Withdrawing cash in Spain

[TheGander]

I’m on holiday in Spain and the cashpoint asks” do you want to proceed with currency conversion , or without “. This is puzzling me. I have a Halifax clarity card which should give me a good rate but I’m not sure which option to go with here. Thanks for any advice.

I think the correct answer is to not convert using the atm rates. Let your bank convert. Your bank will give you much better rates than the ATM.

this is definitely true paying by card in shops - never accept the payment point’s conversion, always pay in your own currency and let your bank convert it.

Select euros as the exchange rate given by clarity is better.

Also watch out for cash machine charges. Last couple of times we've been to Spain it's been hard to find a cash machine that doesn't charge. Even bank machines seemed to charge.

After years of using a clarity or starling card and paying mostly cash, last couple of times we've just taken a small amount of cash (either what was left from last time or buy about 100 euro from a supermarket bureau de change) and paid for nearly everything on starling card.

Do not convert. Is almost akin to a scam. There is no benefit. All you get is a huge charge for doing so

All cash machines in Spain charge, the fees vary. The privately owned ones can charge upto €4.95 per transaction. The bank ATM charge as well, normally about €2.50 . I recommend you only withdrawal money once so you don't have keep paying fees. Credit/Debit Cards can be used for everything in Spain, even small purchases - so I would use it as withdrawing cash with fees can get expensive.

Thanks everyone. You’d think the banks are trying to keep things as opaque as possible so they can milk more money out of us! I find they all charge here, up to €7 a go. I’ll take one big lot out then , without conversion.