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Edinburgh Airport offers currency exchange services, allowing travellers to exchange their money before or after their flights. Currency exchange services at the airport are convenient, but they may not offer the best exchange rates. It is recommended to compare the rates with the mid-market rate to ensure you get a fair deal. Additionally, ordering your currency online and collecting it at the airport can often result in better rates and lower fees. Travellers should consider their options and decide whether exchanging currency at the airport aligns with their preferences and financial goals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Currency exchange service provider | ICE (International Currency Exchange) and Travelex |
| Number of outlets | 6 |
| Location | Ground and first floors, landside and airside |
| Exchange rates | Vary by branch; preferential rates for advance orders |
| Commission | 0% |
| Online ordering | Available with American Express and Travelex |
| Collection | Ready in 6 hours or the next day |
| Minimum spend | £400 |
| Maximum spend | £2,500 |
| Refund guarantee | 100% if the holiday is cancelled |
| Number of currencies | 50+ |
| Currency card | Available with Travelex |
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What You'll Learn
Edinburgh Airport currency exchange desks
Currency exchange desks at Edinburgh Airport are operated by ICE (International Currency Exchange). There are six ICE outlets located conveniently throughout the airport, both landside and airside, so you can exchange your currency before or after security, or while you wait for your baggage to arrive. The desks are open according to the flight schedule, so you should always be able to find one that's open, no matter when you arrive at the airport.
You can exchange currency on the spot at an ICE desk, or you can use their click-and-collect service to order your currency online in advance and pick it up as you pass through the airport. Ordering online will get you a preferential exchange rate, and you could even select the currency you need and collect it on the same day for major currencies. Simply order online, print your voucher, and take it along with your payment to the collection point of your choice.
While exchanging currency at the airport is convenient, it's worth noting that it can be one of the most expensive ways to do so. Exchange services often add a markup to their exchange rate, which means you may pay more than you need to overall. To check if there's a markup, you can compare the exchange rate you're offered to the mid-market rate, which is the rate used by banks selling currency to other financial institutions.
If you want to avoid paying a markup, you can pre-order your currency online with American Express and enjoy 0% commission on all foreign currency and traveller's cheques transactions. Your money will be ready for collection just six hours after you've booked, and you can pick it up at the landside departures American Express desk. Travelex also offers an online price promise, guaranteeing that you won't find a cheaper price, with 0% commission. If you order before 2 pm, you can pick up your currency the next day.
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Pre-ordering currency online
Edinburgh Airport currently does not have any currency exchange points, so it is advised that you pre-order your currency online and collect it at the airport. This way, you can also lock in the rates and avoid the high costs of purchasing currency at the airport.
You can pre-order your currency online with American Express and enjoy 0% commission on all foreign currency and traveller's cheques transactions. Your money will be ready for collection just six hours after you've booked. Simply head to the landside departures American Express desk at the airport and pick up your currency.
Travelex, the world's largest travel money provider, also offers an online price promise, guaranteeing that you won't find a cheaper price, with 0% commission. If you order before 2 pm, you can pick it up at the airport the next day. Travelex also offers a click-and-collect service, where you can order your travel money online and collect it for free at Edinburgh Airport. Over 50 currencies are available, including Euros and Dollars.
Additionally, you can consider using a prepaid currency card like the Money Card from Travelex. This card allows you to load up to 10 available currencies and spend them as you like. The money is not linked to your bank account, and you can withdraw cash at any time with no ATM fees. Travelex also offers a buy-back guarantee, where they will buy back your leftover currency at the spot rate on the day of redemption.
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Travelex Money Card
Edinburgh Airport does have a few Bureau de Change desks where you can exchange your money. However, buying foreign currency at the airport is one of the most expensive ways to do so. A safer alternative is to load your money onto a prepaid currency card.
The Travelex Money Card is a prepaid currency card that lets you spend money in multiple currencies while travelling. It is currently available in 22 currencies: British pounds, euros, US dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, New Zealand dollars, South African rand, Turkish lira, Swiss franc, UAE dirham, Mexican peso, Polish zloty, Czech koruna, Swedish krona, Japanese yen, Thai Baht, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, Danish kroner, Norwegian krone, Hungarian forint and Icelandic krona.
You can top up your card and manage your money in multiple currencies using the Travelex Money App. The app also allows you to freeze and unfreeze your card for enhanced security. The card can be used at millions of locations worldwide, wherever Mastercard Prepaid is accepted. It can also be added to your Apple Pay or Google Pay Wallet.
The Travelex Money Card is not linked to your bank account, providing an extra layer of security and reducing the risk of carrying large amounts of cash. You can also withdraw money from your card at ATMs worldwide, without any ATM fees from Travelex. However, some operators may charge their own fees, so it is important to check before withdrawing cash.
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Currency exchange rates
While the airport currency exchange desks offer 0% commission and competitive exchange rates, it is common for exchange services to build their profit into the exchange rate. This means that despite the 0% commission, you may still be paying more than necessary.
To ensure you get the best rate, it is recommended to compare the airport's exchange rates with the mid-market rate. The mid-market rate is the fairest benchmark as it is the rate used by banks when selling currency to other financial institutions. By obtaining the mid-market rate for your currency via an online currency converter or a simple Google search, you can identify whether the airport's rates include a markup.
To obtain favourable exchange rates at Edinburgh Airport, it is advisable to pre-order your currency online and utilise the click-and-collect service offered by both ICE and Travelex. This way, you can benefit from preferential rates and ensure your desired currency is available for same-day collection.
Additionally, consider the benefits of a prepaid currency card, such as the Travelex Money Card. This card can be loaded with up to 10 available currencies and used wherever MasterCard is accepted, providing a convenient and safe way to carry your travel money.
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Buying back leftover currency
Edinburgh Airport offers currency exchange services through Travelex, which has stores and ATMs located throughout the airport. Travelex offers a buy-back service for leftover currency at the spot rate, with no additional fees or commission. You can also order your currency online and collect it for free from a Travelex store in the airport.
If you are a customer of the Royal Bank of Scotland, you can buy back your unused currency at one of their branches and have the amount credited directly to your current account. They accept most major currencies but do not accept coins or damaged bank notes.
Another option for buying back leftover currency is to use a prepaid currency card, such as the Travelex Money Card. This card can be loaded with up to 10 available currencies and used wherever the MasterCard acceptance sign is displayed.
Additionally, American Express offers a 0% commission on all foreign currency and traveller's cheques transactions if you pre-order your currency online. You can then pick up your currency at the airport by visiting the landside departures American Express desk.
It is worth noting that purchasing currency at the airport can be expensive, but some providers, like Travelex, offer online pre-ordering and rate locking, allowing for collection at the airport without incurring additional costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several currency exchange services at Edinburgh Airport, including Travelex and American Express.
Currency exchange desks can be found on the ground and first floors of the airport. Travelex also has ATMs located throughout the airport that provide instant cash in euros or British pounds.
Exchanging currency at the airport can be expensive, but it may be worth considering if you pre-order your currency online and collect it at the airport. This way, you can take advantage of competitive exchange rates and 0% commission offered by some providers.
A prepaid currency card, such as the Travelex Money Card, allows you to load up to 10 currencies and use it wherever MasterCard is accepted. It is also a safe way to carry your travel money, and Travelex will buy back any leftover currency at the spot rate.
