an Instagrammable installation by Olafur Eliasson. Around it lies an 11-acre tract, owned by Lacob, where restaurants, a waterfront park, and vibrant foot traffic have replaced a gritty industrial yard.

That scale of development led Cuban, who has been vocal in his desire to construct a new arena for the Mavericks, to join forces with Adelson (net worth $36 billion) and Sands Corp., experts at developing resort casinos that function as self-contained city-states. “It’s a partnership,” he said. “They’re not basketball people. I’m not a real estate person.” The ultimate success of Cuban and Adelson’s shared vision depends on Texas legalizing gambling in the coming years. Still, knowing their combined resources and influence, Cuban speaks about it as if it’s a sure thing. “When we build a new arena, it will be in the middle of a resort and casino,” he said. “That’s the mission.”

It was only a matter of time before these modern-day Caesars, who have made a multibillion-dollar business out of bread and circuses, saw the profit-making potential of shiny new colosseums.

Changing the Rules

While people’s motivations for wanting to own a team may be new, the appeal is not. In 1921 industrialist William Wrigley Jr. used a fraction of his chewing gum fortune to buy the Chicago Cubs. Like a shiny hood ornament atop his family’s wealth-driving business, the team sold for $20.5 million 60 years later. (The Wrigleys’ corporation commanded $23 billion in cash in 2008.) In contrast, the Maras were a struggling immigrant family on New York’s Lower East Side until their $500 purchase of the New York Football Giants in 1925, which generated, first, financial security, and then an immense windfall: The team was valued at more than $7 billion in 2023. One Mara married into the NFL’s other royal family, the Rooneys, longtime owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Together the two houses have ascended to Hollywood fame (actors Kate and Rooney Mara) and the halls of power (the late Dan Rooney, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ireland).

For those born into great privilege, the attitude was different, says Michael Gross, author of Flight of the WASP: The Rise, Fall, and Future of America’s Original Ruling Class . “You spent your wealth on a sports team,” the longtime chronicler of the moneyed class says. “You didn’t make wealth on a sports team.” Three decades after Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the Whitney Museum of Art to house her forward-thinking collection, her niece Joan Whitney Payson paid $1 million for a controlling interest in New York’s new National League baseball team. Leading a well-heeled group that included G. Herbert Walker Jr. (great-uncle of George W. Bush, who parlayed a minority stake in the Texas Rangers into a political career), Payson became the first woman to own a major American sports team (that wasn’t inherited). A baseball obsessive, she was hands-on from the start. After holding a naming party at her Italianate Upper East Side mansion, Payson announced the name—“Meet the Mets”—at the Savoy-Hilton Hotel, breaking a bottle of champagne on a baseball bat, as if christening a yacht.

Over the years, some men of means were drawn to sports teams to break not the bank but social barriers. Obsessed with attaining British citizenship and entering the upper echelons of UK society, Mohamed Al-Fayed purchased the London-based soccer team Fulham for $9 million in 1997, months before his son Dodi and Princess Diana were killed in a car accident. Fayed entertained the likes of Michael Jackson at matches and took the team up to the Premier League, but he gained neither citizenship nor acceptance. Nevertheless, Fulham’s value soared; when he sold it in 2013, Fayed reportedly fetched more than $225 million.

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich took a similar shot on goal, hoping to rehabilitate his reputation as Vladimir Putin’s closest ally when he relocated to London and bought the storied Chelsea Football Club for $224 million in 2003. It proved effective enough, as he invested some $2 billion to improve the team, winning 18 trophies for the team and the affection of its fans. His old friend’s invasion of Ukraine put an end to all that. In May 2022, after the British government froze his assets, Abramovich bid farewell to Chelsea for $3.1 billion. At the time it was the highest price ever paid for a sports team—though he wasn’t allowed to pocket the profits.

Owning a pro sports team seemed like just the thing to raise the standing of six-foot-eight Mikhail Prokhorov from merely brash billionaire playboy. However, in the middle of purchasing the NBA’s New Jersey Nets in 2010 for $200 million (plus an additional $180 million in debt, and with a plan to move the team to Brooklyn), the Russian industrialist went on 60 Minutes to show off some of his other playthings: a Kalashnikov rifle, a model of his 200-foot superyacht (the actual vessel, he explained, made him seasick), and the 20 women waiting for him in his private VIP section of a Russian club. The NBA’s commissioner at the time, David Stern, gave a telling response when asked if his league’s newest owner was an individual with integrity, saying, “I think he’s a man who has passed a very tight security check.”

Eventually, saddled by sanctions and reportedly pressured by Putin to sell, Prokhorov unloaded his no longer shiny toy to Joe Tsai, co-founder of the tech giant Ali­baba, for $2.35 billion (plus $1 billion for the Barclays Center arena) in 2019. At the time, that was the most ever paid for an American sports team, topping the previous mark of $2.2 billion set in 2017 by Tilman Fertitta’s acquisition of the Houston Rockets and equaled a year later when David Tepper purchased the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

The Limit Does Not Exist

While those prices might look pedestrian in light of the recent skyrocketing valuations, those record sales helped change the perception of sports teams from places to park one’s fortune into a fast-accelerating driver of wealth.

In the intervening years league-wide media deals have also become more lucrative, as sports have proved to be the last must-see live events on TV and streaming services. “But not all leagues are equal,” says Certuity’s Kremer. While the NHL is making waves internationally, and valuations of Major League Soccer and women’s sports teams are climbing fast, the Big Four sports leagues are increasingly the Big Two. The most valuable teams are in the NFL for a reason: Badenhausen’s research found that in 2022 every team in the NFL made more money than the world’s most profitable soccer team, Manchester City. And the NBA has the highest ceiling. Whereas soccer is already popular in every corner of the world, the NBA’s business is surging globally, as interest in basketball has exploded in China, India, and sub-Saharan Africa.

As a result, NFL and NBA teams are now like Fabergé eggs encased in pigskin or orange leather, only rarer, with the megarich trampling one another to get their hands on one. Fabergé produced 69 eggs; the NFL and NBA have 62 teams combined. If the NBA eventually adds two expansion franchises, as expected, it is sure to spark another stampede of bidders—and the current owners will rake in their share of the spoils. Although there have been four sales of NFL teams in the last 11 years, on average the league’s owners hold on to their teams for 40 years. These golden tickets come around once in a lifetime.

Some use them more wisely than others. Real estate developer Stan Kroenke and his wife Ann Walton Kroenke (of the Walmart Waltons) have quietly assembled a ne plus ultra sports portfolio that includes English Premier League team Arsenal and not one but two crown jewels: the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets and the 2022 NFL champion L.A. Rams. Stan Kroenke has taken the Rams from Los Angeles to St. Louis and back to L.A., where they won Super Bowl LVI in their new home, SoFi Stadium. The state-of-the-art venue has open sides and a trans­lucent roof adorned with 26,000 LED panels, making it a 22-acre billboard for planes approaching nearby LAX. The stadium holds 70,000 fans (it expands to 100,000 for some events), who can watch the game on a 70,000-square-foot display dubbed the Infinity Screen. The building has won awards and been tapped for such highly profitable events as the 2026 soccer World Cup and the opening ceremony of the 2028 summer Olympics.

Increasingly, these new stadiums and arenas resemble cathedrals of contemporary capitalism, with giant megapixel screens in place of stained glass and plush seats instead of pews. New York Knicks owner James Dolan, seeking something that would trump his own Madison Square Garden, turned westward to Las Vegas and built the Sphere (see page 39).

Then there’s Steve Ballmer, the wealthiest team owner in America and eighth-­richest person in the world, and his Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Clippers’ new home is an architectural marvel imprinted with the irrepressible owner’s idiosyncratic tastes and a passion that would make Joan Payson proud. Ballmer, who was once Bill Gates’s assistant, began his quest to own a team while still CEO of Microsoft. In 2013 he tried to buy the Seattle Supersonics to keep the team from moving to Oklahoma City, but his efforts came too late. Then he tried to bring the Sacramento Kings to Seattle. His bid was acceptable, but his plan to move the team was a nonstarter.

Within two weeks of his retirement from Microsoft, in 2014, Ballmer flew to meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (and the NFL’s Roger Goodell, too, for good measure). Ballmer learned that the Milwaukee Bucks were for sale, but the owner politely rebuffed Ballmer’s appeal (the team later sold for $550 million).

In the meantime, one of the ugliest chapters in NBA history was unfolding in Los Angeles. TMZ released recordings of Clippers owner Donald Sterling making virulently racist remarks to his mistress. His team threatened to boycott. Players around the league were up in arms. The NBA banned him, and control of the team passed to his wife. Within a month Ballmer had bought the team from her for $2 billion, an NBA record.

“I was all in,” Ballmer said on the podcast of his star player, Paul George. “I just said, ‘I’m going to get this team,’ and people thought I way overpaid.” After all, the team was in disarray and a second-class citizen in its own home, the Staples Center (now Crypto.com arena), which it shared with the Lakers.

Ballmer soon embarked on another odyssey—nearly nine years long—to build his team its own arena. Along the way he was sued by Dolan’s MSG, which owned the Inglewood Forum, to prevent a competing venue from being built nearby. Ballmer decided to buy the Forum so he could get on with building his arena. One can do these things when one’s net worth hovers around $120 billion.

Ballmer spared no expense, enlisting AECOM, the architects responsible for One World Trade Center and London’s 2012 Olympic Park. The halo-like screen that encircles the Intuit Dome’s interior is six times as big as the average NBA arena’s screen, and the stands’ steep lower bowl brings the crowd close to the action.

Investing in fans’ enthusiasm, Ballmer designated a choice 51-row portion of the stands not for luxury boxes but for serious fans—verified electronically, no reselling allowed except through the Clippers marketplace. (Also verboten in these seats: opposing teams’ gear.) Every seat in the arena has a phone charging station and a system to track how much a fan stands, sits, and cheers, and at what decibel level. Most of all, Ballmer wants the fans away from their seats as briefly as possible, insisting on automated cash-free concessions and abundant bathrooms. Especially bathrooms. At the 2021 groundbreaking, he screamed about the Intuit Dome having three times as many toilets as other arenas. “I’ve become a real obsessive about toilets,” Ballmer said later. “Toilets, toilets, toilets.”

In January he joined the mayors of Inglewood and Los Angeles and the NBA commissioner onstage at the Intuit Dome to announce that the arena, which will open in September, had been selected to host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. Beaming, Ballmer called his building “the pinnacle, the peak” of sports arenas. “We have bathrooms— lots of bathrooms! ” he shouted, poking fun at his fixation.

Is it all folly—a Spruce Goose with a hardwood floor? Despite overpaying for the Clippers by any objective measure and doubling down on potties, Ballmer saw the Clippers’ value double in his first eight years of owning the team. Even while operating at a loss for the year from 2022 to 2023, the value shot up another 19 percent in anticipation of the new arena. When it opens, the added revenue is expected to drive the valuation higher still. It turns out that, at least for those worth 12 figures, throwing money down the toilet pays off.

Alex Bhattacharji is a writer and editor who worked nearly two decades in men's magazines. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times , Esquire , and WSJ magazine. He spends his free time hiking, kayaking and coaching rugby.

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Travel Insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of April 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:52 a.m. UTC April 11, 2024

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WorldTrips is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with two plans:

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheaper travel insurance plan of the two, with $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage and an optional upgrade to primary coverage. It’s also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .
• Atlas Journey Premier costs a little more but gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage . This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of our 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier offers $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan offers travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex has the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids age 17 are covered by your policy for free when they’re traveling with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $334. This is for a WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.  

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Money latest: Tourist tax warning - here are 10 cities in Europe where you'll need to pay

The latest official data on inflation has been released - read all the reaction and analysis on what the numbers could mean for interest rates in the Money blog. Listen to the latest Sky News Daily podcast about inflation as you scroll.

Wednesday 17 April 2024 21:14, UK

• Inflation falls to lowest level since 2021 - but less than predicted
• Ian King analysis: Why an interest rate cut may not come as soon as you think
• Basically... What is inflation - and how can it affect interest rates?
• Spending calculator: Use our tool to see which prices have gone up or down
• Tourist tax warning - here are 10 cities where you'll need to pay

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• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'I feel isolated, lonely and guilty': Daughter caring for mother with motor neurone disease alone  
• How to improve your credit score
• Most expensive street in London revealed
• Money Problem: My boss ruined end of maternity leave with ultimatum - what are my rights?

The day began with the release of the latest inflation figures by the Office for National Statistics at 7am.

Inflation fell to 3.2%, though economists had predicted it would ease further, to 3.1%.

We've dug into the ONS data, which shows that food prices were among the biggest drivers of the inflation drop in March.

This chart, updated with figures released today, shows food and non-alcoholic drinks fell by 0.11 percentage points last month.

"Once again, food prices were the main reason for the fall, with prices rising by less than we saw a year ago," Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said. 

This helped bring inflation to its lowest rate for two-and-a-half years. 

Other big downwards drivers included furniture and household goods, and clothing and footwear. 

At the other end of the scale, the largest upward contributions came from communication and transport. 

 By Mickey Carroll , science and technology reporter

"I had just woken up and I got an email that said, 'We're going to have a company-wide meeting'. I knew right away."

James (not his real name) was visiting his family earlier this year when he saw the message.

"I started thinking about everything I was set to lose."

He had worked as a game designer at one of the UK's biggest video game studios for nearly a decade. It was a job he loved and had dreamt of since he was nine years old. But recently he had been worried.

All around him, friends in the gaming industry were being let go.

"My mind was racing, what could I do? I wasn't going to be the only one job-seeking at the moment because there were so many layoffs. They all happened at the same time."

He went to the meeting, where his worst fears were confirmed. The company's chief executive said around 25% of people at the studio would be cut. James was one of them.

Gaming is an anxious world right now. There's been more than 8,000 jobs cut globally since the start of this year and in March, the number of available jobs in the UK hit a record low, according to the report Games Jobs Live.

But in London, as the BAFTA Games Awards 2024 rolled around last week, gamers could just enjoy themselves.

Read the full story here ... 

B&M has said it will open at least 45 stores across the UK in the next year. 

It comes after the discount chain recorded a 10.1% revenue increase in its 2023/24 financial year, with its UK arm seeing sales rise by 8.5% to £4.4bn. 

The company currently trades from 741 stores in the UK under the B&M brand, 335 stores under the Heron Foods and B&M Express brands, and from 124 stores in France.

Chief executive Alex Russo said the group's "relentless focus on everyday low prices, great product ranges and excellence in operational standards" had chimed with customers.

Miss getting a Tango Ice Blast at the cinema? Well, its creator has announced it's releasing limited edition drinks in their iconic flavours. 

The fizzy frozen treat has slowly been disappearing from cinemas since 2019 when Cineworld stopped selling it, and opted to replace it with the Icee product created by Vimto. 

Fans have been disappointed by the decision since then and it seems its owner Britvic has finally produced a drink to satiate their taste buds. 

The drinks company has unveiled its new Tango Raspberry Blast and Cherry Blast drinks, which will be sold exclusively in convenience stores. 

The on-the-go, vegan friendly soft drink will be available from 22 April. 

"Tango's latest launch will look to engage Gen Z shoppers with its bold flavours, striking colours and eye-catching packaging," Britvic said. 

"We expect the launch to appeal to fans of the brand who have come to expect something bold and different from Tango, while attracting new shoppers too." 

Some drivers are being charged nearly 40% APR when paying for their car insurance monthly, according to Which?. 

The consumer champion asked 39 car insurers what APRs were being applied to monthly payments and, while many didn't respond, it found several that were charging similar interest rates to credit cards.

Among those that did respond, Which? found that 1st Central charges between 5% and 39.11%.

It gives customers a personal interest rate after a credit risk assessment, Which? said.

1st Central said: "We understand it is important to customers that we keep the price of insurance as low as possible - and benchmarking tells us that we are competitive for both annual premiums and for those that wish to pay monthly through a credit arrangement.

"We offer a range of APRs from 5% to enable us to provide credit to as many customers wishing to pay monthly as possible, including those with low or poor credit scores. Over the past quarter less than 2% of customers paid our highest APR."

The average rate offered by insurers was found to be 23.37%.

Only two car insurers asked - NFU Mutual and Hiscox - said they do not charge interest on monthly repayments.

What about home insurance?  

Which? also looked into the rates being charged on home insurance and found some insurers were charging nearly 35% APR on monthly payments. 

The highest rate in the study was from Co-op Insurance, which charges between 31.31% to 34.75% APR on monthly payments.

The average across the providers that charge a rate and disclosed it was 23%.

Co-op Insurance works with partners to provide insurance cover - and it said it is looking to reduce rates where possible. It added that it chose to share its rates with Which? as it is committed to transparency.

Fifteen home insurance providers surveyed said they do not charge interest: Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Hiscox, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, MBNA, M&S Bank, Nationwide Building Society, NFU Mutual, SAGIC, Sainsbury's Bank, Santander, TSB, Urban Jungle and Yorkshire Building Society.

Nearly one in five first-time buyers are now in their 40s, data from Santander has shown. 

Around 6,000 agreement in principles were completed for people aged 40-49 by Santander in 2024 alone, its homeownership report found. 

The oldest person to get their foot on the property ladder was 67 - nearly double the average first time buyer age of 36. 

Graham Sellar, head of business development, mortgages at Santander, said there were a number of reasons more people were opting to rent or live with their families until later in life.

"At Santander, we know it can be challenging to save for a deposit and get onto the property ladder, especially for those also juggling rental payments," he said. 

"However, we are here to help our customers in whatever ways we can - at whatever stage of life." 

Every Wednesday we get Michelin chefs, top bloggers or critics to pick their favourite cheap eats where they live and at home. 

This week we've got the popular food blogger Pam Gilmour, better known as Glasgowfoodgeek, who has more than 57,000 followers on Instagram. 

Can you tell us your favourite places in Glasgow where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

Ramen Dayo - if you're looking for cheap but delicious eats, you can't go wrong with a filling ramen, and Ramen Dayo is the best in the city.

Owner Paul lived in Japan for years, so he knows great ramen. 

With massive bowls of soup coming in at around £13 I know I'm going to leave stuffed but so happy.

La Pastina - no one stuffs a sub like La Pastina, which makes sandwiches so big that you can keep half for dinner.

Packed with layers of cold cuts and toppings, this Italian sandwich shop is a great stop if you're looking for a to-go lunch.

The Bordain is a masterpiece, and definitely buy one of their made-in-house cakes.

El Perro Negro - if you're looking for the best burger in Glasgow you won't go far wrong visiting award-winning El Perro Negro, where you can enjoy a classic burger and side of fries for just £13.

The flavour and quality will absolutely blow your socks off.  My favourite is the signature juicy Top Dog burger.

Read all our Cheap Eats recommendations around the UK  here ...

Some Scottish Power customers are set to receive refunds and compensation payments after the energy firm was found to have overcharged them at the height of the energy crisis. 

The energy firm charged 1,699 direct debit customers a higher rate between 2015 and 2023 - across 11 price cap periods. 

The rate should only have applied to those who pay by standard credit, or on receiving a bill.

On average, each customer paid an extra £149 more than they should have. 

Energy regulator Ofgem said Scottish Power was paying a total of £250,000 in direct refunds to affected customers as well as another £250,000 in goodwill payments. 

This equates to an average of £294 per customer, and all payments will be made automatically. 

Ofgem said Scottish Power reported itself to the regulator last summer, when it discovered that operational errors had led to the mistake.

Scottish Power has also agreed to pay £1m to Ofgem's Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Fund, which benefits charities and community projects that help vulnerable customers with energy-related support.

Travellers have been warned trips abroad will cost more this year as cities across Europe increase tourist taxes.

Tourism taxes range anywhere between less than €1 to almost €15 and can be charged per person per night.

People looking to book a trip abroad are being encouraged to incorporate additional costs into their holiday budget to avoid being left out of pocket.

Travel insurance expert Tiffany Mealiff said the fees allow cities to fund measures to attract more visitors, support local infrastructure and prevent problems caused by overtourism. 

"If you’re taking a trip to any city in Europe this year, you must be aware of the potential additional costs to your holiday – which are often not obvious beforehand and normally due for payment when you check out of your accommodation," Ms Mealiff, from Quotezone.co.uk, said. 

Here are some of the charges in popular European destinations:

Tourists visiting Venice for the day will have to pay a €5 (£4.27) entry fee to enter the city between the hours of 8.30am and 4.00pm. The scheme is currently going through a trial period, but it is expected to come fully into force in next year.

Manchester 

The city introduced a £1 per room per night tourist tax across 73 hotels to fund improvement measures to attract more tourists.

A recent increase to the existing tourist fee means visitors now pay €3.25 (£2.78), up from €2.75 (£2.35), to stay in some accommodation. 

The Portuguese capital enforces a €2 (£1.71) per person fee for every night tourists stay but it is only applied for a maximum of seven nights. 

Tourist tax in Athens varies depending on the hotel category and the time of year, ranging anywhere from €0.50 (43p) - €10 (£8.54) per room per night.

Visitors to Dubrovnik must pay €2.65 (£2.26) per person per night throughout April to September. The Croatian government has temporarily reduced this fee to €1.86 (£1.59) for the rest of this year.

France charges visitors a tourist tax, which varies depending on the type of accommodation. The most expensive charge is €14.95 (£12.77). Those staying in a typical four-star hotel are charged around €8 (£6.83).

For visitors to Prague, tourist tax has increased from 21 to 50 CZK each day (71p - £1.69).

Tourists staying in Budapest are charged an additional 4% each night, which is calculated based on the price of the room.

Tourists must now pay 5% of the room price, excluding VAT and service fees. 

Prices in March were 3.2% higher than prices at the same time last year, putting pressure on already stretched household budgets.

This figure, the lowest since 2021, is inching closer to the Bank of England's 2% target.

Food prices rising by less than they did last year was the biggest driver of March's overall inflation rate fall. That was partly offset by fuel prices rising this year when they were falling in March 2023.

A fall in inflation doesn't mean prices are coming down, but that they're rising less quickly.

Use our calculator to see how much your groceries, clothing and leisure activities have increased in cost.

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The Best Jamaica SIM Card in 2024

Searching for the best Jamaica SIM card to use for your upcoming trip? You’re in the right place.

As an experienced travel blogger who has provided SIM card recommendations for over 200 destinations, I know exactly what you need to stay connected in Jamaica.

In this monster guide, you’ll learn everything about buying a Jamaica SIM card in 2024. I cover where to get one, how much it costs, the best provider, recommended data plans, and even some tips to save money.

Let’s dive in!

Where to Buy a Jamaica SIM Card

When visiting Jamaica, you can purchase a local SIM card from one of two mobile operators:

Both providers sell SIM cards at their official retail stores located throughout Jamaica. Fortunately, prices are the same nationwide.

You can also buy a Digicel SIM card at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. Flow does not sell SIM cards at the airports.

Here is a price comparison of Jamaica SIM cards:

As you can see, Flow SIM cards are slightly cheaper. But the price difference is negligible, so I recommend going with Digicel.

Digicel has much better coverage and faster 4G speeds compared to Flow based on network tests. The extra $1.55 is worth it for the overall better connectivity.

When purchasing your SIM card, you’ll need to show your passport for mandatory registration. Stores will make a photocopy of your passport and activate the SIM card for you.

The entire process only takes a few minutes.

How Much Data Do You Need in Jamaica?

Jamaica has excellent 4G speeds, so you may be tempted to use more data than usual.

Most travelers find that 5-8GB is sufficient for a week-long stay when using data mostly for maps, social media, messaging, and light video streaming.

If you plan to stream HD quality video content for hours daily or download large files, get a 10-15GB SIM card.

For shorter trips, 2-3GB should be enough to stay connected. But you can always top up more data if needed.

Now let’s look at the best data plans and packages offered by Digicel.

Best Digicel Jamaica Data Plans

Digicel Jamaica has one main combo plan available for prepaid SIM cards:

Prime Brawta Bundles

These bundles come with domestic talk time minutes, international minutes, and generous social and “regular” data.

The included social media data can be used on apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok. Your remaining high-speed data balance works for everything else.

Here is an overview of the Prime Brawta Bundles:

Standout Deal

Without a doubt, the 30 Day Plan is the best deal if you’re visiting Jamaica for more than a week.

For just $33 USD, you get a whopping 80GB high-speed data plus 500 international minutes and unlimited domestic talk time.

This single bundle can easily last most travelers an entire month without needing to top up.

If you do need more data, Digicel has affordable add-ons starting at just 100 JMD ($0.65 USD) for 200MB. Or you can purchase multiple Prime Brawta Bundle packs and unused data rolls over to the next validity period.

One limitation is that the longest plan is only 30 days. But you could buy another one when your initial plan expires if you are staying over 30 days.

Saving Money on Digicel Jamaica

You can save money on your Digicel SIM card and data plan with these tips:

Buy Top-Up Cards on Sale

Digicel’s official top-up cards sometimes go on sale at local supermarkets and convenience stores. You can get up to 20% extra data or airtime when topping up a discounted voucher.

Ask around to see if any nearby shops have promotions on top-up cards.

Use Social Media Apps

All Prime Brawta Bundles come with 5-80GB of data specifically for social media apps (depending on which bundle you choose).

Make the most out this free allowance by using apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and SnapChat when possible instead of “regular” mobile data.

Connect to Free WiFi

WiFi is widely available at hotels, cafes, restaurants around Jamaica. Toggle your WiFi on to save cellular data when you have access.

Turn on Data Saver

Enable Data Saver or Low Data Mode in your device settings. This helps reduce background data usage so things like apps don’t suck up your data allowance when you’re not actively using them.

Every megabyte saved counts when roaming!

Get an International SIM Card

You can also consider getting an international SIM card or eSIM like Airalo that works in Jamaica.

While most don’t offer huge data packages, they can be cheaper than a local SIM if you use under 5GB during your trip.

I have a full guide on the best international SIM cards and eSIMs for Jamaica here.

Speed Tests: Digicel vs Flow

As I mentioned earlier, choose Digicel over Flow for faster mobile internet speeds:

Based on data from Speedtest Intelligence, Digicel’s average download speed is 50% faster than Flow.

Why does this matters?

Faster speeds allow you to use data-intensive apps like Google Maps, YouTube, Spotify, FaceTime Audio, etc. without buffering issues.

Streaming HD videos is no problem on Digicel’s network. But you may experience some lag on Flow where average speeds are under 30 Mbps.

So getting a Digicel SIM card is my #1 recommendation for staying connected in Jamaica in 2024 and beyond. Their excellent coverage, speeds, and affordable data bundles make connectivity smooth and fast across the island.

I hope you found this guide helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions about buying a SIM card in Jamaica. I try my best to reply to every comment.

Enjoy your trip!

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