cash or cheques

Even my bank isnt sure if I can draw money out, its a cheque card and atm only so not
a debit card. I can use it in europe so would have thought I could use it in America

Chris

Chris, I would'nt assume that if I were you. I am currently working on a global credit card project at work, and although it seems simple enough its all very complex especially when you look at the different regions of the world!!

Matt

thanks, well we will have our normal credit card with us as well.

Cirrus logos are on most ATMs in Florida (and seemingly the world). If your ATM card has one on it then you should have no trouble withdrawing cash from the machine.

We've done it a few times when we've needed a bit extra using a simple HSBC ATM card, however, you will be charged for the pleasure when you get home....as ever, bank charges vary but I dont remember it being too expensive.

Thanks Mike, just good to know that we can use it as backup if we need to. I never know
how much to take away so having an atm we can use is great

Chris

Chris,
Do you have a photocard UK drivers licence? When we were over in March/April if ever I was asked for ID I used this - everywhere seemed more than happy to take it as ID - we were asked so infrequently I was loathe to take my passport out.

We usually don't carry much cash as I prefer to use our credit card everywhere and just pay off the balance when we return (as Fiona said). We visited New York City 2 weeks ago and were shocked to find the number of places that would not accept credit cards - cash only (thank goodness for ATMs or I don't know what we would have done!!). Apparently the merchant fees have gone up to around 5% they were telling us and many business owners can't afford to pay this and have gone to cash only. Haven't seen this to be the case here at home - not yet anyway. Bottom line, I guess is "be prepared"!

Biggus

no I dont have one yet, suppose I should get one as in this situation I can see it would
help out a lot. Think I will up the amount of cheques and have the atm card as pure back up
if needed.

Thanks all for your help

Chris

only just over 3 weeks to go now, and are we excited :):)

The tip about photocoping your passport is a really good general traveller's tip and we have always done this. If anything does happen to your own one it apparently makes dealing with police/embassies all the easier. I also agree about switching to the photo driving licence, the Americans seem universally happier about accepting this as a form of ID, it is probably more familiar to them as this is what is generically used for ID. For even greater security leave the photos with someone in the UK to post/fax to you if needed.

I don't know if the currency exchange companies are doing this, but about two to three years ago when I was exchanging some last minute extra cash at the airport for travellers cheques, we were offered a plastic card with the Visa logo that would be usable at virtually all ATM's to take out our cash as and when we needed, save carrying either travellers cheques or cash. From memory the overall rate wasn't as good as travellers cheques. On thinking about this, though, you could simply get a credit card account for the purpose, pre-pay your holiday money onto it and use it for both cash and purchases over there. Once you come home you could either keep the card or close the account. Just a thought.

Best wishes,

Euan

I don't think you will have a problem withdrawing with your debit card.
For the first time ever, I used a UK bank debit card with the cirrus badge at an ATM in Boston recently and had no problems. I withdrew $200 and was charged $2 for the priviledge.