Travel money options

smally311

Can anyone help?
Going to california in july on a 3 week road trip and I don't want to take £3500 cash. Can I get a Post Office Travel Card in £'s and get a better rate via ATM over USA, or am I best loading up my money on a $ travel card in local Post Office.
Also, If I take a £ travel card how would I fare using my card in restaurant, for instance, to pay the bill?

Thanks anyone.

Crabman

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dzug

smally311 wrote: »

Can anyone help?
Going to california in july on a 3 week road trip and I don't want to take £3500 cash. Can I get a Post Office Travel Card in £'s and get a better rate via ATM over USA, or am I best loading up my money on a $ travel card in local Post Office.
Also, If I take a £ travel card how would I fare using my card in restaurant, for instance, to pay the bill?

Thanks anyone.

You are better off leaving the cash in your UK bank account and using your debit card in an ATM to get cash and your credit card for larger purchases. Yes (unless you are with Nationwide) there will be charges, but they will be less than any other method.

The travelcard and its like are full of hidden charges that IMO outweigh their benefits. Once these charges come down they will be worth considering, but not ntil then.

pompeyrich

I agree with dzug on this, the charges are annoying but I have always found the exchange rate used by my credit card, Natwest, to be far better, in my favour, than any bureau de change and that even after they deduct their %age. Today, the tourist rate for the $US is about 1.9/£1, whereas the wholesale rate used by banks is around $1.98, which is about 4%, therefore the 2.75% the bank charges seems almost fair !!

Zara33

What about a travellers cheque card from Thomas cook.

http://www.thomascook.com/currency/travelchequecard.asp

N9eav

I always keep my money in savings account. Use my credit card everywhere and pay when I get home. Seems to work fine and easy. Have $500 on the hip for those annoying places like fast food that don't take cards...

N9eav

I think the amex card or morgan stanley have an introductory cash back rate of 3%. So get it before you go and all your spending will get cash back and off set any charges made

smally311

Thanks. Sister-in-law called me last night to tell me Thomsons are doing $2 to the pound for this week end only. A bit late finding out on saturday night, but I'll nip down on Monday morn see if its still on.
cheers anyway.