Vegas - Money - Cash - Casino's - Advice please :)

MercilessKiller

Hey there.

I'm going to Vegas for a poker holiday in August. Taking £3000.

I assume casino's will only accept cash ($) which is fine.

I just want to know the cheapest way of taking the money in $, but being able to keep it in £ if I don't use it all.

Thanks very much

dzug

Get it from an ATM with a debit card - but be aware of the charges. If your card charges a minimum fee, take enough out to warrant that fee.

Don't take $TCs or cash - or if you do, only what you are sure you will spend, as you'll lose a bomb changing them back to sterling on top of what it cost you to get them.

Sterling cash/TCs will (in Vegas, not the USA generally) be easy enough to change but the rate won't be that good.

MercilessKiller

I know the Post Office do a "we won't charge you returning TC if you bought them with us" but not sure about the difference in rates

meester

Most casino ATMs charge a fee for withdrawing cash. This is on top of charges from your UK Bank. Most UK banks have hiked their charges.

If you open a Nationwide account and put the money in there before you go, you will not pay any charges from the UK, and there are also some outside ATMs in Vegas that do not charge.

meester

btw, travellers cheques are rubbish. Take a credit card, preferably Nationwide card, and will be very handy as well.

MercilessKiller

Credit cards cant be used for buying chips though can they?

dzug

MercilessKiller wrote: »

Credit cards cant be used for buying chips though can they?

Don't know for sure but I suspect they can.

Your card issuer WILL treat it as a cash advance if it is possible, therefore not a wise thing to do.

dzug

MercilessKiller wrote: »

I know the Post Office do a "we won't charge you returning TC if you bought them with us" but not sure about the difference in rates

There will be a difference in rates. They 'charge' about 5% on the exchange rate for selling you foreign currency TCs (or cash come to that) and another 8% or so for buying them back - so getting on for 14% total. Most banks are the same.

What they don't charge is anything they actually call 'commission' or 'charge'.

MercilessKiller

I meant same currency TCs though that I can get changed in the states. That way only spending what i use etc

dzug

MercilessKiller wrote: »

I meant same currency TCs though that I can get changed in the states. That way only spending what i use etc

If by 'same currency' TCs you mean sterling, you will be charged for these in the UK - maybe 2 or 3% but it does vary - and will take an exchange rate hit when you cash them in the US. Outside tourist areas it will be hard to change them at all.

MercilessKiller

Ok need to review all the options. What will save me the most money, be more convenient, and not hurt me when coming back with unspent money.