Hello all
I'm off to Cuba on 27th May after 6 months of research. Am into architecture, art, culture, photography and just soaking up the general atmosphere... In two wees, just sticking to Havana, Vinales and Trinidad. :)
I'm in the UK and as the USD is so weak aganst the pound at the moment would it be better to take $ with me (and incur the 10% charges) or will i get a better rate of exchange with good old British pounds?
Thanks in advance
Sonia
sonnibabes
1
cheersterry
Since you're already in the UK, it's easy for you to do the math yourself.
Check exchange rates for buying CUC here and see which works best.
have fun.
Cheers,
Terry
2
2025
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>the USD is so weak aganst the pound<hr></blockquote>
That has nothing to do with Cuban Exchange, they have a formula based on world ($1.00 CUC + $1.08 USD$) markets on the day.
If you bring US currency they whack it an extra 10% they don't whack a pound or a shilling or a frank or a yen ... get it?
3
jim98122x
But you still get more Pounds for the US$ if the Pound is stronger. And that translates to more CUC. Of course it matters.
4
cheersterry
"... But you still get more Pounds for the US$ if the Pound is stronger..."
I'm sure you meant to say weaker, but yes, your point is well taken.
Being in the UK, the OPer knows what Pounds will cost her, then she can look at the exchange rate table and see what's better - doing a double conversion, or taking the 10% hit.
Cheers,
Terry
5
davfitz
Forget the amateur economics! The object is to get from your home currency, sterling, to the target currency, CUC. The cost is the number of transactions involved. Since you can do this directly in a single transaction: that is what you should do!
It's a no-brainer.
6
e_armand
"Since you're already in the UK, it's easy for you to do the math yourself.
I have NO idea what that means: the OP is presumably British, but I never knew them to be particularly mathematical. (Brits call it 'calculation' and refer to 'maths,' right?) "Since you're already in the UK, it's easy for you to look at this Cuban website" is also flaky.
As noted: TAKE POUNDS STERLING. Your transaction costs will be invariably lower with your own, rather than any other currency you might buy.
7
cheersterry
Let me explain it to you, EA.
1.) Since the OP is in the UK, it's easy for her to walk into a bank, and see how much it'll cost her to buy Sterling.
2.) She can then look at the Banco Metropolitano link, and easily calculate how many CUCs that Sterling will buy.
3.) At the same time, using the same link, she can easily calculate how many CUCs her USD will buy.
This is a simple, accurate way for her question to be answered.
Cheers,
Terry
8
e_armand
Let me explain it to you, CT:
Since the OP is FROM the UK (easily deduced from her post), why would she walk into a bank, and "see how much it'll cost her to buy Sterling" ? People holding POUNDS dont need "to buy Sterling." Pounds ARE Sterling!!!
I can't believe I am explaining this to a CANADIAN. Oh, nevermind ... have another mojito and go back to taunting that other guy.
9
cheersterry
I understood the OP as Sonia being an American in London, thus the question about US dollars verses Sterling.
In any case, it's immaterial what her nationality is. Whether she's a Brit or an American she has the tools and advice she needs to decide which currency to take. No big deal.
All you've done on the thread, as usual, is make a bunch of noise.
Cheers,
Terry
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