View Full Version : Money and shopping
Hi there - we're off to Orlando in 3 weeks. I'm still dithering about how to take our spending money - cash, travellers cheques or cards. Are most travellers cheques easy to cash and isit true that Nationwide Flexaccount cards don't charge for use? - in which case that sounds the best.
Also my tenagers plan to do some shopping, but I was wondering if there are any problems with using US cds, dvds or PS2 games on return to Us. Are there any restrictions to what we can bring home.
Many thanks. Jan
Elaine311
18-06-2004, 00:40
I'm off in two weeks :D We've got the bulk of our spending money in travellers cheques, but we've also got a good few hundred in dollars! I'm also taking my credit card 'just in case' lol. From what I've read, most places accept travellers cheques as they would cash, so I don't anticipate any problems at all.
With PS2 games, unless your PS2 at home is chipped, US format games will not work (and if you have your PS2 chipped it invalidates any warranty). CD's are fine but again with DVD's, check before you go that your DVD player will play them (mine won't).
Elaine
Ann-Marie
18-06-2004, 00:52
Hi Jan
We're off 3 weeks today - yipee:D:D
We mainly take US travellers cheques and cash (and take credit cards if case of need). As Elaine said US travellers cheques can be used just like cash so no need to visit the bank to exchange them.
Have a great trip!
Ann-Marie:D
We always take some cash and then use the "cash machines" which are available all over. They take the Link cards, so we obtain cash that way, and we get a good exchange rate. You can even use the link machines in the Parks.
Enjoy your holiday, we have 53 days to go, before we are out there..... not that I'm counting :D:D:D
Hi Jan
I don't know about the nationwide flexaccount cards - I would imagine Nationwide are the best people to ask about that.
$ traveller cheques are definitely the best/safest form of 'cash' to take as they are generally accepted just like cash in most places and you get cash as your change.(P
lus you are covered if they are stolen or go missing) Just make sure you have some form of id with you ( passport/driving license) in case you are asked for it when signing them. I generally have some cash with us - and small denominations are useful for any tipping early on in your holiday A credit card - Mastercard/Visa -is always handy for those 'unexpected purchases' .....and in Florida that's always a possibility!
Have a fantastic time...I have to wait until Xmas for our trip
Silver Dollar
18-06-2004, 02:16
Im due there on Saturday and I will take mostly cash (I know it's probably not the sensible thing to do) and then after I have spent that I will rely on the Link Machines.
47 days to go.
We take TC's and use our credit card.
Nationwide debit cards do not charge when you draw out money, you also get a higher exchange
rate
We take both T/C and cash, was never asked for id when using T/c,s but then I must look like
a decent chap
DVD's players can easily be chipped, its normally a code you type in on your hand control
If you do a search on Google for dvdcheats you should find some info, other than that ring
up the manufacturer, they should tell you the code
We also take a CC, but thats for emergencies
Just watch out with other credit cards that you're not charged extra (up to 2.75%) on purchases made in foreign currency (ie US$s). Check out the info on the back of your statement before you go as it's too late after you've spent it!
Take some $1 bills as they're useful for luggage trollies at the airport ($3) and also for road tolls.
Cruella DeVilla
18-06-2004, 03:14
Credit cards are a must in the USA especially for carhire and when the TCs and $$$ run out you can still spend spend spend!! I also use my Halifax cash card here to with no problems.
CDV
Nostromo
18-06-2004, 10:30
My wife and I have not taken Travellers Cheques to the USA for over 10 years. We use MC or Visa, accepted almost everywhere. For small transections, we keep some spare cash just like in the UK. If one needs more money, the UK Debit Cards can be used on all Americam ATMs. There may be a small charge, but I think the convenience is worth it. TCs are just too much of a pain.
Can't agree Nostromo TC's are taken as cash is, could not be easier. Never had a problem using them never found them to be a pain. Buying them at the right time can save you a fortune, bought a £1000 worth when they were $1.86.
Nostromo
18-06-2004, 19:38
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
Can't agree Nostromo TC's are taken as cash is, could not be easier. Never had a problem using them never found them to be a pain. Buying them at the right time can save you a fortune, bought a £1000 worth when they were $1.86.
[/quote]
That's what I meant. We try to avoid taking more cash than necessary and if you use a $100 TC for a smaller amount, you might end up with more money than you want to carry. I am sorry to disagree with you but both my wife and I find TCs completely pointless and inconvenient while travelling in the US, and we go at least once a year.
We go with some cash for small purchases - drinks ice creams etc. Children take pocket money in cash , but only give then a small amount to carry themselves, and ration then to so much per week so it doesn't get all blown on the first day
Anything over about $20 we put on a credit card ( Nationwide - good rate and no extra charges). Debit card taken as a back-up if we need more cash. Don't do TCs.
We went with the in laws this time and they wanted to pay their way ( I love my mother-in-law!), so everytime we paid a resrtaurant bill or food shopping etc my father in law wrote down the total and who paid in his little black book. At the end of the holiday we totted up who had paid how much and wrote a cheque to even up expenses. Might work well if you have two famillies travelling together. Otherwise its all to easy for one family to subsidise the other.
Jo
Nostromo
19-06-2004, 00:47
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jo
so everytime we paid a resrtaurant bill or food shopping etc my father in law wrote down the total and who paid in his little black book. [/quote]
He sounds like a great guy....just like my own father-in-law; only, his little book is blue. :D:D:D
Cruella DeVilla
19-06-2004, 01:03
My hubby has a black and grey one! Sad really, he sits like Scrooge every night! It makes no odds how much we have spent. I think it is just when we get back he can say "look we spent $3,000 this trip!! (And no he is not Scottish.......I am)!
CDV
I'm there in 36 days, and I plan to take 1/3 of my holiday spending estimate in cash and 2/3 as TC's, anything else is on my credit card.
Hadrian[msncool]