I am with 2 UK banks and both rip me off. I think all UK banks are there to rip people off . Its not just about the exchange rate it's the overall transfer that is important. Barclays for example crucify you and so do all the others. I have a Sabadell account in Spain and a Millenium in Portugal. They all give very poor rates. Stay away from banks.
unless half of the money goes to a worthy police commissioners pocket for time it took to nominate the hotel in the first place. What I have found in this beautiful country is as soon a foreigner wants something there is a queue of people waiting to offer you a service and everyone of them will get their piece from you so that you line around 4 pockets. The guy at the top , the guy 2nd from top, the next guy who organizes the whole thing to give to the guy who executes the whole plan. I call this the Bangkok bubble.