Orlando & Florida - Questions & Answers (Part 1) *CLOSED*

moob_2

Poppy9 wrote: »

Another fan of travellers cheques here. If you take £500 in cash and lose it or have it stolen - it's gone. Travellers cheques will be replaced in 24 hours.

Also careful where you use your credit/debit card. I came back to a nice surprise from Florida the first year. My cc had been overcharged by hundreds of pounds. Took a few months and lots of stress to get it sorted with the CC company. Luckily I had all my receipts but I didn't need the stress.

Also when I was in Ibiza a few years ago cards were getting retained in a bank's cashpoint machine. Lots of tourist were stranded without money as the bank wouldn't give the cards back.

That's why you take small amounts of cash out via the ATM using a debit card, that way you don't carry about wads of cash and don't get exposed to dodgy cashiers using your card.

Too much commission on TCs.

Marcuk

just wanted to say when i went flordia i had such a good time it was amazing, i had my little sister with me and she enjoyed every thing. but i love big roller coster and where better to do it than in america. if into it have to go to bush gardens and also universal island of adventure highly reccomended

Poppy9

moob wrote: »

That's why you take small amounts of cash out via the ATM using a debit card, that way you don't carry about wads of cash and don't get exposed to dodgy cashiers using your card.

Too much commission on TCs.

But if your card is retained by a machine or worse still cloned it's a lot harder to sort out when it's in another country and in the US TC are taken as cash at face value so no commission charged.

Strangled

Scots_Girl wrote: »

Good idea.

And a couple of other suggestions:

Take a photo of your rental car (including the number plate!) when you first collect it. Makes it easier to find in any car park - particularly useful in the first few days of your holiday.

If all else fails, and the rental car has an alarm, press the alarm button on the keyring. This one worked for me on day 1 of my holiday - parked in a large field with thousands of other cars for an airshow & couldn't find my car at the end of the day. So, switched on the alarm, and followed the noise.

All I've ever done was put a magazine or one of the childrens teddys in the back window of the car, and remember who's car park area we were in :rotfl:

mears_2

We always take some cash plus American express T/C's You can use american express T/C's like cash over there.

Mears

Amys

Don't forget that the key fob will have a remote lock and and alarm button. If you loose your car press the button and the car horn will start beepiong (as long as you were close enough), then follow the noise.

moob_2

Poppy9 wrote: »

But if your card is retained by a machine or worse still cloned it's a lot harder to sort out when it's in another country and in the US TC are taken as cash at face value so no commission charged.

That's why I always take more than one card...the debit card for cash withdrawals and the credit card as backup. Plus, my wife has the same cards. What are the odds of us having 4 cards retained?!:rotfl:

You say no commission is charged, I'm afraid that's incorrect, as when you purchase TCs, you pay commission built-in to the exchange rate you're given, whereas with the Nationwide Debit Card, you get the full interbank exchange rate with no charges, it's the same with their Credit Card, as long as you only use it for purchases and not withdrawing cash.

If my card was cloned, I would expect the credit card company to resolve the matter on my behalf, if they're worth their salt. I really don't think cloning is as commonplace as some make out. The best advice is to only use the card as reputable retailers and monitor what they're doing with the card when you hand it over.

macca

pepperjulie wrote: »

We go to Florida most Xmas's.
We always book through teletext holidays. Price your holiday through Expedia or someone similar then drive them down. Works for us everytime. Last year did the whole Florida coastline. Had 4 days in Key west and fell in love with the place so are going back again this year. Booked last week through a teletext add. Managed to get seats on a charter flight for £330 each from Manchester to Sanford. Just have a couple of days on I-drive so the daughter can fill her suitcase. (we only take undies and the neccessary stuff, the rest we buy while we are there. We always go with 2 empty cases and one half full!). Will drive down to the Keys and have 8 days there. Got a bargain villa - private- from trawling the net. $1500 all in for 8 days - which is very good for the Keys. Could have had a houseboat for $1400 plus a Christmas tree thrown in for good measure but was too far away from where we wanted to be. Thought we would have a job as a lot of places are now fully booked.Will drive back to Orlando and have another couple of days there before flying back. Should get some good deals in the post Christmas sales, we usually do! As a point of interest we do take our credit card for a lot of the purchases but always take our debit cards when we want cash. We have never bothered taking the dollars (other than those left over from the previous year) as sometimes we get a better rate just using the cards.
Just counting down the months now.!!!!
:j

Can you point me towards any teletext companies in particular? Have just trawled the web and found nothing less than extortinate prices for 2 adults and 2 children going over Christmas, which is a shame as I have a fantastic villa on hold grrrrr, all help gratefully received.
Macca

Amys

I would try booking separately, try the US airlines for the fares, and then direct with villa owners. Try and fly out before the 17th as after that prices Will be very high, with the potential exception of the 25th. Car hire with airline entwork or uscar hire, that way yoy get all the inruances you need etc at a good price.

ellie14

hi, I need a hotel for one night Orlando area,on way home coming back early from gulf coast so not to be late for air port,hence one nighter any good reccomends