travel card john lewis

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With the increasing numbers of online travel money services, it’s challenging to know the best place to get your travel money. Go with John Lewis Travel Money service.  The top-notch service ensures that you can book your travel money online, use a click and collect service or walk into any of John Lewis 300 department stores without a prior appointment to pick up your travel money. I can guarantee you real currency at the best value. I have used John Lewis Travel Money service for over 5 years now and I will continue to use this service for my travel money. When I need UAE Dirhams, Bahraini Dinar, Turkish Lira, Euros and many more foreign currencies for, I turned to John Lewis Travel Money and I can’t fault the service I have received on all occasions.

DO YOU NEED TO TRAVEL WITH TRAVEL MONEY

The answer to this question is yes. You need to travel with some travel money with you even if you have booked an all-inclusive holiday. You will need Travel Money for essentials like food, drinks, transport and tips.

WHAT SORT OF TRAVEL MONEY OPTIONS ARE THERE?

There are three travel money options. They are:

• Cash – Foreign Currency
• Cards – Prepaid Travel Cards
• Travellers Cheques

Cash/ Foreign Currency

  It is necessary to take foreign currency with you for basic essentials such as taxis, food, drinks and tips. The recommended amount to take with you will largely depend on what you plan to do on your holidays. For most people, between £200 and £500 is sufficient for their needs. It is not advisable to carry extensive amounts of cash based on the rules of declaring cash of over £10,000. For money-laundering prevention reasons, you might get a fine if you don’t declare any cash over £10,000 when travelling to most European countries.

Travel Money Prepaid Cards

What are prepaid travel cards .

A prepaid travel card is an easy and convenient way to avoid taking lots of cash with you on holiday. You can use the prepaid travel card in unfamiliar countries because you can preload the currency of the country you intend to visit on the prepaid travel card. With most prepaid travel cards, you can instantly preload money on it for no fees and check rates before purchasing an item.

You can use a prepaid travel card at ATM cash withdrawals points around the world and for services that accept Mastercard to Visa debit and credit cards.

Benefits of Prepaid Travel Cards

The benefits of prepaid travel can be:

• Safety: Your money is safe and if you lose your card or if your card gets stolen, you can ask the provider to cancel it immediately.
• Budget: A prepaid card helps you to stick with your budget. They are not bottomless pits like credit cards; you need to have the money in your bank before you can preload it on the prepaid card.
• Rates: Some prepaid travel cards offer mid-market exchange rate. That means that you will get the lowest exchange rate. You will also get to compare the exchange rate with other money exchanges outlets before you decide. You can also watch the exchange rate and get the best value for your money.
• Convenience: You find that several countries accept Prepaid travel cards in most retail outlets.  You can use them for cash withdrawals at ATMs too. You can also easily leave your prepaid travel card at your hotel room with no fear of your money getting stolen.

Cons of using Prepaid Travel Cards

Some prepaid cards come with additional fees like monthly fees, charges to load money, fees to withdraw money, and fees for spending money. The Consumer Credit Act of 1974 does not cover you if you use Prepaid travel cards. That means that if you buy a faulty item or if the retailer goes bust, you will not get your money back.

Types of Prepaid Travel Cards

There are distinct types of prepaid travel cards. The single currency prepaid travel cards and the multi-currency preload travel cards. If you love to travel, a multi-currency preload travel card is the best option for you. With a multi-currency travel card, you will load different currencies on it.

The most popular prepaid travel cards are:

• Revolut Prepaid Card
• Caxton FX Currency Card
• The Easy FX Card

Transfer Wise Multi-Currency Account

Revolut prepaid travel cards.

There are three types of Revolut Prepaid Travel Cards. The Standard Prepaid Card, The Premium Prepaid Card, and The Metal Prepaid Card.

The Revolut Standard Prepaid Card (recommended) is open to UK residents of 18 years old. You can open an account within minutes with the UK and Euro IBAN account. You will have access to over 150 currencies at the interbank exchange rate. That means a rate which banks used to trade currencies with each other for 5 days a week. If you exchange money at the weekend, they charge you a small markup fee. There are no hidden fees or fees for ATM withdrawals up to £200 per month.

The Revolut Premium Prepaid Card is open to UK residents with an administration fee of £6.99 per month. With this Revolut Prepaid Card, you will the Standard Prepaid card package and additional benefits like no-fee ATM withdrawals up to £400 per month. This Revolut Prepaid card also provides complimentary travel insurance cover for overseas medical care, delayed baggage and delayed flight insurance. You will also enjoy a free pass to a LoungeKey – an airport Lounge service.

The Revolut Metal Prepaid Card  provides additional benefits and allows you to withdraw about £600 per month from ATM Cashpoints for no additional fees. You will also enjoy complimentary travel insurance that will cover you for medical care abroad, delayed baggage and flights. For an administrative fee of £12.99 per month, you will earn cash back’s on your purchases, a lounge key pass and concierge services.

Caxton Prepaid Travel Card

The Caxton Prepaid Travel Card provides you with an opportunity to get an additional card user from the age of 13. That means that your teenager can get a prepaid travel card for school trips, which you can monitor and add more funds as required. The main account holder must be 18 years and a UK resident. Caxton Prepaid Travel Card comes with no additional administrative fee or foreign transaction fees. There are no additional fees for using your card at an ATM cashpoint abroad, you are also not charged for loading money on your card. The best part is you will get a £50 travel vouchers if you load your card with £300.

The Easy FX Card Personal

This Prepaid Travel Card offers no administration fee, no foreign transaction or Overseas ATM cash withdrawals. However, your initial upload has to be £100 and there are additional card fees of £6 every time you use the card. If you use this card to withdraw money from ATM Cashpoints in the UK, you will be charge £1.50.

The Transfer Wise Multi-currency Account offers you the best exchange rate because your money is exchanged at a mid-market exchange rate. That means that you will get the lowest exchange rate with no mark-up fees to pay. The Transfer Wise Multi-Currency holds up to 50 currencies, and you can enjoy free ATM cash withdrawals up to £200 per month. There are no debit card charges or bank transfer load charges if you use your card in the UK. However, there is a charge for overseas ATM cash withdrawals in some countries.

Travellers Cheque

Traveller Cheque is an old-fashioned way to take money abroad. You can get one from the banks or post office. When you buy a traveller’s cheque,  you can convert them into the currency you will use abroad.  Traveller’s cheque is still very useful because I consider them a safe way to carry money around. There is no fear of losing them because you can order a replacement as long as you have the serial number written somewhere or if you have taken a photograph of your traveller’s cheque. We can use them in a variety of ways.  If you need local currency, you can swap your traveller’s cheque for cash. You can also use them to pay for your hotel, shopping or restaurant visits.

CHOOSING THE BEST TRAVEL MONEY SERVICE

What to consider when choosing the best travel money services..

The two things you need to consider before buying your travel money are

• The exchange rates offered.
• The ability to return your travel money.

If you think about these two important things to consider before buying your travel money then you want to go with a travel money service that you can rely on and for this reason, I recommend John Lewis Travel Money.

OVERVIEW OF JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

John Lewis Travel Money is the best high street bureau de change service available to travellers in the UK. John Lewis Travel Money is available online and in-store, and their price matches their rates daily with Travelex and Post Office travel money. The exchange rates are openly displayed on John Lewis finance website and they are the exact rates you will get if you are buying in store or online. If you are a John Lewis Credit Cardholder, you will get additional points when you buy your travel money with your credit card. When using your John Lewis credit card to buy your travel money, they do not charge you for credit card transactions for the purchase of foreign currency.

John Lewis Travel Money can be ordered online and arranged for delivery at your home, office or chosen destination. You can also pick your foreign currency ordered online at a local store. For deliveries at home, you will need to be available to sign. Weekday delivery is free for orders over £1,000 and there is a minimum order value of £500 for home deliveries.

5 REASONS TO USE JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

• Safe : John Lewis Travel Money Services are safe and regulated.
• Excellent Exchange Rate: I check John Lewis exchange rate against competitors and you will get the best value for your money.
• Ability to return excess money : With over 300 Waitrose and John Lewis department stores, it is easy to pick up your travel money. You can also return any foreign currency that remains from your holidays.
• Variety of services : John Lewis Travel Service offers a variety of services including bank transfer, local travel money transfer, foreign currency collection, online service, home delivery and in-store service. You can use the click and collect service, which is available in over 300 locations in the UK.
• Top-Notch Service – The quality of service you will receive from John Lewis is second to none, the credibility and security are great. Customer’s satisfaction on Trustpilot is above average.

CONS OF USING JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

• If you are counting the pennies, you will find John Lewis Travel Money slightly more expensive than the base exchange rate displayed online.
• There is no price promise on online ordering, international bank transfers or Western Union Services.

SERVICES OFFERED BY JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

John Lewis Travel Money offers a wide range of services for you. These include International transfers or payment, buying and selling properties abroad and Western Union services.

International Transfers or Payment.

If you have family abroad that rely on your income, using John Lewis Travel Money allows you to make international transfers to a foreign bank account.

Buying and Selling Properties Abroad.

If you need to transfer money for the sale of your property abroad or if you are looking to purchase property abroad, John Lewis Travel Money International transfer comes in handy. International payments are provided by XE Money Transfer with a minimum transfer of £100. John Lewis will also refund the bank wire fee.

Western Union service through John Lewis Travel Money

Western Union has the most remote agents across the world and that means that you can send money to your family even if they live in the most remote areas through John Lewis Travel Money directly from the UK. Your beneficiary will need to go to their local Western Union Agent to pick up the money. This service is very convenient for families and friends living in remote parts of the world where Western Union is the only available Money Transfer Service . You can also receive money from your family and friends through this service. For example, if you are a student studying in the UK, your family can send money to you through Western Union and you can pick it up at John Lewis Travel Money bureau de change.

CURRENCIES AVAILABLE AT JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

There are about 55 currencies available at John Lewis. Here is a quick list.

• Australian Dollars 
• Canadian Dollars
• UAE Dirhams
• South African Rand
• Bahamian Dollar
• Bahraini Dollar
• Barbadian Dollar
• Bermudian Dollar
• Brazilian Real
• Brunei Dollar
• Bulgarian Lev
• Cayman Islands Dollar
• Chilean Peso
• Chinese Yuan
• Columbian Peso
• Czech Korona
• Danish Krone
• Dominican Peso
• East Caribbean Dollars
• Fijian Dollar
• French Polynesian Franc
• Guatemala Quetzal
• Hong Kong Dollars
• Hungarian Forint 
• Icelandic Krona
• Indonesian Rupiah
• Israeli Shekel
• Jamaican Dollar
• Japanese Yen
• Jordanian Dinar
• Kenya Shilling
• Kuwaiti Dinar
• Malaysian Ringgit
• Mauritian Rupee
• Mexican Peso
• New Zealand Dollar
• Norwegian Krone
• Peruvian Nuevo Sol
• Philippine Peso
• Polish Zloty
• Romanian Leu
• Russian Rouble
• Saudi Riyal
• Singapore Dollar
• South Korean Won
• Swedish Krona
• Swiss Franc
• Taiwan Dollar 
• Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
• Turkish Lira
• Vietnamese Dong

QUESTIONS FOR JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY

These are the questions I always had before I use John Lewis Travel Money.

Question 1:

Is there a commission to pay when using John Lewis Travel Service?

No, there is no commission to pay to John Lewis when you buy or sell your travel money. John Lewis makes their money on the difference between the base interbank rate and the mid-market. The mid-market means the midpoint between buying and selling prices of two currencies.

Question 2:

When sending money abroad, will your beneficiary’s money’s be deducted?

No, John Lewis Travel Money does not charge you extra fees for sending money abroad. However, the receiving bank might have local charges for money sent from abroad.

Question 3:

Will John Lewis Travel Money Service refund money charged by banks?

Yes, John Lewis says they will always send the exact amount of money and will never charge you a fee on any transfers. They say with an email to [email protected], you can claim any money charged by the receiving bank for a refund.

JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY – FINAL THOUGHTS

Get your travel money from John Lewis Travel Money service, I particularly get all my travel money from John Lewis Store at Cambridge and have always received a fantastic service. This post covers a review of John Lewis Travel Money, it explains the benefits of using John Lewis Travel Money and looks at a list of foreign currencies available at John Lewis.

How do you get your travel money?

What service do you use?

Do you still use traveller’s cheque? Do you combine a pre-paid card with some travel money? I keen to hear your thoughts on travel money in the comments.

This post is a travel product review. I enjoy reviewing travel services and products I use.

Check out my review of travel insurance here ., john lewis travel money, excellent exchange rate, ability to return excess money, credibility & security, customer's satisfaction.

• There is no commission to pay
• John Lewis Travel Money does not charge for bank transfer
• John Lewis Travel Money will refund money charged by receiving bank during money transfers.
• More expensive than base exchange rate.
• No price promise on online order.

20 thoughts on “5 REASON TO GO WITH JOHN LEWIS TRAVEL MONEY”

I’ve never heard of John Lewis Department Store (probably because I’m not in the UK) but it’s still great to know! My credit card company froze my account (even though they were told I was traveling) so having access to cash quickly was important. Great tips!

Oh yes, John Lewis Travel Money is UK based. Shame about your credit card company freezing your account. You can try pre-paid travel cards. The Revolut cards are great.

Love the idea of a pre paid card as well as travel money. I think you always need a small amount of cash in hand when you travel. John Lewis is definitely one of the best in the UK.

Yes, it is a great idea to have some cash for taxis and tips. You are right, John Lewis provides top class service in the UK.

Prepaid travel cards seems like an interesting feature to use while travelling abroad. I have never tried it, and never knew John Lewis does Travel Money. Will definitely consider them while booking my next holidays.

If you are looking for a great pre-paid travel card, I recommend the Revolut prepaid card. Their rates are always cheaper than conventional bureau de change.

Wow, I learned a lot from this incredibly informative post! I had never heard of John Lewis Travel Money and I have traveled extensively! You make a good case for using this service. Thanks for the great information!

I have always used John Lewis Travel Money Service. They are a UK based company with concessions in Australia and Ireland. The service provided is simply amazing.

Very informative article! I haven’t heard about John Lewis Travel Money Service before. But i have & use the Revolut card. It is a fantastic card, I love to use it.

I also use and recommend the Revolut Card to everyone. Their rates are always better. It makes me happy that you found the post informative.

Great article with lots of useful information. I am the type of traveller who would always get cash for any type of travels. I used to have the Revolut Card when I was living in the UK and it was great!

The Revolut Prepaid card is fantastic. I can’t stop talking about how great they are.

Wow! What a great idea, I have heard of these in the past but always been a bit skeptical. I think it is great about the convenience and no fees!

Yes, it’s fantastic that there are no commission fees to pay and their service is top class.

I have never heard of John Lewis Travel Money before. I am sure that this service to obtain foreign money would be much easier than most other ways. We have Western Union here in Canada, but I’m sure that we don’t have John Lewis Travel Money. I always exchange my travel money before travelling.

John Lewis Travel Money is a UK based company but they have concessions in Ireland and Australia. The service provided by John Lewis Travel Money is so much easier than any other because you can click and collect your money.

This is great! It is always a good idea to have a foreign exchange/travel money service that you can trust! If you wait until you’re already abroad you won’t get as good of deals in airports or train stations.

I agree the rates at the airports are simply ridiculous. It’s always better to sort out travel money in advance.

Love the idea of using a prepaid travel card, and actually I haven’t heard much about those here in Ontario but it’s worth checking into! I usually carry cash and then use my Visa, but I’d love to save on the foreign exchange fees!

Pre-paid cards are super convenient to use and I always travel with a prepaid card.

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You are here: Home / Blog / John Lewis travel money: Rates and Locations

John Lewis travel money: Rates and Locations

No matter where in the world you’re going, you’ll need some money to pay your way once you’re there. If you plan on exchanging pounds for foreign currency before you travel, you might be thinking of using the travel money service from John Lewis. This guide covers all you need to know.

To help you decide if John Lewis travel money is right for you, we’ll also offer an alternative for comparison - Wise (formerly TransferWise). With the Wise account you can convert currencies using the mid-market exchange rate, and spend or make ATM withdrawals all over the world. More on that coming right up.

John Lewis travel money services

With John Lewis you can call into a bureau de change in a store, order foreign currency online for collection or delivery, and sell your unwanted foreign currency back after your trip. There are 34 bureau de change desks in John Lewis stores , but thanks to John Lewis’ partnership with Waitrose you can also collect currency at a broad range of locations throughout the country.

You’ll be able to find the applicable exchange fees and rates for the currency you need online, on the John Lewis Finance website. Don’t forget that rates change all the time, so you’ll want to compare the John Lewis exchange rate against the live mid-market rate to check it’s the best available at the time you’re buying. We’ll cover the John Lewis exchange rate - and how you may be able to get a better deal - later.

Home delivery

For a convenient travel money service, you can choose home delivery from John Lewis. You can order online before 3pm for delivery the next working day, with weekday orders over £1,000 delivered free. You must be ordering more than £250 to benefit from this service .

It’s also good to know that your billing and delivery address have to be the same as each other, and someone will need to be home to accept and sign for the travel money delivery when it arrives.

Click and collect

If you live near a Waitrose you may also be able to order your currency online and collect it at one of the 330 eligible Waitrose locations. Orders must be worth over £250, but can include multiple currencies. You’ll be able to collect the next working day after ordering.

To collect your travel money you need to take along a photo ID document like your passport or driving license, your reference number and the card you used to pay for your foreign currency. Only the person who placed the order is allowed to collect it.

Currency buy back

If you find yourself with travel money left over after your trip abroad, you can sell it back to John Lewis. There are a few conditions - only notes can be accepted, and you’ll need to show the receipt you were given when you bought the currency in the first place. If you plan on buying or selling currency at a John Lewis bureau de change you’ll need to take a photo ID like a passport with you.

It’s important to know that there are different exchange rates applied for buying and selling foreign currencies with John Lewis. These are shown online as the buy rate and sell rate . What this means is that you may not get as good a rate when you sell your unused foreign currency back to John Lewis after your break. That’ll mean you end up with less money in pounds than you started with.

You can avoid this by using up all your foreign currency before you return to the UK - or by getting a Wise account with a linked debit card which allows you to top up and exchange only what you need.

Bureau de exchange John Lewis

Search the full list of 34 John Lewis bureau locations online , or choose one of these popular London stores.

Can I order travel money with John Lewis online?

You can order your travel money online from John Lewis, for home delivery or collection. Over 40 currencies are available.

Order online, collect at Waitrose

John Lewis Travel Money has some 34 bureau locations - but to make it more convenient you can also order online and collect at any of over 300 Waitrose stores around the country.

Save with Wise when you spend in any currency

Exchanging your currency in cash isn’t your only travel money option. In fact, you might find you can get a better exchange rate with a Wise account - and you’ll have the flexibility to exchange currency as and when you need it. That means you won’t have to carry any more cash than you’re comfortable with - and you won’t end up with unused currency at the end of your trip.

Open a Wise account for free online, and top up in pounds. You can then exchange your money to the currency you need using the mid-market exchange rate, as and when you need it. You’ll get the same exchange rate found on Google or a reputable currency converter tool, with no markups or hidden costs.

Use your linked Wise debit Mastercard to spend when you travel and make ATM withdrawals once you arrive in your destination country. It’s always free to spend currencies you own, and you can withdraw up to £250 per month fee free.

John Lewis travel money fees and rates

John Lewis travel money fee and exchange rates will be confirmed at the time you arrange your travel money. You can model the conversion online to see how the costs measure up against other providers. Don’t forget though, that as well as any upfront fee, there may be an extra charge in the exchange rate that’s provided.

Compare the exchange rate you get from John Lewis against the mid-market rate using a simple Google search. If there’s a difference it probably means a markup has been added to the rate offered for your currency.

Does John Lewis offer a travel money card?

John Lewis does not offer a travel money card. Instead you can choose the Wise account which has the security and flexibility of a travel money card, with some extra perks - including access to the mid-market exchange rate.

John Lewis offers a range of travel money services including online ordering and collection at hundreds of Waitrose stores throughout the UK. However, the rates available may not be the best out there - and you may decide that switching all your travel money into foreign cash before you travel isn’t the most secure or convenient option.

Consider getting a free Wise account instead of changing your money in advance - or switch only a small amount of travel money before you travel, and use your Wise debit card to cover the rest.

Return to the blog .

John Lewis Travel Money: Convenience and Value Combined

Table of Contents

Home delivery service, click and collect, bureau de change, sell your currency, competitive rates and no hidden costs, extensive currency availability, convenience and reliability, stay informed about exchange rates, utilize multiple payment options, comparing john lewis travel money with other providers.

N avigating the world of travel finance can be complex, but John Lewis Travel Money simplifies this process, combining convenience with exceptional value. This comprehensive guide will explore the array of services offered by John Lewis, helping UK travelers make informed decisions about their travel finance options.

Overview of John Lewis Travel Money Services

John Lewis Travel Money provides a range of convenient options for acquiring foreign currency, tailored to meet the diverse needs of travelers:

John Lewis offers a next-working-day Home Delivery service for orders over £500, ensuring fast and secure delivery of your travel money right to your doorstep​​.

This service allows you to buy currency online and collect it at over 330 John Lewis or Waitrose stores. It combines the ease of online ordering with the convenience of in-store pickup​​.

Available in over 30 John Lewis shops, the Bureau de Change offers in-person service for those who prefer to buy currency directly from a store​​.

John Lewis also buys back leftover holiday money at competitive rates, offering a valuable service for travelers returning home​​.

Advantages of Using John Lewis Travel Money

John Lewis Travel Money offers several benefits that make it an attractive choice for travelers:

John Lewis is committed to providing great rates across 60 currencies without any hidden costs or commission fees. This transparency ensures travelers can budget effectively without worrying about unexpected charges​​.

With up to 60 types of currency available, John Lewis caters to a wide range of travel destinations, from popular locations like Europe and the USA to more exotic locales​​.

The ease of ordering online, coupled with the option to collect currency from local stores or have it delivered, makes John Lewis Travel Money a convenient and reliable choice for obtaining foreign currency​​​​.

Tips for Effective Management of John Lewis Travel Money

Effective management of travel money can significantly enhance your travel experience. Here are some tips:

Monitoring currency exchange rates can help you decide the best time to buy currency. John Lewis offers competitive rates, but timing your purchase when rates are favorable can lead to additional savings​​.

Using John Lewis’s rate table and currency converter can help you determine the right currency and amount needed for your destination, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your trip​​.

Having a mix of cash and cards can provide flexibility and security. While cash is essential for small purchases and tipping, cards can be useful for larger transactions​​.

Compared to other travel money providers, John Lewis stands out for its range of available currencies, competitive rates, and no commission policy. Their commitment to convenience, coupled with reliable customer service, positions them as a top choice for UK travelers.

John Lewis Travel Money offers a comprehensive and convenient solution for managing your travel finances. With competitive rates, a wide selection of currencies, and convenient collection and delivery options, it’s an excellent choice for your travel finance needs. For more information and to start planning your travel finances, visit John Lewis Travel Money .

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John Lewis Travel Money Review: Is It Safe? How Does It Work? What Are the Rates?

François Briod

Co-Founder of Monito and money transfer expert, François has been helping Monito’s users navigate the jungle of money transfer fees, bad exchange rates and tricks for the last ten years.

Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

How can you use John Lewis to send money abroad? Is their service reliable? Can you trust John Lewis with your money? How good are their fees and exchange rates?

What Monito Likes About John Lewis

• A very trusted brand, John Lewis and Waitrose are much-loved by customers
• Good availability with immediate conversions in over 30 locations, and click and collect available in over 300 locations
• Variety of services including online and local travel money, bank transfers and foreign currency collection
• John Lewis Travel Money services are safe, secure and regulated

What Monito Dislikes About John Lewis

• Exchange rates are more expensive than the base exchange rate or exchange rates from other online providers
• Price promise not available on online ordering, international bank transfers or Western Union services

Compare Cheaper and Faster Travel Money Cards:

Read our in-depth guide for the best travel cards in the UK that will reduce or eliminate foreign transaction fees, ATM fees, and expensive currency conversion fees.

Our Independent Review of John Lewis Travel Money

John Lewis Travel Money is a financial services business in the U.K that’s part of the John Lewis Group—the same business behind the popular Waitrose supermarkets and John Lewis department stores. They are a well-known, trusted brand and travel money services are available online and at John Lewis and some Waitrose stores.

John Lewis is “Never Knowingly Undersold” and that includes travel money services.  John Lewis price matches their rates every day against other high street bureaux de change like Travelex and Post Office Travel Money . 

John Lewis Travel Money openly displays rates on their website, with currency conversion rates shown when they both buy and sell currency. Unlike some other bureaux de change providers, John Lewis rates are identical whether you exchange money online or in-store.

If you buy your currency using a John Lewis credit card you can earn additional points towards John Lewis and Waitrose gift vouchers. Their credit card will not attract cash advance fees or credit card transaction charges for purchases of foreign currency.

Local Bureau de Change Services From John Lewis Travel Money

If you visit a John Lewis store, you can exchange money immediately in over 30 John Lewis locations across the U.K. They offer up to 30 currencies for immediate conversion, and you get the same rates in a store as you do online. Even though John Lewis does price match their exchange rates, they are still more expensive than specialized, online currency exchange providers. We’ll discuss this further in exchange rates and fees, below. 

“Click and Collect” Online Foreign Currency Services From John Lewis Travel Money

John Lewis Travel Money allows you to order currency online and you can arrange to have the currency delivered to your home or pick it up at over 300 John Lewis or Waitrose stores across the U.K. You can typically pick up your money on the next working day. John Lewis Travel Money offers exchanges into up to 60 currencies online, although availability does vary. 

John Lewis Travel Money also provides home delivery to U.K. addresses, and you will need to be available to sign for your money when it's delivered. They will deliver to your home on a Saturday and your billing and delivery address must be the same. Weekday delivery is free for orders of over £1,000 and there is a minimum order value of £500 for home delivery or store collection. For orders under £1,000, there is a delivery fee of £5. 

International Transfers and Western Union Services via John Lewis Travel Money

John Lewis Travel Money also allows you to make international transfers or payments to a foreign bank account. You can use the service to buy or sell property overseas, paying for something overseas or sending money to the bank accounts of family or friends. Their exchange rates for international transfers are more competitive than their travel money rates. International payments are provided via HiFX and the minimum amount you can send is £100—John Lewis also says they will refund the receiving bank wire fee which can also save you a few pounds.

John Lewis Travel Money has also partnered with Western Union —you can transfer smaller amounts of money overseas and Western Union will allow the beneficiary to pick up their money from a local agent in their own currency. Other people overseas can also send you money through Western Union and you can pick it up at a John Lewis Travel Money bureau de change.

Note that the price promise is not available online and does not apply to their international payment services or their partnership with Western Union for local currency collection.

John Lewis Fees & Exchange Rates

John Lewis Travel Money does not charge a commission on their travel money services. Instead, they make their money on the difference between the “base,” interbank* exchange rate and the exchange rate that they charge to you. 

*The interbank rate is also known as the mid-market or standard exchange rate, which is the midpoint between the buying and the selling prices of the two currencies.

Overseas Money Transfer Exchange Rates

Unfortunately, John Lewis Travel Money does not list its exchange rates for making international money transfers or payments. They have partnered with HiFX (now XE Money Transfer)  to provide these services, and XE does provide good exchange rates. It’s possible that XE’s exchange rates may be slightly more expensive if you’re going through John Lewis’s partnership with them, but we don’t have that data. 

About Fees Levied by Banks

Certain fees may be levied by banks when you are transferring money to another account. These fees are outside the control of John Lewis Travel Money. Circumstances, where banks may charge additional fees, include:

• Wire transfers into or out of sender or beneficiary accounts
• Transfers that are sent via SWIFT or certain other banking protocols
• Beneficiary banks charge a fee to receive a transfer
• Intermediary banks charge fees to process money in transit

These fees could mean that the beneficiary receives less money than stated by John Lewis Travel Money due to circumstances beyond John Lewis Travel Money’s control. If you want to understand what these extra fees are likely to be, please contact your bank and the beneficiary's bank.

John Lewis Travel Money does offer to refund a money transfer receiving a bank fee. This is what they say about this service:

“We always send the exact amount of money you asked us to in your transaction but there may be occasions when the receiving and/or intermediary bank deducts a fee before crediting the payment to your recipient.

We’ll never charge you a fee for any transfer. Better still, we’ll also fully refund you if you're charged by a receiving bank.

To request reimbursement, please add your GBP bank details to your online account via the 'Recipients' tab and email [email protected] including the following:

1. A copy (scanned or digital photograph) of a bank statement or a receipt from the receiving bank clearly showing the charge(s) received. We recommend you blank out any bank account details before sending this to us.

2. Confirmation of the template name of the GBP bank account which you’d like us to refund.”

John Lewis Travel Money Exchange Rates for Local and Online Travel Money

John Lewis Travel Money makes their money on the difference between the exchange rate they offer to customers and the base exchange rate. For example, the base rate to convert U.K pounds into euros is 1.131 euros per pound, so converting 1,000 pounds would get you 1,131 euros. John Lewis Travel Money sells euros at a rate of 1.095 euros per pound, so converting 1,000 pounds would get you $1,096 euros. 

That’s a difference of three percent. That means if you’re exchanging 1,000 pounds into euros, you’ll pay an exchange rate fee of around £30.

Here are some other examples:

Exchanging 1,000 U.K. Pounds Into U.S. Dollars

• Base exchange rate, 1,000 GBP converts to 1,244 USD
• John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate, 1000 GBP converts to 1,205 USD
• The John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate is 3.1 percent more expensive, or around 31 GBP in exchange rate fees

Exchanging 1,000 U.K. Pounds Into Australian Dollars

• Base exchange rate, 1000 GBP converts to 1,830 AUD
• John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate, 1000 GBP converts to 1,765 AUD
• The John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate is 3.5 percent more expensive, or around 35 GBP in exchange rate fees

Exchanging 1,000 U.K. Pounds Into Canadian Dollars

• Base exchange rate, 1000 GBP converts to 1,654 CAD
• John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate, 1000 GBP converts to 1,582 CAD
• The John Lewis Travel Money exchange rate is 4.4 percent more expensive, or around 44 GBP in exchange rate fees

If you’re purchasing currency online or you want to transfer money to an overseas account, you can often get better deals by comparing specialist currency exchange providers . Several money exchange services have overall fees of 1% or lower, even when taking into account differences in exchange rates. 

All of the John Lewis Travel Money exchange rates quoted in this section are based on their online rates for converting money for home delivery or store pickup. All rates correct as of early October 2019.

Comparing John Lewis Travel Money Rates To Other Providers

You can easily compare many money transfer services directly using our comparison tool . There are several new services that it’s worth comparing directly to John Lewis Travel Money.

Modern, Mobile-Only Banks

There are several new, mobile-only banks that are becoming more widely available throughout the U.K. and Europe. Providers like N26 , Monese , Revolut , Monzo or Bunq provide a wide variety of financial services to the modern consumer. All of these modern banks provide international travel cards and international money transfer services, and it’s worth comparing them to John Lewis Travel Money.

For example, N26 provides international money transfers through TransferWise, a very popular and trusted currency exchange provider. If you compare sending 1,000 GBP to South Africa, the recipient would get 18,497 ZAR with N26 / TransferWise compared to 17,866 with John Lewis Travel Money, a difference of around 3.5 percent or £35.

How Easy Is It To Send Money WithJohn Lewis

John Lewis Travel Money services are fast, trusted and easy to use.

Credibility and Security

John Lewis is one of the most trusted brands in the U.K. and they use strong security to protect customer funds. This is what they say on their website.

“John Lewis Finance and Bureau de change from John Lewis Finance is a trading name of John Lewis plc. Registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Registered in England (Registered Company Number 233462).  John Lewis plc introduce the panel of carefully chosen providers in Bureau de change products and services, whom each hold the appropriate licences with the Financial conduct authority and HMRC.

Foreign Currency online and/or travellers’ cheques from John Lewis Finance is provided by First Rate Exchange Services Limited registration number 4287490 (Money Service Business licence number 12133160), whose registered office is at Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, West London, TW8 9DF England.

International Payments at John Lewis Finance is provided by HiFX Europe Limited. HiFX is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, registration no. 462444, for the provision of payment services. HiFX is also a registered MSB with HM Revenue & Customs, registration no. 12131222. HiFX is a limited company registered in England and Wales, registration no. 3517451. Registered office: Maxis 1, Western Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1RT.

Money transfers in John Lewis Bureau de change are provided by Western Union. Western Union Payment Services Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Registered office 1st Floor 200, Hammersmith Road, London, W6 7DL. Company no. 04129906. John Lewis plc is an agent of Western Union.”

Customer Satisfaction

There are no specific reviews for John Lewis Travel Money on Trustpilot. Instead, we’ve shared reviews of John Lewis Finance, which includes travel money, insurance, loans and credit cards. 

John Lewis Finance scores an average amount for customer satisfaction on Trustpilot, achieving a score of 3.1 out of 5 across 600 reviews. Around 42% of reviews said that they were “excellent” or “great” compared to 55% of reviews that said they were “poor” or “bad.”

Reviewers praised how efficient and competitive John Lewis Finance was and some singled out the convenience of online currency ordering. A typical positive review was, “Very easy and straightforward to use. Easy to order money and great for click and collect at either John Lewis or Waitrose.”

All of the complaints about John Lewis Finance were to do with their insurance and credit card services together with issues with the mobile app. We couldn’t find any negative reviews that specifically mentioned travel money.

John Lewis Travel Money Mobile Applications

There is a John Lewis Finance app for their credit card, but none specifically for travel money.

How John Lewis Travel Money Works

John Lewis Travel Money services work in slightly different ways, depending on what you want to do.

To request currency online you will need to sign up for an account, provide some identification, let them know the currency you need and provide payment.

To request currency locally you will need to visit a John Lewis Travel Money location.  When collecting your money, you'll need to have some valid ID with you. This can be one of the following:

• UK Photocard Driving Licence
• EU National Identity Photocard

If you want to send money overseas to another bank account you will need to:

• Set up an account with John Lewis Travel Money through their partnership with HiFX or Western Union—they will need your name, address, contact details, bank details, and proof of identification.
• Decide the currencies that you want to exchange money between.
• Book a rate through the website.
• Provide details of the sender and receiver of the funds.
• Pay for the transfer.
• John Lewis Travel Money converts the money and deposits it into the recipient’s bank account.

International payment services are available to residents of the UK and EEA.

John Lewis Finance

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John Lewis Partnership Credit Card

Turn your shopping into rewards.

Earn points towards gift vouchers with a Partnership Credit Card.

Representative (variable)   Credit subject to status. 18 years +. UK residents.  T&Cs apply .

Representative (variable)  Credit subject to status. 18 years +. UK residents.  T&Cs apply .

TURN YOUR SHOPPING

Into rewards.

Earn points towards gift vouchers with a Partnership Credit Card.

Representative (variable) Credit subject to status. 18 years +. UK residents. T&Cs apply .

This is for testing purposes

Uniqueid1 = earningpoints.

Representative example

Representative (variable)

Purchase rate pa (variable)

Assumed credit limit  

With our Partnership Credit Card, you’ll earn points as you spend - whether that’s on a holiday, your weekly food shop or coffee with friends.

You can apply if:

you are a UK resident aged 18 or over

have 12 months of UK address history

have an email address and UK mobile number

John Lewis plc is a credit broker not a lender, introducing the Partnership Credit Card under exclusive arrangements with NewDay Ltd.

Display uniqueId: EarningPoints

Earn points when you spend.

5 points for every £4 spent on eligible purchases at John Lewis and Waitrose and 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere.

For every 500 points you collect, we'll send you a £5 voucher.

Turn your vouchers into shopping at John Lewis and Waitrose.

T&Cs apply

Representative Example

27.9% APR Representative (variable)  

27.95% Purchase rate pa (variable)  

£1,200 Assumed credit limit

0% interest on any purchases

When you apply on our site, or in-store, you’ll get 0% interest on all your purchases for the first six months. 1 That means you can spread the cost over a longer period. Perfect for those bigger purchases.

Display uniqueId: Benefits

Display uniqueid: benefits, your partnership credit card benefits.

Instant contactless spend with Apple Pay or Google Pay™ 2

Up to 3 additional cardholders

Additional perks for you  

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Easy payments, securely managed.

Keep track of your spending and view rewards wherever you are with our easy-to-use mobile app. You can also make secure one-tap payments and add your new Partnership Credit Card to your Apple Pay or Google Pay™ 2 digital wallet.

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Introducing NewDay

The Partnership Credit Card is brought to you in collaboration with NewDay, a leading credit provider who provides almost five million customers across the UK with responsible access to credit.

John Lewis plc is a credit broker not a lender.

Display uniqueId: Help

Need help with your application?

You can apply for the Partnership Credit Card using our  handy step-by-step guide .

Or, if you’d prefer to do your application in a John Lewis store, just ask a Partner at the Customer Service Desk to get started. They can support you through the process.

If you still need support with your Partnership Credit Card please get in touch or take a look at our list of FAQs.

Applicants for the Partnership Credit Card must be a UK resident and aged 18+. Credit subject to status. T&Cs apply .

1. The 0% interest offer period lasts for six calendar months from account opening, and only applies to card applications made directly via johnlewisfinance.com or in-store. Applications made via a third-party site such as a comparison website will not qualify for the offer. When the 0% offer period ends, or if it is cancelled, you will pay the standard purchase rate on any remaining purchase balance. Your offer will be cancelled if you do not make at least your minimum contractual payment or you exceed your credit limit. For full terms, see Terms & Conditions .

2. Google PayTM is a trademark of Google LLC.

John Lewis plc is a credit broker and not a lender, introducing the Partnership Credit Card under exclusive arrangements with the lender NewDay Ltd. John Lewis Finance is a trading name of John Lewis plc, registered in England with company number 233462, registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 724309). Credit is provided by NewDay Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 7297722, registered office: 7 Handyside Street, London, N1C 4DA. NewDay Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with number 690292 and is also authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (Ref no: 555318) for the provision of payment services.

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From honeymoons and family breaks to solo travel and specialist adventures. A Kuoni holiday is full of stories you’ll share for years to come. And in our Kuoni stores, we make sure that booking your holiday is as enjoyable as the trip itself. 

Come in, get comfortable and tell us about your holiday plans. Tell us everything over a coffee or a glass of Champagne. What you love, where you’ve been, and what you’re planning to do and see.

We’ve travelled the world and we’re passionate about crafting holidays that will stay with you for a lifetime. And with a range of holidays available through our handpicked partners, from ski and slow travel to river cruises and villa escapes, we’ve got every adventure imaginable at our fingertips.

By building a genuine connection with you, we’ll deliver a truly personal service. And we’ll keep in touch before, during and after you travel; meaning you’re always in expert hands. No wonder Kuoni travellers keep coming back for more.

To make sure we have plenty of time to listen to and discuss your plans we recommend that you book an appointment in store.

Call us, email or pop in store and we’ll find a time that suits you.

Kuoni have been rated joint top in a survey by Which? on UK holiday companies. The high rating has resulted in Kuoni being awarded Recommended Provider status by the UK's largest consumer organisation. 

The full Kuoni experience

Planning the perfect holiday takes great skill and it should be an exciting experience, that’s why our Personal Travel Experts listen to what’s important to you before inspiring you with ideas, making recommendations, sharing advice and adding the extra touches that create your perfect holiday.

200+ awards

We’ve repeatedly been voted the best luxury travel company in the UK and won over 200 awards from consumers and the travel industry for our holidays and service.  We’ve also been awarded Recommended Provider status by Which?, the UK's largest consumer organisation.

Peace of mind

With a 24-hour emergency helpline, ABTA membership and ATOL bonding, you’re in safe hands with Kuoni.

We’re here to make planning your dream honeymoon as easy as possible. From booking dinner on a deserted island in the Maldives to telling you about a luxurious tent in Kenya with its own hot tub, where you can soak in the bubbles and watch giraffes wander by. With everything from relaxing minimoons to adventurous maximoons, we’re here to tailor-make a romantic escape that’s right for you.

Family Holidays

Every family is different, so tell us what your family needs and we’ll listen.  Whether it’s finding the best splash pools for toddlers and tested sports academies for teens; watching movies on the beach in the Maldives or finding the hotels where a bottle warmer, buggy and cot are waiting for you on arrival. We’ll help you create incredible adventures your family will always remember.

Multi-centre adventures

Combining two or more destinations in one holiday is a great way to experience more of the world. Whether it’s a city break twinned with a week on the beach in Asia, island hopping in the Caribbean or a stopover in Dubai en route to the Maldives, we’ve got you covered. And with our insider knowledge, we’ll help you to expertly combine different destinations, resorts and tours to create your dream itinerary.

Other holiday types include:

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Visit Kuoni at John Lewis & Partners shops

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For general Kuoni enquiries please call  0800 294 9720