Credit card or cash?

Nannytone

I have have a holiday booked for the end of July to Florida.
By the time we go I will have saved around 3 and 1/2 thousand-pound spending money.

I have had an issue crop up that means I need to spend  about £1,000 in the next few weeks.

I have a zero balance 0% interest credit card but would prefer not  to put the imminent purchase on it because I will have to start making payments before my holiday and so decrease my savings.

I could however make the purchase and  buy £1,000 of my US currency on the credit card a week before I go
Would this be treated as a cash withdrawal or a normal credit card purchase?
I would be able to pay the card off in full 2 weeks after I return from my holiday

[Deleted User]

Depending on the card, the currency will almost certainly be treated as cash.

eDicky

Buying cash dollars is pointless, cards are accepted for virtually every expense in US, so just pay with your credit card. It will no doubt involve fees, but probably cost no more than buying cash and be much more convenient. For your readily available holiday funds, put them in an account with a fee-free card such as Starling Bank or Monzo.

Nannytone

I don't want to take a credit card with me and prefer to use a combination of a prepaid card and and some cash.
I only really use the credit card for emergencies and not day-to-day spending.
I was just considering the best use of it in my current predicament

sausage_time

If you don't want a credit card why not look at an account with a FX friendly debit card (Startling, Bo, etc)?

onwards&upwards

If you haven’t already got your park tickets sorted for Florida, go over to the Overseas and holidays board for advice on the cheapest tickets you can buy before you go, that’ll save you some money. 

penners324

Buying foreign cash on a credit card is the worst option. 
Get yourself a Starling or Monzo account (pre paid cards cost too much as well) and a credit card with no foreign transaction fees (eg Tandem Journey Card).

Gerry1

Not a good idea to be abroad without a credit card: there are all sorts of occasions where something doesn't go to plan and you face unexpected expenditure.  Your pre-paid card might not be accepted for some unknown reason, e.g. a network failure or whatever, or the fact that it's a foreign card.  The USA can be very parochial, and just try using a foreign card in a Japanese ATM !

Just because you take a credit card doesn't mean that you have to use it.  It could get you out of a sticky situation, e.g. if you need to rent a car locally (perhaps they say there's no trace of your pre-paid UK booking) because few if any car rental companies will accept a debit card.  Ditto if The Computer Says No when you've filled up the tank or are leaving a restaurant or hotel.

And just imagine being stranded abroad with no access to funds when all flights have been suspended indefinitely because of corona virus...

Alexd52

Agree with most of the above, you can use Starling as a prepaid card by transferring what you need to it and then using it without the foreign transaction fees. This would be cheaper than using an actual prepaid card.

Nannytone

Gerry1 said:

Not a good idea to be abroad without a credit card: there are all sorts of occasions where something doesn't go to plan and you face unexpected expenditure.  Your pre-paid card might not be accepted for some unknown reason, e.g. a network failure or whatever, or the fact that it's a foreign card.  The USA can be very parochial, and just try using a foreign card in a Japanese ATM !

Just because you take a credit card doesn't mean that you have to use it.  It could get you out of a sticky situation, e.g. if you need to rent a car locally (perhaps they say there's no trace of your pre-paid UK booking) because few if any car rental companies will accept a debit card.  Ditto if The Computer Says No when you've filled up the tank or are leaving a restaurant or hotel.

And just imagine being stranded abroad with no access to funds when all flights have been suspended indefinitely because of corona virus...

I won't be totally wear a credit card because I'm going with family and they will have theirs.
I am blind and the fewer card I have to get confused with the better
Is it raining in the circumstances it is unfortunate the everything for the holiday has already been paid for and it is just a matter of spending money now.
Could really have done without a big spend just before we go