US ($) Currency Thread 1 (closed - use thread 2)

ferf1223

charlottetractor wrote: »

Am going to Las Vegas for 5 nights in March. I will spend about $900 dollars while there (around 500quid which I've saved). What is the best way for me to use this money? Do I buy dollars in advance in the UK? If so, from who? Or do I use a card in the US? I've got credit cards with Abbey Nat, HSBC and the Post Office, and " current accounts. Not the Nationwide one mentioned so often though. Or do I mix and match, make card purchases most of the time but have dollars for cash purchases rather than having to withdraw cash over there? Sorry for the many, many questions!

Consider me confused by interest rates etc, the simpler the explanation the better!

The Post Office credit card is probably the best of those that you have in terms of the good exchange rate and no fees. I would use that for all purchases, hotel, shows, restaurants you don't want to pay cash for (we have one and do just this ourselves).

As for cash, it really depends on which accounts you have and what charges they will hit you with. It may be worth checking with the 2 banks to see what their charges are to decide.

It also really depends on how much cash you plan to need...as you say you expect to need about $900, relatively speaking you're not talking about a massive savings one way or another.

Personally, we always take at least 1/2 of our money in cash which we've exchanged for before we leave. This is because a) our daily withdrawl limit is less than our daily budget and b) we don't like the idea of arriving in town and finding out that there's a problem with our card/account and have no cash to keep us going for a few days while we sort out any problems. Others take no cash at all and withdraw when they get there, but usually on the Nationwide current account with good rate and no fees.

If you are going to buy dollars before you go have a look here first:

http://www.thomasexchangeglobal.co.uk/

They will show you their rate vs rates available at many other places including the high street vendors, post office, etc.

Still, if you are looking to spend a maximum of about £500 during your time in Vegas - even if you exchange it all to dollars before you go at a poor rate (i.e. the post office) - you're talking about getting about $25 less total than you would if you got the best rate. If you are going to put some on your PO credit card you will get the best possible rate for those transactions, so that $25 difference will be even less. It all counts, yes but may not be worth worrying too much about.

If it were me in your situation, I would estimate how much of that $900 I would expect to put on the PO credit card and take the rest in cash I exchanged before I left. Worst case scenario I would use my debit card to withdraw more cash if I needed it.

charlottetractor

THank you! Drugz- someone moved my post to another thread but then moved it back, hence the confusion...

Crabman

Yep, sorry about that hope you've seen the PM I sent you both earlier

Middle_Sister

We are going to a family wedding and I need to take money as presents for other members of the family. How much cash can I take in Dollars into the States?

M4RKM

on a VWP you can take $10,000 in cash

dzug

You can take as much as you like. There is no limit.

However if you take more than $10000 (this would include any TCs and spending money as well as the gifts - and any UK currency you happen to be carrying) you have to declare it.

You MIGHT also have to account for how you came by it and prove it isn't drugs money

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/travel/currency_rpt_flyer/currency_reporting.ctt/currency_reporting.pdf

marjorie1

Has anyone bought foreign currency online. I've been looking at deals for dollars and if you book in advance you get a better rate. is this a 'con'. I've looked at crowncurrencyexchange and travelmoneyservices.

cheers

M4RKM

there are plenty of discussions of at least one of the services you've named, so if you do a search you'll be able to find out these details..

also, there is a dedicated thread for dollars discussion, again, a search will find this..



like so -
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=487069&highlight=crown+currency+exchange
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=587211&highlight=crown+currency+exchange
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=594551&highlight=crown+currency+exchange

plenty more as well..

lackingwedge

I have a nationwide debit card and $900 in cash for a 10 day holiday in ATL.

I plan to spend around $2500.
Should change more money before i go (using travelex- TEG price match) or will i get the same rate or better loading up my debit card and using the cahs machines?

luci

I've used CCE 3 times with no problems. I didn't do it online, I called them. The currency was delivered on the exact dates agreed and I would use them again.