Post Office Credit Card or Cash for US Dollars

femster82

My first post so go easy on me,

I am travelling to the USA for a honeymoon, I usually take cash but I know this can be quite dangerous if it all gets lost. I am taking about £2000 and want to do a lot of shopping.

I have heard the post office credit cards are good to take but I am always worried about getting stung, what is my best option and should I also consider a post office pre pay card?

I will not be taking cash out of the machine even if I take either option, and I will take some cash either way. I just know that exchange rate for cash is really good and don't want to lose out on that.
:beer:

opinions4u

The exchange rate on the credit card will be better.

reclusive46

Unless your going somewhere really rural in the US, cash is more of hassle than paying by card to be honest. Often in shops there are even card only lines. Purchases under $50 don't even require a signature (They still use swipe and sign), you just swipe it through and thats it. Pretty much everywhere and everything accepts cards, parking machines to drinks vending machines (Some of these only take contactless cards though). Its also very rare for there to be a minimum purchase amount, depending on which state your going to, this is even Illegal. Exchange rate is also much better.

All tips can also be made by credit card, they take your card swipe it through and bring the receipt back for you to sign, you then write your tip and then sign.

Also one important thing to note, all petrol stations ask for your zip code when you fill up your car (Assuming you will be getting a rental). If you get it wrong, it will decline. Now this may seem like a problem but you can convert your post code to a zip code that it will accept by using the following rule:

NR12 7AT would equal 12700. You effectively take all the numbers out of your post code and then add on 0s until you have a 5 digit number. Some states do allow you to prepay inside first without a zip code (Florida and California comes to mind) but much easier if you can remember this rule as you can do it at pump.

If your going to New York, Boston, Chicago or Los angeles (Very rare in LA), some restaurants will only accept American Express cards, so if you don't have one you will need cash for them. These restaurants will almost always tell you when ordering though, so you shouldn't get any surprises.

rabbit_burrow

I would recommend travellers cheques (depending on where in the US you're going) if you're going to be doing a lot of shopping in a short space of time. If your card gets blocked for security measures then you would be stuffed.

I usually take a mixture of cheques, cash & credit cards. I change up about 3/4 of my money into amex travellers cheques, 1/4 into cash (for tips/taxis/snacks etc) and take my credit cards.

reclusive46

rabbit_burrow wrote: »

I would recommend travellers cheques (depending on where in the US you're going) if you're going to be doing a lot of shopping in a short space of time. If your card gets blocked for security measures then you would be stuffed.

I usually take a mixture of cheques, cash & credit cards. I change up about 3/4 of my money into amex travellers cheques, 1/4 into cash (for tips/taxis/snacks etc) and take my credit cards.

I wouldn't waste time with travellers cheques anymore. There has been a bit of an uproar with American Express refusing to pay shops because the cheques have been fraudalent even though they had all the security features. Over the last few months and weeks many merchants are now refusing to take travellers cheques.

As always take backup credit cards. There not all going to blocked.

rabbit_burrow

reclusive46 wrote: »

I wouldn't waste time with travellers cheques anymore. There has been a bit of an uproar with American Express refusing to pay shops because the cheques have been fraudalent even though they had all the security features. Over the last few months and weeks many merchants are now refusing to take travellers cheques.

As always take backup credit cards. There not all going to blocked.

Great. Looks like I'll be paying ridiculous fees to use my debit card instead then . I refuse to take $3k in cash with me.

reclusive46

rabbit_burrow wrote: »

Great. Looks like I'll be paying ridiculous fees to use my debit card instead then . I refuse to take $3k in cash with me.

If you don't have good enough credit to take out one of the fee free abroad credit cards have a look at the Kalixia prepaid card. Its a prepaid card but has no forex fees. N&P or Metro bank is also a good option.