Question Author
Hi In A Pickle - and great name by the way.
Thanks for your reply and it was good advice. On reflection I should have said more about my position in original question - just didn't want to bore people. I'm actually emigrating to there (have papers for Green Card) and will be staying with a friend and will be able to access money I have in a bank here via a travel cash card at ATM's (I have used this card before in the USA).
At this stage the reason I'm not transferring all my money from bank here is because I'm still waiting on my house selling and think that it will cheaper and faster for my solicitor to transfer the proceeds from that into my current account. Obviously I will have to arrange after that for monies to be transferred - but that can wait until later.
Until I get issued with my social security number and full legal resident papers and set up a bank account there I was wanting to convert �500 into dollars to bring with me as emergency monies.
I've read other posts and it sounds like M&S or the Post Office offer better exchange rates than my bank would - I just want to get the best rate as having to make the move now before house sold means money is very tight ( deadline to be in the USA for the Green Card is Nov 22nd and have booked flight for Nov 9th).
Thank you