How to Beat the Ramsdens Exchange Rate and Travel Smarter
If you're planning a trip abroad, chances are you've looked into buying foreign currency from a bureau de change like Ramsdens. While they offer better rates than most high-street banks or airport kiosks, you're still not getting the best bang for your buck. Here's why—and how you can do better.
The Real Exchange Rate vs. Ramsdens
The rate you see on Google or XE.com is called the interbank rate—it's the rate banks use when trading currency with each other. It's the gold standard. Ramsdens, like most currency exchange providers, adds a margin on top of this rate to make a profit.
For example, as of March 23, 2025:
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Ramsdens EUR rate: £1 = 1.1713 EUR
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Interbank EUR rate: Closer to 1.1750
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Ramsdens USD rate: £1 = 1.2693 USD
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Interbank USD rate: Around 1.2750
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Ramsdens TRY rate: £1 = 44.9928 TRY
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Interbank TRY rate: ~45.70 TRY
That small difference adds up, especially when you're exchanging hundreds or thousands of pounds.
Enter Curve: The Global Travel Wallet
Instead of queuing at Ramsdens and walking away with less than the interbank rate, there's a smarter, more seamless option: Curve.
Curve is a global travel wallet that lets you add all your debit and credit cards into one app—and gives you the Mastercard exchange rate when you spend abroad. That means:
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No markups or hidden fees—just the real rate.
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No foreign transaction fees, which can cost up to 3% on every purchase with traditional banks.
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1% cashback on all spending outside Europe with any of Curve's premium plans.
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Access to premium cashback at top travel brands like Uber, EasyJet, Booking.com, and more.
Why Curve Beats Ramsdens
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Better Rate: Curve uses the Mastercard exchange rate—much closer to interbank than Ramsdens' rates.
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No Need to Pre-buy Currency: Spend directly from your existing cards without converting money in advance.
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More Rewards: Earn cashback as you spend, not lose money to fees.
Final Thought
Ramsdens might feel like the convenient choice, but with Curve, you're getting more value, more flexibility, and less stress. Ditch the old-school currency exchange model and switch to Curve for smarter, fee-free travel spending.
Ready to save on your next trip? Get Curve and travel like a pro.
