Everything & Anything New York City

Savvy_Sue

jackieblack wrote: »

The above is true, however, in IME, if you pay it off as soon as you get home the interest is minimal and is usually offset by the better exchange rate

When I've used it for withdrawing cash, I've always managed to make a payment TO the card the same day and I don't think I've ever had to pay any interest! I usually overpay slightly because you can never be quite sure of the exchange rate, then I buy something on that card once the bill's arrived to clear the overpayment.

I'm sure it's not meant to work that way, but it has!

jackieblack

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

When I've used it for withdrawing cash, I've always managed to make a payment TO the card the same day and I don't think I've ever had to pay any interest! I usually overpay slightly because you can never be quite sure of the exchange rate, then I buy something on that card once the bill's arrived to clear the overpayment.

I'm sure it's not meant to work that way, but it has!

I've done that as well. The only issue I've had with that is, because the interest rate is the same for cash and purchases, if you've used the card for purchases before withdrawing the cash , the credit goes off the earlier transactions first and you still end up paying interest on the cash withdrawal until the total balance is cleared.

TooClumsy

Traincrashing wrote: »

TooClumsy, ill be there 28/11-5/12 haven't a set itinerary yet, but we want to go to woodbury commons, do the cupcake tour, see the Christmas lights switch on, and see the nutcracker. We saw christmas spectacular last year at radio city, but we may possibly go again this year.

So exciting isnt it? Are you staying in a hotel/with relatives (if you don't mind me asking?) I think I will start the Itinerary in November, otherwise it will be such a long wait (I feel)...

Woodbury Commons is on our list to go as well! Hopefully you will get a chance to write a trip report when you get back..?!

Cupcake tour sounds interesting, but I think we will definitely organize a couple of (savoury/generic) food tours in different areas.

I wonder if we may be getting there after the lights have been
switched on already (flying out 12/12-27/12). I have only been to the theater once to watch "Wicked" in London (I'm from there too) and it was great...DH has never been so want to take him for the experience.

Need to do some research into the Xmas Spectacular...and also where to go for Xmas lunch/din dins.

Sorry for the strange and excited rambles!

Savvy_Sue

jackieblack wrote: »

I've done that as well. The only issue I've had with that is, because the interest rate is the same for cash and purchases, if you've used the card for purchases before withdrawing the cash , the credit goes off the earlier transactions first and you still end up paying interest on the cash withdrawal until the total balance is cleared.

Yes, I can see it would do that.

However, I keep that one for withdrawing cash, only use it in the UK to clear up the overpayment. I have a PO card for buying goods and services ...

Traincrashing

TooClumsy wrote: »

So exciting isnt it? Are you staying in a hotel/with relatives (if you don't mind me asking?) I think I will start the Itinerary in November, otherwise it will be such a long wait (I feel)...

Woodbury Commons is on our list to go as well! Hopefully you will get a chance to write a trip report when you get back..?!

Cupcake tour sounds interesting, but I think we will definitely organize a couple of (savoury/generic) food tours in different areas.

I wonder if we may be getting there after the lights have been
switched on already (flying out 12/12-27/12). I have only been to the theater once to watch "Wicked" in London (I'm from there too) and it was great...DH has never been so want to take him for the experience.

Need to do some research into the Xmas Spectacular...and also where to go for Xmas lunch/din dins.

Sorry for the strange and excited rambles!

We're staying at One UN hotel from 28-1 and then the Z Hotel in Long Island city from 1-5. We went last year too and stayed in the W on Lexington, loved it!

Yes I'll write a trip report been really wanting to go to Woodbury commons. My friend has been a few times and said it was good. Also hoping there'll be extra sales for Black Friday there.

There's lots of tours to go on, we just love cupcakes so its a good one for us. You should keep an eye on groupon, the cupcake tour is $20 each at the minute but they have lots of other food related/non food related tours on offer all the time.

The lights get turned on on the 4th December so they'll definitely be on for you

TooClumsy

Traincrashing wrote: »

Seems to be a lot of us there at the same time. I'm pretty excited for Black Friday shopping again this year. We're planning to do some online shopping this year too. Last year the a&f on fifth avenue had no sale instore so we ordered online and got 60% off everything.

Booked our second hotel last night. Staying at the Z Hotel in LIC. £505 for a twin room. I know we could have got a cheaper hotel there but we liked this hotel and it also has a free shuttle into the city.

That's great! I had to rack my brain for what a&f was..but I guessed Abercrombie and Fitch? Did you get things delivered to your hotel room if you did online shopping..?

Z hotel looks beautiful! How long are you staying for..(not sure if you mentioned it before-sorry if you did!) Also..second hotel? As in you have two trips to NYC this year? (slightly jealous!)

jackieblack

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Yes, I can see it would do that.

However, I keep that one for withdrawing cash, only use it in the UK to clear up the overpayment. I have a PO card for buying goods and services ...

Yes, we also have PO and Santander Zero, but one year my DH used the Clarity card (by mistake :doh:) to pay for something at the airport before we flew :wall:.
And I don't think cash advances count towards the £300 minimum spend.

Savvy_Sue

jackieblack wrote: »

Yes, we also have PO and Santander Zero, but one year my DH used the Clarity card (by mistake :doh:) to pay for something at the airport before we flew :wall:

Huh, when WE went to NY, DH took the 'wrong' wallet and was merrily using our regular card until I confiscated it!

Now he hands me his wallet and asks me what he can use.

jackieblack wrote: »

And I don't think cash advances count towards the £300 minimum spend.

Whoops, there's a minimum spend on that card? Must check T&C ...

jackieblack

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Huh, when WE went to NY, DH took the 'wrong' wallet and was merrily using our regular card until I confiscated it!
Now he hands me his wallet and asks me what he can use.

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Whoops, there's a minimum spend on that card? Must check T&C ...

Only to get the reward payment every month, but I think you might have to have the right current account to get it

M4RKM

jackieblack wrote: »

I've done that as well. The only issue I've had with that is, because the interest rate is the same for cash and purchases, if you've used the card for purchases before withdrawing the cash , the credit goes off the earlier transactions first and you still end up paying interest on the cash withdrawal until the total balance is cleared.

And this is why a debit card is so much easier.