New York

[Deleted User]

Morning all

I hope you're all well.

My 16 year old daughter and I are going to NYC on 28th October for 5 days.

We've sorted travel insurance (saga) flights, hotel and we know what we want to do and see when we get there.

I've got a Halifax Clarity Credit Card to use over there.

But how much cash do I take and where do I change it into dollars?

What other advice can you give as I am NOT a seasoned traveler and all this is very new to me!

Help!! :j :j:T

jackieblack

Lots of info here on the New York Thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2230655

[Deleted User]

Thank you .. I'll check it out! :j :j

Doshwaster

If you have a Clarity card then why do you need to change money in advance? Just pop it into the first ATM you see. You'll get a better rate than at any High Street money changer.

John259

How are you getting from the airport to the hotel? Will you need some US cash to pay for that?

Neil49

Doshwaster wrote: »

If you have a Clarity card then why do you need to change money in advance? Just pop it into the first ATM you see. You'll get a better rate than at any High Street money changer.

TD Bank don't impose atm withdrawal charges, a lot of US banks do. There are plenty of TD branches in Manhattan.

Your Clarity card is a good option for withdrawing cash as long as you pay off the balance asap. Go online to check your balance, don't wait for your statement to be produced as the interest charges on cash withdrawals start from the time you get the cash out.

Set up your bank account bill paying option to pay your Clarity bill as and when you dictate. If you have it set for Halifax to debit your bank account on the 'pay by' date then you will run up a months worth or more of interest charges for the cash advances which is not a good idea.

[Deleted User]

Ok. Thanks so much for your help. but I'm a bit confused. :cool:

I thought that using my halifax clarity card to withdraw cash would cost money. And I assumed that this cost would be more than changing my £ into $ over here before I go.

Am I wrong?

Also....I'll need cash for taxis and tipping wont I? And buses and the subway?

Help :rotfl::rotfl:

John259

For the NYC subway, you purchase a MetroCard from a machine in a station, and can pay with cash or credit card.
This video explains how to use the system:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lTERtXHIVY

Doshwaster

Deleted_User wrote: »

Ok. Thanks so much for your help. but I'm a bit confused. :cool:

I thought that using my halifax clarity card to withdraw cash would cost money. And I assumed that this cost would be more than changing my £ into $ over here before I go.

Am I wrong?

Yes, you are wrong. Don't be confused by terms such as "commission free" and "interest on cash advances"

You *will* be charged interest for taking out cash on a Halifax CC but it will work out cheaper than going to the Post Office before you go.

The Clarity gives you a perfect exchange rate and then charges about 1% per month in interest. Pay the money back within a week or two and you will pay about 50p per £100.

The Post Office may be "commission free" but their exchange rate is usually about 3% off the interbank rate. That means you are paying about £3 per £100.

Just make sure that the ATM doesn't add its own withdrawal fee and you'll be quids in.

[Deleted User]

Thank you so much