what to use in California Cash or Credit

marjorie1

I am travelling with hubbie and son to california in July driving along the coast for two weeks. Can anyone suggest the best way to pay for food etc. do we take some dollars and perhaps a credit card with us so as not to carry loads of cash? Sounds like the nationwide card is the best, has anyone used it in California?
cheers
great site

fas3robinj

I've used my Nationwide card in California - no problem. I'd do exactly as you say. Take a few hundred dollars and use your Nationwide credit card as much as possible.

You can use your card for pretty much everything. Keep cash for things like taxi's and tips, etc.

Just one thing. Before you go, check your banks charges for withdrawing cash from a US ATM machine. Some UK banks charge for using ATM's abroad, and some don't. Mine charged about £5 each time (if I remember right). Even that's better than taking 1000's of dollars in cash.

Hope that helps,;)

marjorie1

Thanks. Am I right in thinking that we will have to tip in all restaurants and if so what's the expected tip 10 - 15% ??

fas3robinj

Tipping's pretty much a way of life in the US. I was told that waiters/waitresses are paid a very low wage, because it is expected that they will get a fair amount in tips. As for the percentage - again 10% - 15% seems about right. Don't tip in MacDonalds or KFC though LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

urbancookie1

You can also use American Express travellers checks. More secure than walking around with a lot of cash, you can use it at any shop, restaurant, hotel etc just as you would use cash and get any change in $$'s

As for tipping we found the easiest way was to just double or triple the tax at the bottom of your reciept, although you might want to check that the tip isnt included.

M4RKM

15% - 20% is a more accepted tip level IMO. Us brits always get called stingy with our tips, so if you tipped 10% on a meal, you'd be put into that category....

$1 dollar on an alcoholic drink, or $2 on a round... something along them lines when in bars!

steveo3002

ive found travelers cheques a pain anywhere where its not really touristy

take the nationwide card and get cash at atm's to keep you going, and any big purchases on the credit card

be prepared to have photo i.d if paying with a card...

utterbar

Be aware that most self-service petrol stations (a) require you to pre-pay for your fuel and (b) have card readers built into the pumps that do not work with UK chip&pin cards (at least they didn't last year). I usually took cash into the kiosk to pre-pay for fuel.

alanrowell

urbancookie1 wrote: »

You can also use American Express travellers checks.

You can also use American Express US dollar travellers checks. Americans don;t know that any other sort exist

fas3robinj

utterbar wrote: »

Be aware that most self-service petrol stations (a) require you to pre-pay for your fuel and (b) have card readers built into the pumps that do not work with UK chip&pin cards (at least they didn't last year). I usually took cash into the kiosk to pre-pay for fuel.

Yes - I find that our cards often don't work for self service gas. I usually go in to the kiosk and pre-pay for gas with my credit card. They sometimes have to phone for authorisation, and other times not.

steveo3002

the union 76 stations seem to take our cards...but yeah be prepared to pay cash