As a traveller to the USA, which is the most convenient and secure method of carrying my currency?

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Charlie

Carry little cash and use your ATM card. Call the customer service number on the card before you leave home and tell then you will be in the U.S. Then use it get get cash as needed...will get best exchange rate that way. Also, use a money belt or passport wallet to carry cash. Call number on your debit card to see if you can use it in the U.S.

vin b

The best way would be to use your debit card, however some banks may charge.

The original Peter G

Dollar travellers cheques, issued by a US bank are good as cash for hotel, restaurant, shopping. Credit card for auto rental. Advisable to have some cash for taxi fares, tips &c. Always best to have multiple sources in case one fails. Visa is generally OK, Mastercard a bit less. Oddly enough Amex is not very good except in major chains. Expect some questions and need for other ID if you use a foreign brand. Most card issuers (but not Natonwide) charge a % for overseas use.

tek

Often you will be charged with a debit card. Take travellers cheques. They are no less convenient you just cash them in. Also you can quickly reclaim tham if they get stolen

Homer Z. Crowder, IV

Use an ATM card. Never carry more than $20 cash. You might need a little more if you are planning to go to a theme park.

I really advise you to not carry more than ten dollars. However, some parking garages cost over ten dollars. It's about fifteen bucks to park at Disneyland, and they don't take credit cards.

rugratshd

Get a Nationwide account and use their debit/credit card
1. no fees at all for purchases using either, no fee for cash withdrawls using debit card
2. You will be given the mid-rate for currency exchange, not the Amex tourist rate. Nationwide is the ONLY UK financial institution to offer this bonus. It means you will get 4-5% more $'s for your Â£ then any other method

NOLA guy

Convert about 100 Pounds to USD before you leave home and just use your UK debit card.

Do check with your bank to make certain your account can be accessed abroad (specifically in the USA) with your card.

Also ask them if they have a relationship with a USA bank (ex. Chase, Bank of America, etc.) so you could use the ATMs of their USA partner bank for zero or reduced fees. Avoid ATMs in hotel lobbies, restaurants, and bars as those usually charge steep fees.

Hope you have a great trip!

Dark Crusader

we went to USA last year for three weeks to get married so we needed to take a fair bit of money with us we got a travellers cheque/credit card from travel agents before we left. works like travellers cheques but you pre-load your money onto a card that you can use just like a credit card (normal max load limit is Â£3000) or withdraw cash from ATMs. our friends who flew out from England with us for the wedding also got the same thing. take your own credit card just in case for back up if you run out of money.
have a FAB time we cant wait to go back......

Blondie Bear

I always just carry dollars in cash and I have never had an issue using my debit or credit card. Use both of these methods and you'll be fine.

Collie

Be careful about a debit card.... Check with your bank because when I used mine all throughout Canada I came back and my bank charged me an "international usage fee"......That little "fee" amounted to nearly 300 bucks....But, if your bank wont stick you with that a debit card is the way to go.

PS> As long as you're not in any big cities it is perfectly safe and reasonable to carry a healthy amount of cash.

smrardin

Having recently traveled in Europe, I can understand your concerns about the ability to cash traveler's cheques. However, you will not experience the same difficulties here in the US with cashing them that you would in Europe. Almost every business, hotel and restaurant will accept traveler's cheques. As long as you have a valid ID (your passport) with a signature on it, you will be fine. Also, make sure your cheques are American Express or another name recognized cheque.

You can use your Visa card although you will certainly want to notify them you are traveling abroad. Many cards will place a fraud alert if they notice you are suddenly spending in a different country from your normal purchasing history. The last thing you need while on holiday is for the bank to freeze your card because they think it is not you making the purchases! The card company may also assess a fee for conversion. Discover card, however, does not assess the fee so you might want to look into that one if you have time before your trip.

Most of us use our credit/debit card and just swallow the fees when we travel to Europe. Fees aside, it is very nice to have a complete spending history without keeping tabs on all the paper receipts.

shakermaker

you can get a credit card from a travel agents thats protected in the same way as travellers checks are

Chris C

A lot of places that I have travelled to in the US have NEVER heard of debit cards!! (I know!! I was so shocked!)
Travellers cheques are best. They are accepted almost everywhere.
Don't let anyone see your cash. Get your cash exchanged at a bank only!!

Lizzy

Open a Nationwide Account. I use my visa debit card as they don't charge for withdrawals abroad.

na nu na nu

in my underwear
how thieves would go digging for my money?

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