Best credit card to take to Florida...

RedfordML

Having saved for 4 years we are off for 3 weeks to Florida!! 

I just wondered, we are not looking to exchange all our spending for cash, and want to get a CC for our holiday> any reccomendations? Can you get a CC and withdraw in the US without a fee? Anyone that been to Florida or US and have advice about spending money WE would be so grateful! Thanks !

eskbanker

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

Brie

Suggest you get some cash for tips and potentially parking meters.  

Take a look at the link about travel cards from eskbanker above. The issue will be to get something that allows you to buy things with just the exchange rate that day - and always select US funds at all times.  If you do find you have a card where there is a fee per transaction or an exchange fee you will want to pay for tiddly things (coffee or pop) with cash. 

Frankly when I've been travelling I tend to simply get an ATM withdrawal for a specific amount ($200? $300) and take the hit on any fees with that but you might do just as well from a money exchange here in the UK - M&S always used to be good or travel agents rather than a bank and certainly not at the airport.  

RedfordML

eskbanker said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

This is great, thanks. BarclayCard Rewards - zero fees on purchases and on ATM withdrawals - also a little 0.25% cashback - seems to tick everything we are looking for! 

eskbanker

RedfordML said:

eskbanker said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

This is great, thanks. BarclayCard Rewards - zero fees on purchases and on ATM withdrawals - also a little 0.25% cashback - seems to tick everything we are looking for! 

Of course you may not actually be accepted for one (or could end up with an insufficient credit limit), depending on your financial circumstances, so perhaps worth trying eligibility checkers such as:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/eligibility/credit-cards/search/?goal=CC_OVERSEAS

Marchitiello

I know you have said that you want to use a CC but as other have said some cash in US may still be required.

to that extent, if you open an account with CHASE UK bank, you get a DC with forex free and free cash withdrawal at Chase US ATM (ATM operators in US charge otherwise fee to customers from other banks, both US banks and foreign banks, independently if your UK bank will also charge you an ATM fee or not). In addition, for your first year, you also get 1% cashback, including spending in foreign currency (I made some double digit cashback during my trip in LA last March).

I personally would not withdraw cash on CC for many reasons, as even when the bank itself does not charge a fee, it may incur interest from day one and more importantly gets reported to the Credit Reference Agencies, plus you will get slapped with ATM fees that can get as high as 5-6 USD per transaction, again in addition to what your UK bank may charge you or not).


as a backup, Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card is forex free and also give you 0.25% cashback.

i still have a Santander Zero CC (no longer offered) and I am currently using it for spending during my current holiday as they are offering 1% cashback on foreign spending for this summer only, plus the Chase debit Card for ATM
withdrawal. 

RedfordML

Thanks all, great advice and suggestions! 

[Deleted User]

Wawa service stations usually have a surcharge free ATM. Not worth a special visit but worth popping in if you need to refuel. The coffee/food isn't bad either. 

COIAHLGW

If you have a Barclays current account, their *debit* card can be used at Bank of America cash machines without a BofA ATM fee (at least $3) and £1.50 Barclays cash fee and due to the Global ATM alliance.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/content/dam/documents/personal/current-accounts/9914176_1216_debcardabroad.pdf

Marchitiello

COIAHLGW said:

If you have a Barclays current account, their *debit* card can be used at Bank of America cash machines without a BofA ATM fee (at least $3) and £1.50 Barclays cash fee and due to the Global ATM alliance.

https://www.barclays.co.uk/content/dam/documents/personal/current-accounts/9914176_1216_debcardabroad.pdf

That is interesting, however I cannot see reference to the ATM operator not applying the ATM fee, just that Barclays will not apply theirs (it may well be, strange that there is no mention of it though). Also Barclays will still apply visa Exchange rates (most often worst then MasterCard) and 2.75% forex fee.

Again, Chase UK  is unbeatable in US, especially within the first year of account opening 

 

daveyjp

Just been to New York and used Barclaycard Rewards, Santander Zero, Starling debit card with no issues.  We took some dollars, so didn't need ATM withdrawals.  We spent the cash just to get rid of it as everywhere took cards.

However I don't know what Florida is like, but we found using contactless was a lottery and Apple Pay was far from widely accepted, especially in restaurants. 

Many outlets had no wireless payment systems, many still required the physical card to be used at the till.  No PIN required, but you needed to sign the receipt.  As a result paying could take a while.

20% tip is now expected in restaurants, so add this to the prices.

Some add it automatically (at 18-20%), some leave it to you.  Check carefully as even those that add it automatically leave a line for a tip on the bill, don't pay it twice!