travelling-blogger

comments

• Travelex and Post Office confirm currency shortage
• Demand for reals has increased by up to 1000%
  
• Manchester and Heathrow airports affected by Travelex issues
• Post Office will not be able to restock until the weekend

Football fans are worried they could be left without money in Brazil after currency exchange companies admitted they are running out of reals.

Just one week before the World Cup kicks off, Travelex and the Post Office Travel Money said that due to 'unprecedented' demand they are experiencing shortages.

Demand for the currency has increased more than 1000 per cent at Heathrow and Manchester airports according to Travelex, which warned warned it is experiencing a 'temporary shortage'.

In demand: There has been an 'unprecedented' upsurge in football fans buying Brazilian reals, according to Travelex and the Post Office

The Post Office has also reported an 'unprecedented' 400 per cent increase in demand for reals compared to last year and says it won't be able to stock more until the weekend.

Speaking to BBC's Radio 5Live, Elvin Eldić, head of UK retail at Travelex, said the company was trying to redistribute stock across its branches so that football fans heading to the World Cup won't be without their currency.

He said: 'Being one of the few FX [foreign exchange] providers who stock the Brazilian Real we are seeing unprecedented levels of demand... As a result, we are currently experiencing a temporary shortage at our Travelex stores in both Heathrow and Manchester airports.'

The Post Office also confirmed it has a 'temporary lack of availability' in branches, but is restocking for the weekend.

Sold out: Travelex counters at Manchester and Heathrow airports are running low of reals and need to be restocked

Birmingham-based Bryan Alexander told 5Live that he was nervous about arriving in Rio de Janeiro without reals after his local Post Office told them they had none in stock.

He said: The Post Office website was advertising an upcoming special rate on Reals, so I've been holding off buying them. But now when I look online, the option to buy Reals isn't there.'

The Post Office website has an option for next day delivery for those who order before 3pm, but once you click through to buy reals are no longer available.

The World Cup kicks off on June 13, with thousands of Britons expected to fly over for the games, with the majority based in Rio.

Britons have already been warned about increased prices for basic goods. Sao Paolo and Rio in particular are expensive and everything from cups of coffee to cocktails can be significantly higher than expected.

Imported beers and cocktails in hotels are likely to sting tourists, but those who buy local products should be able to cut down costs.