US Holiday Money

NiftyDigits

pollypenny wrote: »

We travel to the US regularly and just take some cash, then use an ATM as we would at home.

HSBC Premier has no loading, although we now have to pay $2.95 as non-customers of the US bank.

Wrong :money:

The exchange rate that applies to any foreign currency debit card payments (including cash withdrawals) is the wholesale market rate used by VISA applying on the day the conversion is made plus our foreign exchange charge, which is currently 2.75% of the applicable VISA wholesale rate.

Link

Doshwaster

I'm another regular traveller to the US on business. All business expenses go on a company credit card then I have started to use a Caxton card for personal use. I just leave any outstanding balance on the card for my next trip.

In most parts of the US you can get away with carrying very little cash. Depending on the city, taxi drivers may be unable (or, more likely, unwilling) to accept cards and there are still a few cash only bars around but otherwise you can live on plastic apart from the need to keep a wad of dollar bills for tips. Pay for coffee from Starbucks with a card and nobody will bat an eyelid.

The only thing to watch out for with the Caxton card is that if a shop asks you if you want to put the amount through as "credit or debit" then you need to choose credit (even though it's actually a debit card) and then sign the receipt (although they never check the signature). This is because the US chip and PIN system for debit cards is incompatible with cards issued over here.

NiftyDigits

Backbiter wrote: »

We have in the past got a better rate for buying dollar TCs than currency, with no commission. They are of course more secure than cash and can be spent like cash in the US, with change in cash so you never to actually cash them at a bank.
The only reason we didn't take them this time was because of the unavailability of $20 cheques.
Having said all that, I think I'll be sticking with the [STRIKE]cash passport[/STRIKE] in future.

Cash Passport Globe

Backbiter

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Cash Passport Globe

That's the one. Go via quidco.

elantan

for florida (3 week holiday) i took $500 cash last year and my halifax clarity card, to i used the last of my cash at the airport coming home, we landed up spending £1,300 on our 3 week holiday but had all our park tickets etc before we left