Best Credit Card to use in America

analyst_2

don't they have 'stickers' on the entrance door?

inmypocketnottheirs

Here are some fundamentals.

Do NOT use a credit card to draw cash. You get charged a handling fee and interest is charged from the day of the withdrawal.

Get a bank account from Metro Bank https://www.metrobankonline.co.uk. You have to go into a branch (London area) only to open an account and you get given your cards, cheque book etc in branch on the day. This will then give you a fee free debit card for cash withdrawals, without any handling fees anywhere in the world. However in the US most ATMs charge around $3 per withdrawal, but Metro Bank do not any any charges. You also get the MasterCard rate for the currency exchange at the published rate - without any loading.

You can for a credit card get a Metro Bank card on the same deal, but do not use for cash withdrawals as interest will be charged.

Or an aqua rewards card for 3% cashback and again no charges for overseas usage.

analyst_2

I would qualify that slightly.

Do NOT use a credit card to draw cash. You get charged a handling fee and interest is charged from the day of the withdrawal.

Do not normally use a credit card to draw cash. However, with the Halifax Clarity card you do NOT get charged a handling fee for ATM withdrawals, and you do NOT get hit with any foreign transaction loading.

Yes, it is true you get charged interest from the day of withdrawal, but if you pay that off as near immediately as reasonably possible the interest charges amount to something quite insignificant in the fuller picture.

I am going to California for three weeks at the end of March and I shall be hanging it all on my (just arranged on Friday) Halifax Clarity card. I cannot get to a Metro Bank to arrange a card or I would actually get one as backup.

torbrex

I got a Saga Visa credit card for my trip to America this year but then I have no intention of using it to withdraw cash.

reclusive46

torbrex wrote: »

I got a Saga Visa credit card for my trip to America this year but then I have no intention of using it to withdraw cash.

If your in a city in the US there really is no need for cash anyway. Even most cabs in a lot of the bigger cities take Card, all restaurants take tip by card. Most market stalls and food stalls even do now with mobile payment services such as Square.

Last time I was in the US for three weeks, I used cash once and that was to pay the guy at the airport to push my bags around, he even took card with square though.

With the Visa, MC and Amex no signature program under 25 dollars or 50 dollars (All are atleast 25, some 50) it is quicker to pay by card than by cash.

analyst_2

In fact, it is said that in America they trust a credit card rather than lumps of cash because of the risk of forgeries.


(The very nice officer told me that when he took my photo in front of that funny wall with height measurement lines on it.)

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