USA travel money.. so what's the best method?

GlennTheBaker

steveo3002 wrote: »

^^^ fair enough but its still better than get bent over at the travel agent

Absolutely!

steveo3002 wrote: »

are travelers cheques close to the real exh rate? cant imagine they dont get a cut somehow?

No, you get similarly crappy rates as you do getting foreign notes.

You don't have to shift all your banking to Nationwide just to get a FlexAccount, just open one and use it solely for foreign spending.

Monkhouse

GlennTheBaker wrote: »

Any particular reason why you don't want to open a Nationwide FlexAccount? If you're planning on spending £2000 whilst in the USA, it would save you a minimum of £55 (by getting the absolute best possible exchange rate) as well as not charging you anything for each withdrawal you make.

Credit scoring for one (which I would easily fail due to some ongoing problems from years ago), and that I'd need it to come with a fairly large overdraft if it was to replace my Barclays current a/c.
In any case, I'm pleased with Barclays service and have no other desire to open a new current account - even if I did qualify!

steveo3002

monkhouse ...do you or anyone thats going have a credit card ? ive found they insist on one for hotel and car hire

just thought id mention it as you mind find it alkward...i know car rental places want a massive lump of cash if you have no card

Monkhouse

Well yes I do hold a couple of credit cards - but they're perpetually full!!! (Slapped wrist I know, but....)

Do they pre-auth the card with an amount, when hiring a car / checking in hotel? If so, that could be a problem.
If they're just taking an imprint, thats fine - anyone know what they actually do (with the car and hotels all booked through Virgin)??



Thanks!

ailuro2

Well you could ask them to raise the limit, but if you have don't trust yourself not to spend on them, then that's a bad idea,and shouldn't be done.Especially going to the land of the (nothing's) free!

I hope they're maxed out with stoozing and not real debt- that would leave yourself open to much slapped wrist here- MSEers hate paying those high interest rates:mad::p

They normally preload your card with a few hundred or more dollars, but don't take the money- kind of transaction pending, I'm not sure if this would work if you areu p to the limit.?

steveo3002

theyve always pre authorised but not taken a $200 deposit at the car rental place ( would be more if cash deposit)

not sure how a virgin hotel would work you might be best to call and ask virgin but as its prepaid you might only have to leave a card for a phone deposit (dont bother get a phone card from a corner shop not the rep)

have you looked into any additional car insurance you might need to have? last time i looked at a virgin deal the car hire was a rip off( might have changed now )

its also a idea to call and tell the card supplier that you plan to use it in usa for that time, as they sometimes may block it thinking its a scammer..and be aware you are often asked for photo id when paying by card