Have you ever wondered why you have to struggle
to get the best foreign exchange rates each
time you travel abroad? Why are the rates not fixed and vary from one vendor to
another? These are good enough reasons that compel any customer to seek rates
from multiple vendors before buying/selling forex, as there are chances of getting
better rates.
Well, there are factors that control the foreign
currency rates and you should know them in order to get a “better rate” without much hassle the next time you fly
abroad.
1.
Currency exchange rates
keep fluctuating through the day
An exchange rate is the rate at which one
nation's currency can be exchanged for that of another and it depends on many
factors such as balance of trade, imports and exports, the prevailing interest
rate in the country, relative Inflation and other national/international
affairs. Therefore as the parameters keep changing, the currency rate
fluctuates throughout the day, just like the stock market every few seconds. While some forex companies would quote the
LIVE rate for forex, most of the banks and foreign exchange stores have one
rate for the day for all currencies, and here’s the catch! Buying at live
rates is a good idea since you have the freedom to buy, sell or remit forex
when the exchange rate seems suitable to you rather than being compelled to
transact at the ‘daily rate’ being offered.
2.
Season impacts currency
rates
Come winters and people flock to destinations
like Thailand, Dubai, etc., resulting in higher purchase of currencies like UAE
Dirhams, Thai Bhat etc. As a result, these currencies are available at very
high premiums in the winters. On the other hand, in the summers, very few NRIs
or foreigners visit India, while many Indians travel overseas and hence most
currencies are sold at higher premiums in the summer months and on discount in
winters when the situation reverses. You can keep this factor in mind when
planning your forex purchase. RBI allows you to purchase currency 60 days before
your travel date. However you should have your travel documents in place.
3.
Demand & supply game
The most common supply of foreign currencies in
India is via inbound travelers who bring foreign currency with them. There are
many foreigners, NRIs and returning Indian visitors that bring large amounts of
common currencies such as US Dollars, Euros, UK Pounds etc. and hence there is a
much better supply of these currencies in India as opposed to the Thai Baht,
UAE Dirhams, South African Rand etc., where the main supply may only come from
returning Indian tourists. Similarly, outbound travel to certain countries such
as USA, Europe, Canada is high and that too impacts the rate of cash currencies
of these countries.Therefore, most of
the time, purchasing USD instead of local currency of countries like Thailand,
UAE, South Africa etc. is more beneficial for the travelers. Try out the
calculation next time and you’ll thank us for this tip!
4.
Region matters too
We know that the major source of cash
currencies is foreigners and NRIs. Further there are specific cities in India
where NRIs are settled. For example, there are many NRIs from US, UK and Canada
that visit various cities of Punjab, Gujrat and other metros. Similarly there are
large numbers of NRIs from Middle East that visit Kerala and other parts of
South India.
Hence the cash currency rates for US Dollars, UK Pounds and Canadian Dollars
are much lower in Punjab and the rates of cash currencies for UAE Dirhams or
Saudi Riyals are lower in Kerala. On the same lines cash currencies are more
expensive in cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. Purchasing travel cards instead of cash would prove more beneficial to
people residing in these locations.
5.
Forex card rates don’t
depend on demand-supply or location
Yes that’s true. Forex rates are dependent on inter-bank
rates, i.e, the standard rates at which one bank deals with another bank. There are no availability issues and the
demand/ supply game doesn’t exist at all in forex cards. There are online
forex companies offering zero cash withdrawal charges at ATMs in most of the currencies.
Forex cards can thus provide sizable savings of 1%-3% of your forex
spend.
Since you’re now aware that forex rates keep fluctuating
due to various factors, make sure you
use the “Better Rate Request” feature on www.BookMyForex.com to receive a better rate quote on your forex deals.
Normally, 8 out of 10 times the rate can be
improved after reaching out to all their channel partners. Keep your currency
purchase to the minimum and use the prepaid travel card for most of your needs
abroad. Exchange your currency like a pro when you go abroad next time!