Prepaid credit card for USA

Pedrobandito

I am going to Las Vegas later in the year with some friends. We have to put a deposit down on a credit card when we check in, I have my own card which I will be taking (for emergency only use) but the person I am sharing a room with isn't taking a card with him and as its Vegas I don't want to risk putting the hotel deposit on my main card with the big limit so I was thinking I would just get a prepaid one and load it up purely for the hotel deposit.
Does that sound like a sensible or silly thing to do? If sensible what would be the best card to get, I am only planning to use it for the duration of the trip and then empty it when we get back.

eDicky

Currently the best prepaid cards for this, and other spending while there, are Monzo and Revolut:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/prepaid-travel-cards

Pedrobandito

Thanks eDicky.


So just to clarify as I have been known to be an idiot... The currency/travel cards are basically the same as pre paid credit cards for the purpose I want them? I can use it just like a credit card when I check into the hotel.

MattTheMoneyGuru

I have a Revolut card. You need to pre-load it with credit before using it. This is easy to do using a smartphone app and can be done whilst abroad (data roaming charges may apply)

Otherwise, you just use it as you would any other MasterCard.

ERICS_MUM

They are debit cards not credit cards. You are using your own money.

Anthorn

Probably not Revolut since reports coming from the USA state problems with it while Revolut finalises issuing its own card. In fact there has apparently been problems for the USA since Revolut's inception. For example here's a report from November 2015 related to U.S. domestic customers:
http://frequentmiler.boardingarea.com/2015/11/24/second-look-at-revolut-not-ready-for-us-customers-except-for-one-great-feature/

Better to be safe than sorry so best to avoid Revolut for the time being. There are alternatives which could be better for some people particularly those intending to use ATMs

eDicky

Anthorn wrote: »

For example here's a report from November 2015 related to U.S. domestic customers:

That relates to the unsuitability of Revolut for US users (who have long since been excluded), not to UK users traveling in the US, for whom it works fine.

Pedro, it depends on the particular hotel whether they will accept a prepaid card on check-in, higher class ones may well insist on a real credit card for obvious reasons. You can try, it will cost nothing for Monzo or Revolut (except a fiver for the Revolut plastic).

Pedrobandito

Thanks again eDicky. I will be staying at the MGM if that makes any difference?

eDicky

Pedrobandito wrote: »

Thanks again eDicky. I will be staying at the MGM if that makes any difference?

I'm not familiar with MGM, but give it a try if you like and let us know.

I'm now in the Canarias. I began to pull out my Revolut card when picking up a rental car from Autoreisen recently, the girl said "No, not that one" - but previously I've rented cars using a FairFX prepaid. You can never tell. This morning I rented a nice car on La Gomera with cash, no deposit or card required at all...