View Full Version : Cheques?Cash?Credit Card?
I know this subject has been delved into before, but we are really unsure of what to take with us when we go. Either Travellers Cheques, or Credit Card and cash?
What does everyone do?
We have been advised to take the Credit Card and just settle the bill when we come home. But if we did that, we would still need some cash, do we just use the ATM's for the cash? Would we get charged commision?
Sorry for all the questions. Just confused as to what to do.[msnscared]
Robert5988
10-05-2005, 01:37
Credit cards normally attract a charge from an ATM. Debit card is best option and Nationwide usually gives best exchange rate.
Pay for goods/services with credit/debit card.
Traveller's cheques are normally the most expensive option.
You will be surprised at how little cash you need as plastic works for most things.
Hi Angela,
we use our credit card for most things and then use our debit cards to get cash as we need it. Remember to take some small change (small bills or coins) for any toll roads on arrival. They vary between 25c and $1 for most tolls [msnsmile]
Have a great trip [msnsmile2]
Hi Angela,
Personally I tend to travel with a couple of hundred dollars in cash and then use a card for everything else. If the cash runs out I grab a top-up out of an ATM. The discussions about ATM fees can sometimes run to pages and pages and pages but ultimately I always figure that if I'm hit with a dollar or two of fees it's a very small price to pay for the convenience.
Visa, Mastercard and Amex are all very widely accepted credit/charge cards in the US. There is a nice side-benefit with some plastic that has a loyalty scheme attached to it. My BA-Amex card racks up airmiles for everything I spend. Virgin have a similar scheme with their credit card. A couple of weeks of shopping aren't going to net you a family worth of flights (unless you're CDV) but I figure that every little bit helps.
If your debit card says either Maestro or Cirrus on it, it should be OK for use in most ATMs in Orlando.
If you are using an ATM to get cash it will more than likely ask you which type of account to withdraw from. Just select the option closest to Credit Card. In the US a cheque account is referred to as a checking account, so avoid this option if you see it.
Have a great trip.
We always take a few dollars for tolls and our Nationwide debit and credit cards. Nationwide only pass on the actual currency conversion charge which is approx 0.75% and not the 2.75% in fees and conversion charge which most seem to charge. You therefore get a rate which is very close to the market rate which is better than the tourist rate.
I agree, Nationwide Credit Card for about 98% of all purchases including meals and tips, even drinks at the bar. I just take about $350 in cash for incidentals. We came back Sunday and I still have $82 and some change left from my $350 and that included just over a $100 that was over from the last trip which I topped up when I ghot their.
I agree a debit card is the best option to get cash from an ATM but be careful which you choose as like in the UK many charge now. I used Wachovia Bank & Washington Mutual in the last three or four visits and have not been charged but others charge a flat fee - even for debit cards!
Ray&Sarah
10-05-2005, 12:01
We use a mixture, credit card, cash & some travellers cheques, just like to keep all bases covered.[msnsmile]
We also use a mix of cash, cards and travellers cheques. I find travellers cheques the safest way to carry big amounts and they are so easy to use.
Curly Wurly
10-05-2005, 14:11
We use a combination of cash/travellers cheques/credit card
I try not to hit the credit card too much so I don't get a shock when I get home & end up paying for the purchases for the next few months!!! :D
I use credit cards and a little cash. I personally don't like to carry lots of cash or travellers cheques.
We take a few hundred dollars cash to keep us going. Then use our debit card from the Nationwide, to get cash out from cash points or pay for goods and meals, they never charge us fees for using the card abroad.
We take about $500 in Tc's (for 3 weeks) and use our CC for the rest.
As people above have said this has been covered in depth before but what I think confuses some people is that most CC DO NOT charge you for using your card in the US they give you a slightly lower $ rate. On the other side of the coin they do give you cashback whereas others e.g Nationwide do not give cashback on foreign purchases. You need to look into your T&C's of your card to find out exactly what it will/will not costs you.
waterside
10-05-2005, 16:04
i alwats take cash
then use my bank of america debit card whilst there
no problems ever
except that bank of america keep sending stuff to GUYANNA as my postal cosde is not dissimilar-- they do not seem to have sugfficient space to put UK, ENGLAND OR WHATEVER!!
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Snapper
Hi Angela,
If your debit card says either Maestro or Cirrus on it, it should be OK for use in most ATMs in Orlando.
If you are using an ATM to get cash it will more than likely ask you which type of account to withdraw from. Just select the option closest to Credit Card. In the US a cheque account is referred to as a checking account, so avoid this option if you see it.
Have a great trip.
[/quote]
both my cards (Lloyds TSB and Barclays) say Delta on them.
can i still use them in the US ok?
I just use my Bank of America debit card and take a bit of cash for incidentals. Before I had my US accoutn I just used to use my NAt west debit card to get cash out of the ATM
Magical Dreams
10-05-2005, 19:25
We tend to use a mixture of Cash, TC & Debit Cards (N/Wide)
TC's are easy and do not incurr charges like they do in spain and other european countries.
Just make sure they are in $US and not Sterling!
[msnsmile2][msnsmile2]
I stopped using travellers cheques years ago. There are ATM's everywhere and you don't really need to carry a lot of cash. The problem with travellers cheques is losing them. Whatever AMEX etc tell you, it's no end of hassle getting them replaced. Also, if you use them, you need to take the money out of your account long before you actually spend it, which I think is a costly way of working.
Tonish
Thanks everyone for all your views etc, it has been helpful. Still not really sure what to do myself though. Think i will look into the Nationwide CC as well.
[msnsmile]
CarolAnn
11-05-2005, 01:15
We have been using mainly credit card for the past 14 years, would recommend it! The only thing we need cash for is toll roads(depends how much travelling around you do), ice-creams...err that really is about it!! Everything else has been put on a credit card!! We have found this very successful of the years, and in the US they take CC's much more readily than the UK for absolutely anything! Before, having a US bank account we also used our Nationwide Debit card to get cash out, just to see how the costing was, absolutely fine, no surprises, no cost either (that was about 4 years ago).
tezz7628
11-05-2005, 01:38
mines cash, travellers cheques and my liverpool victoria credit card
which sadly i have seen the rate rise from free to 1% to 2.75% from 1st june :(
DisneyDreamer
11-05-2005, 20:53
We only take enough in dollars travellers cheques and cash to cover things like Tolls and Tips. We pay on the plastic for everything else. I will certainly look at getting a Nationwide C/C as it seems to be the best for using abroad.
LiesaAnna
11-05-2005, 21:45
we take travellers cheques and cash, hubby wont let me use a credit card! (spoilsport) we take one for emergency and as credit card inprint for the car rental place
Robert5988
13-05-2005, 00:22
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:we take travellers cheques and cash, hubby wont let me use a credit card! (spoilsport) we take one for emergency and as credit card inprint for the car rental place[/quote]
Having chosen the most expensive way to obtain US$s, perhaps you could explain the reasons?
timfawson
13-05-2005, 00:27
We mainly use our credit cards and take a few hundred dollas cash for tips, toll roads and Tim just loves to get his Orlando Sentinal out of the little things outside all the shops and restaurants (bet they have a name but I don't know what it is)
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:we take travellers cheques and cash, hubby wont let me use a credit card! (spoilsport) we take one for emergency and as credit card inprint for the car rental place[/quote]
Having chosen the most expensive way to obtain US$s, perhaps you could explain the reasons?
[/quote]
Robert
What do you mean by this? Are you saying that everyone who takes TC's are going to pay over the odds??[msnscared]
Robert5988
13-05-2005, 16:06
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Robert5988
quote:
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we take travellers cheques and cash, hubby wont let me use a credit card! (spoilsport) we take one for emergency and as credit card inprint for the car rental place
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having chosen the most expensive way to obtain US$s, perhaps you could explain the reasons?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert
What do you mean by this? Are you saying that everyone who takes TC's are going to pay over the odds??
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela
[/quote]
Yes.
With the rate of exchange and/or commission TCs and cash are the most expensive way to obtain US$s.
Cheaper methods of obtaining US$s are given above.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Robert5988
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
we take travellers cheques and cash, hubby wont let me use a credit card! (spoilsport) we take one for emergency and as credit card inprint for the car rental place
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having chosen the most expensive way to obtain US$s, perhaps you could explain the reasons?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert
What do you mean by this? Are you saying that everyone who takes TC's are going to pay over the odds??
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela
[/quote]
Yes.
With the rate of exchange and/or commission TCs and cash are the most expensive way to obtain US$s.
Cheaper methods of obtaining US$s are given above.
[/quote]
At the end of the day it is personal choice, if someone doesnt feel happy about using their Credit Card for almost everything, then maybe TC's are the safest option. I know that if we take our CC then i am more likely to spend WELL over my budget!
And Liesa's reason is, i would guess, probably the same as mine, TOO MUCH SHOPPING!! Hey Liesa?
DisneyDreamer
13-05-2005, 16:40
To be honest for the amount of money most of us take for 'spending money' I am sure it doesn't make a HUGE amount of difference which method you choose to pay with. I use a card because it's easy - simple as that. I find I actually spend less when I use cash/T.cheques but that's no fun is it!!!!
Each to their own I say:)
Robert5988
13-05-2005, 18:47
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Each to their own I say[/quote]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:At the end of the day it is personal choice[/quote]
This is 'Ask the Experts' section and(for the benefit of those who read this section) those posting have simply pointed out that cash and TCs are the most expensive options.
It is merely advice and I am not aware of any criticism directed at those who choose to take cash and TCs.
If the temptations of a credit card cannot be resisted, so be it.
chrizzy100
13-05-2005, 19:02
From the UK I would use TC and cash...only using my CC for park tickets....and car hire.......
Traveling within the US....I now use mostly cash......it keeps me within my budget....$50 see me through the day......and I have CC for back up....
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Each to their own I say[/quote]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:At the end of the day it is personal choice[/quote]
This is 'Ask the Experts' section and(for the benefit of those who read this section) those posting have simply pointed out that cash and TCs are the most expensive options.
It is merely advice and I am not aware of any criticism directed at those who choose to take cash and TCs.
If the temptations of a credit card cannot be resisted, so be it.
[/quote]
I dont believe i WAS criticising anyone Robert5988. I was just merely pointing out the fact that I would rather take TC's and cash.
Sorry if i have upset you in anyway.[msnembarrased]
Are CC's the less expensive option? If you dont pay your CC balance straight away, you get stung with high interest.[msnmad]
Robert5988
18-05-2005, 02:04
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Are CC's the less expensive option? If you dont pay your CC balance straight away, you get stung with high interest.[/quote]
If you think hard about that question you might come up with the answer.
Which is:
If you have sufficient money to purchase TCs or exchange for US$, you will have sufficient money to pay your credit card balance straight away. All you need to do is leave the money in UK to earn interest.
However as you generally get a better exchange rate with Credit/Debit cards(with no commission) than TC and Cash you will be better off financially.
This was your original post:
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote: I know this subject has been delved into before, but we are really unsure of what to take with us when we go. Either Travellers Cheques, or Credit Card and cash?
What does everyone do?
We have been advised to take the Credit Card and just settle the bill when we come home. But if we did that, we would still need some cash, do we just use the ATM's for the cash? Would we get charged commision?
Sorry for all the questions. Just confused as to what to do[/quote]
A number of people advised you.
Your response:
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I was just merely pointing out the fact that I would rather take TC's and cash.
[/quote]
One might ask why you asked the question in the first place! However nobody has argued that shouldn't do what you wish. It has merely been pointed out to those reading this thread which is the cheaper option.
In the past I have always used a mixture of Credit card & Travelers Cheques. I have found that the commission charged on the credit card has made the final exchange rate almost the same as the tourist rate I have had on the Travellers cheques. I watch the rate and try to buy my travellers cheques when the rate is good. I got $1.86 this year and at present the rate is dropping so I think I did very well. I have applied for a Nationwide Credit Card and will use this this year and see how the exchange rate compares when we go in August.