Help with US travel money

MiraculousM

Hi.

I am going away to the US for 2 weeks. Generally, what i usually do is get half of my spending money in cash and half in travellers cheques.

I am thinking about getting a clarity card this time instead of the travellers cheques. Is this a good idea? I havent had a credit card since i was at uni and ended up in massive debt because of it so i have stopped getting myself one.. is it true i can simply take out money without being charged, and also, i can i simply go online and pay off the card the day i get back to not incure interest?

or should i just go with the travellers cheques as this is what i know best?

blindman

MiraculousM wrote: »

Hi.

I am going away to the US for 2 weeks. Generally, what i usually do is get half of my spending money in cash and half in travellers cheques.

I am thinking about getting a clarity card this time instead of the travellers cheques. Is this a good idea? I havent had a credit card since i was at uni and ended up in massive debt because of it so i have stopped getting myself one.. is it true i can simply take out money without being charged, and also, i can i simply go online and pay off the card the day i get back to not incure interest?

or should i just go with the travellers cheques as this is what i know best?

Have a read of this article.

susank

I have been twice in the last year and just take cash - its cheaper to eat out over there and I was staying with friends - I did have a credit card for emergency use but never needed it - took cash home with me each time.

benjus

Cash is universally accepted, can be cheap to buy (if you do it in the right places), but cannot easily be replaced if lost or stolen.

TCs are clunky (although I will admit they are easy to use in the US), old-fashioned and expensive to buy, but are easy to replace if lost or stolen.

IMO plastic is the best way to get travel money these days - but not just any old plastic, to get good rates you need something with low or zero charges for use abroad, like the Halifax Clarity card or the other cards suggested on the link posted above.