Everything & Anything New York City

KarenG

M4RKM wrote: »

Take enough to last you the first day. I wouldn't even take $500, I normally take $200, which is enough for taxi, lunch and evening meal.

You will get the BEST rate possible by using the MetroBank card (sorry KarenG, your advice is wrong), and you will get a BETTER rate than the currency cards. If you didn't know, MetroBank is a zero fee, zero loading card.

TD Bank looks nearly identical when you walk in to a MetroBank, so you'll feel right at home. I've never had any issues or ATM or transaction charges and it is by far the best way to get money abroad.

M

Don't want to nit pick Mark, but I gave no advice re rates and credit card. I did advise not to take more currency than you could afford to lose / was insured. I simply said we used credit cards. I did not say that was the best way to get a rate.

I've not heard of Metrobank. We have a US bank account but as most people don't, I don't offer that up as a useful option.

On the credit card front, personally (US bank or not) I would advise (yes, I am advising on this one ) nobody should travel to the States with no immediate access to emergency funds - and for most people, the easiest way around that is credit cards.

M4RKM

KarenG wrote: »

Don't want to nit pick Mark, but I gave no advice re rates and credit card.

My apologies. I interpreted the following

Change before you go. It's a hassle you don't need, plus you won't get a good exchange rate there

as a statement that using an ATM at TD Bank wouldn't give the OP a good rate.

josie

I'd say you always get a better rate on a credit card than changing money abroad, US or anywhere else IMHO. Just make sure you've got a credit card that doesn't charge you to use abroad (like Post Office) I would agree with you don't want to bother going to banks whilst you're over there. Just take a little for odd incidentals and bung everything else from coffees to metro cards onto your credit card.

josie

Traincrashing wrote: »

We can increase our budget to around 600-650 for the 4 nights. How is the transport from Long Island city? Is it a much better idea than staying in Brooklyn in terms of travelling back into manhattan?

Have you already booked your flights?

If not, you can get the Edison hotel in Times Square for £759 each for 1-5 Dec, including flights from LHR - not sure where you'd want to fly from? Or Hotel St James is £656, but not stayed there, so couldn't recommend it.

poormaria

I have read the link regarding using cards abroad and I am still totally lost.

We have some spending money that we were going to put on a charge card, will this charge us to use?

Secondly, I have a barclaycard with 0% interest on purchases for 12 months which ideally I won't use, only if desperate. However, I am open to getting a new credit card if there is a better one available for spending in new york?

M4RKM

poormaria wrote: »

I have read the link regarding using cards abroad and I am still totally lost.

We have some spending money that we were going to put on a charge card, will this charge us to use?

Secondly, I have a barclaycard with 0% interest on purchases for 12 months which ideally I won't use, only if desperate. However, I am open to getting a new credit card if there is a better one available for spending in new york?

What is the charge card?

Barclaycard will be 0% interest on your purchases, but it will charge you 2.99% on the exchange rate (minimum £2.99). So for example, if you purchased something at $100, on a nil charge card, it would cost £62.99, but on your Barclaycard it would be £65.98. That minimum charge is a bit of a killer, as most purchases will trigger the minimum.

If you went for a specialist card, then you would save a bit of money.


M

Traincrashing

Thanks Mark. We've started to look into LIC. I briefly mentioned it to my friend over the summer after reading you suggest it on here, but as she was away all summer it was hard to really discuss anything hotel related so it was brushed off. Will look more into it! And also into this MetroBank card as I've never heard of it either.

M4RKM

Traincrashing wrote: »

Thanks Mark. We've started to look into LIC. I briefly mentioned it to my friend over the summer after reading you suggest it on here, but as she was away all summer it was hard to really discuss anything hotel related so it was brushed off. Will look more into it! And also into this MetroBank card as I've never heard of it either.

The only downside to MetroBank is that you have to visit one of their stores to apply for one.

Currently, all their stores are in and around the M25 / London area.

M

The_doon

Hi

I have narrowed it down for my trip and I am looking to do the below, any advice on cheapest online prices would be appreciated.


Top of the Rock
SATC tour
Statue of Liberty - (previously read statuecrusies.com are the best)
Radio City Xmas Extravaganza (discount code SAVE24 takes 30% off full price ticket)
9/11 Memorial

TooClumsy

KarenG wrote: »

Change before you go. It's a hassle you don't need, plus you won't get a good exchange rate there. Only take as much cash as you can afford to lose / is covered by your insurance.

We mostly use credit cards for spends.

Thanks KarenG! Will be taking a credit card for emergencies for sure..!