Best place to buy SGD

[jetpilot1983]

Hi I will flying to Singapore this Thursday from Perth, I was wondering for those people who travel regularly to Singapore from Australia or Singapore residents what is the best way to get the most for my AUD. I usually take the Travelex option and pick my money up at the airport before departing AU. What are the rates like atm at the AMEX counters within Changi terminals? Is it worth exchanging in Singapore or here before I leave? I can currently get about 1.23SGD for 1AUD.
Thanks Mike

[upright man]

If you are in Orchard Road, go to Lucky Plaza, which is near to the Marriott Hotel - there are many money changers on the ground floor and basement - and you can ask each of them and compare rates - should be no problem getting 1.25 SGD per AUD.

The airport AMEX and United Overseas Bank money changers have so-so rates, and I will use them for small amounts (theses 2 shops can have different rates too - I saw different SGD to Euro rates just one week ago).

[acey]

What are the rates like atm at the AMEX counters within Changi terminals? Is it worth exchanging in Singapore or here before I leave? I can currently get about 1.23SGD for 1AUD.
Thanks Mike

Dont know what the airport rates are.
Better to change money in town.
The rate offered by the money changer can be bargained (although it wont matter much if you are not changing a lot of money).

[SQ LPP]

How about using your ATM/debit card instead?

[SuperJonJon]

The airport AMEX and United Overseas Bank money changers have so-so rates, and I will use them for small amounts (theses 2 shops can have different rates too - I saw different SGD to Euro rates just one week ago).

UOB tend to have a slightly better exchange rate than Amex.

[starrynight000]

The rates offered by UOB and Amex at Cangi airport for AUD in particular seem to be unattractive - I have seen spreads of 7+ cents (or around 6%) between the buy and sell rate, which is prob not too bad for those from the "expensive" countries where they charge commissions, etc., but nasty by Change Alley (Raffles Place) or Far East Plaza standards

[KeithMEL]

Try to avoid buying S$ in Australia, and from Travelex in particular. IME money changers and even ATMs in Singapore come up much cheaper than Travelex. That's even with the bank fees on using a credit/debit card overseas.

If you have to buy currency in Australia, ANZ and Commonwealth usually offer better value than Travelex.