road trip to usa, 14 room security deposits! which type card?

Iwannawinlotto

Hello, Everyone, hope you are all well.

I am going to do route 66 next year, one son will be coming aswell as his girlfriend.

I don't have a credit card, son & girlfriend don't have them either-Looking at the trip, we will spend 14 nights in motels along the route.

Room rates vary a lot, as it's a mix, not just one chain, only problem i seem to have is motels and hotels over there charge a room security deposit. (I am aware of why) the issue is i will have to put 14 room deposits on a credit card, from what i have researched, it can take up to 2 weeks-to be released/come off card.

say $100 per night, per room. =$1400/$2800

As you progress in day numbers, balance limit may be reached. or declined ?

Also car rental insists on me using credit card for car rental, again deposit $$$

Although i have money saved, i don't know if i could get enough balance on it to cover the holiday, anyone with a clue about this scenario, advice would be appreciated, i know if i apply for a card- i will probably be offered a tiny credit like £400 or £1000. i have better than average credit score-but fear, i won't be able to get a decent credit limit to cover all the amounts required.

What type of card would i need?

Websites state the americans like Visa cards, so advice please ! and Thanks in advance, i may not have time to reply to everyone but rest assured, i will read them all, and reply to ones that will be of most help.

I aim to use a card, keep track, and then repay it all back upon return.

ps, my son doesn't want a card, as he fears getting into debt, so i guess it's on me.

lr1277

A few things to think about.

I have heard certain car rental companies want an embossed card i.e. with the numbers raised up from the card. I know many cards now have flat numbers. It would be worth checking with the car hire company what kind of cards they require.

This is not a recommendation but there is a Yonder card. I don't have it. But it does allow you to add savings to your balance. Also it is fx fee free. The downsides are Yonder want access to your current account (for monitoring purposes I think). In terms of benefits, they are London-centric but that may not matter to you.

In terms of card acceptance, I understand Visa, Mastercard and Amex are widely accepted. Though if you take Amex, take one ot the other types of card as well, just in case Amex is not accepted. I am not aware of any Amex that is fx fee free.

Sorry don't know much about security deposits.

Edited to add: apparently there are two Yonder cards. One with a fee and one without. Should you choose Yonder, you need to work out the best card for you.

sausage_time

You should really have a credit card for a US trip like this.  And one that offers good FX rates.  Take a look here:  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

On-the-coast

You’ve got a long time to prepare as you’re talking about next year.  

Strongly recommend you get hold of two credit cards for travelling in case one gets blocked (not unusual for first time users travelling far from home)
visa and Mastercard are safest options.  Amex is 100% usable in all the main hotels but maybe not in the smallest cheapest motels. 

Keep the cards in separate wallets if you can. 

As advised look for one that has no currency conversion fees - and always pay in the local currency (dollars) if you’re ever presented with the “would you like to pay in sterling” question. 

eskbanker

Iwannawinlotto said:

I am going to do route 66 next year, one son will be coming aswell as his girlfriend.

I don't have a credit card, son & girlfriend don't have them either-Looking at the trip, we will spend 14 nights in motels along the route.

Room rates vary a lot, as it's a mix, not just one chain, only problem i seem to have is motels and hotels over there charge a room security deposit. (I am aware of why) the issue is i will have to put 14 room deposits on a credit card, from what i have researched, it can take up to 2 weeks-to be released/come off card.

When I did that trip a couple of years ago, I don't recall it taking anything like two weeks for the card holds to be released, but it would definitely be advantageous to get hold of cards sooner rather than later and use them regularly, repaying in full each month, to build up a history of responsible use and enhance your chances of credit limit increases.

Iwannawinlotto said:

ps, my son doesn't want a card, as he fears getting into debt, so i guess it's on me.

Subject to what his credit history looks like, there shouldn't be anything stopping him from getting one, using it for this trip and then closing it down afterwards, if it improves the chances of him being able to go with you!

Iwannawinlotto said:

Websites state the americans like Visa cards, so advice please !

I used a Mastercard without any issues.

lr1277

Given reports that border agents are getting stricter on admitting people but I don't know if the following applies.

You should google:

usa money required by tourists

You and the other adult members of your party should be able to show sufficient funds for the entirety of the trip. One way to do that is to have all your accommodation and car hire pre-paid. Then you only need to show money for things like food and other daily expenses.

If you are not going to have pre-paid your car and accommodation, then you (and other adult members of your party) will need to show sufficient funds for all aspects of the trip.

In which case a credit card with a decent limit would be useful. If your son doesn't intend paying for anything by card, then it doesn't matter if he gets a card with an FX fee or not. If fact he could get the card from where he holds his current account assuming it is offered. Then as @eskbanker suggested he could cancel the card after the trip.

DullGreyGuy

Iwannawinlotto said:

Websites state the americans like Visa cards, so advice please ! 

I doubt you will find anywhere in the US that accepts Visa and doesnt accept Mastercard outside of the occasional spat with the likes of Costco who at one point only accepted visa in the US but only Mastercard in Canada and Mexico 

AmEx is fairly widely accepted there, Discover/Diner less so. 

sausage_time

Speaking of Costco, UK cards are valid in US and Canadian stores.  Any time I have visited I'm always struck about how similar the range is to the stores here.  The warehouse has the same orange shelves, same huge light fittings, and even even the same smell!