Help! Where can I get a small amount (£25) of Swedish Krona by Thursday?

[grrrrrrrratthis]

DS is going to a weekend sports event in Sweden. All meals are covered, and I'll give him some snacks to take, but as the debit card on his junior bank account cannot be used abroad, I would like to also give him a small amount of cash - around £25, for spending money at the hotel, venue, gift shop, airport etc.

Problem is, all my usual pick-up places for currency (Sainsbury's, Tesco, Post Office, M&S) either have a higher minimum spend, or else can't seem to get Swedish Krona by Thursday, which is the latest I would need to pick it up.

Before I do a trawl of other currency outlets, does anyone have any helpful advice?

Expensive, but at the air port

post office travel money card?

I am not sure whether there is a min spend though!

I would try post office. My DD recently exchanged at airport and the commission was eye watering!!

Oh sorry- missed what you said about post office. Could you jointly do it with a few other parents to make minimum?

What amount do you have to buy at M&S? Don't they offer to buy back unused currency? Perhaps you could do that?

Or you could preorder for pick up at the airport which i think is slightly cheaper than just turning up.

Try ringing round local travel agents. I know ours currently has loads in stock because the local sixth form are going to Sweden.

You could take out the minimum spend plus £25 worth then immediately pay back the extra and keep the £25 amount. You would pay commission both ways so it would cost you more but you would get it quickly.

You have to be 18 to have a money card. I think airport might be your only option - could you check see if you can pre order online as that’s way cheaper?

Or get a prepaid card like this one that can be used abroad

Pockit card can be delivered by Thursday

If you pre-order for collection at the airport then the rate isn’t normally too bad

John Lewis exchange usually have a lot of different currencies available so may be worth calling in if you have one local to you

Ask the coach or whoever is leading the trip if they can take out money from a cash point in Sweden on your son’s behalf if you give them/transfer them the cash? You won’t be the only one in this position I’d bet.

For a small amount, the loss on a bad rate will be relatively small, so try the pre-order at the airport route, if you can trust him not to forget to pick it up.

Or can you get it at a bank?

However, Sweden is famously 'cashless' so will he be able to use the cash if he has it?

www.routesnorth.com/planning-trip-sweden/frequently-asked-questions/can-pay-cash-sweden/

Do you have any spare cards that he can use, but check that there are no per transaction fees on it, as a £1 fee on lots of small transactions will obviously add up. Look in the travel money section of moneysavingexpert to see what the charges on your card is and consider giving him the money on that, or see if there is a travel money card that you can buy 'off the shelf' anywhere.

However, see if these count as prepaid credit or debit cards as some countries don't take credit cards in some places, or charge a lot extra for them, even though illegal under EU law (Denmark was like this when I went a few months ago).

Maybe get the coach to ask their opposite number in Sweden for advice on how the DC should take spending money.

As a previous poster said, do be careful about taking cash to Sweden - I found I could barely use it when there recently. (As a result, I actually have about the sum you want in kronor - if you're anywhere near me I'll sell it to you!)

@FraterculaArctica SW London by any chance?

Sadly not - Herts!

Is it worth a post on a local Facebook group? People often have money left after a trip that they never got round to changing. You could offer to pay the current exchange rate. You never k ow, you might get lucky!

The TUI travel money card can be used by under 18’s, it just has to be set up by an adult. It can be done instantly in the shop (or could when I did it a couple of years ago).

What about a Go Henry card?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.gohenry.com/uk/

Designed for kids to take abroad with parental controls

If you're in SW London you could nip up to Victoria where they have dozens of bureaux de change. Although if you don't have a season ticket probably not worth it in time and travel fares vs one of the other options such as changing a larger amount. Have you tried actual banks?

Just a thought - might they accept Euros in Sweden? I've got plenty of those.

I've just been to Sweden. It's largely cashless (in the city we were in) so he might find it difficult without a card. I presume the leaders will have plans in place for this but worth checking. I'd try the post office or the likes of John Lewis who might have a small amount available.

If you can get into London Ace-FX will do it for next day. I regularly order NOK in small nominations from them. They may even deliver for a small fee.

Sorry to hijack but I have the same thing but with Denmark. Is it worth taking any cash if you have a debit card?