USA Trip

Popey26 · 3 September 2019 at 2:09PM

First time poster so apologies if I'm asking a common question (I did have a look first).

I'm due to travel the the US at the end of the month and obviously the £ has taken a bit of a kicking vs the $ in recent weeks. I have a WeSwap card and an MBNA Horizon Credit Card that carries no fees abroad. I have around $750 on the WeSwap which was changed up earlier in the year at a significantly better rate but I'm unsure what to do with the other £1000 I'd budgeted to take. Am I better using the CC and paying off in full when I return or taking the hit on exchange rates and piling it onto the WeSwap. Any advice greatly appreciated.

jackieblack · 3 September 2019 at 2:36PM

I would use the credit card and pay it off when you return but you should have a back up in case there is a problem with that card. A small amount of cash for tipping is generally useful, although depending on where in the USA you are going, plastic can be used for almost anything and, in a few places, a card will be essential.

For example, I was in Boston a couple of weeks ago and the Logan Express bus no longer accepts cash, it’s card payments only (for a $3 fare!) - however in a state park in South Dakota a couple of years ago they couldn’t take card payments at all and it was cash only...

Popey26 · 3 September 2019 at 3:30PM

Thank you! I'm going to Vegas which I haven't visited since 2011. I presume however that it'll be pretty card/contactless friendly if I do opt to go down the CC route? I'm guessing my biggest outlay will be food and rounds of drinks in the casino bars which I'm presuming will be easy for card payments?

jackieblack · 3 September 2019 at 4:47PM

I haven’t been to LV since 2009 but, as a tourism hotspot, I would assume the same.
As an aside, I have noticed an increase in use of chip&pin with card payments over the last few years, so may be a good idea to double check if you don’t often use your card (I have a couple of cards that I only ever use abroad and got caught out by being unable to remember the PIN for one the first time I was asked as I’d never needed it previously.)

heatherw_01 · 3 September 2019 at 5:11PM

Popey26 wrote: »

Thank you! I'm going to Vegas which I haven't visited since 2011. I presume however that it'll be pretty card/contactless friendly if I do opt to go down the CC route? I'm guessing my biggest outlay will be food and rounds of drinks in the casino bars which I'm presuming will be easy for card payments?

I had no issues using cards in Vegas this year

headpin · 11 September 2019 at 10:07PM

Be aware that Europe is ahead of the US with Credit Card security. Should be no issues but some people have had problems with Chip and Pin, contactless, etc when using their cards. Often they still swipe! What this sometimes does is cause the card to get blocked and you will need to contact your card provider to get unblocked. Take another card in case of issues.

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