Money in the USA

[smurfchops]

Going on a trip around the USA, LA, Vegas, San Francisco etc. Going to take some cash, but would like to mostly use my Debit card. Will I be able to use my Debit card in the casinos for gambling, and restaurants etc. so I don't need to take too much cash with me ? I know I will get charged for taking cash out of the ATM but I don't want to carry much cash, would a Debit card be the best way to take my money out there ? I don't fancy travellers cheques.

[237SJ]

Don`t know which bank you`re with but I never use my Lloyds bank debit card abroad because they add a charge every time

[jack daniels]

as mentioned already - you'll be charged for using your debit card.
think about taking a travel money card (fee on withdrawals) or as Martin Lewis mentions in the link below - have a read

http://www.moneysavin...el/cheap-travel-money

http://www.postoffice...0207&mediaId=26800661

http://www.creditchoi...fice-credit-card.html

[jno]

the thing about travellers' cheques is you can use them like cash in the USA; unlike cash if they're stolen they will be replaced.

Saga do a credit card that does not charge commission on transactions abroad.

[spudqueen]

I would definitely take dollar travellers cheques if I were you. They are widely accepted in the States. If you pay for something which costs say $62.50 with a $100 travellers cheque you get the change (in this case $37.50) in cash. The other advantage with travellers cheques is that if they are lost or stolen you can get replacements really, really easily. That wouldn't happen with a debit card. Not that I wouldn't take a debit card with me aswell, just that I wouldn't rely on it that much. A credit card is also a really good idea to take with you to the States, especially if you are hiring a car as I think you need one at the hire centre.

[xstitcher]

Definitely travellers' cheques.............

[smurfchops]

Thanks everyone, its given me food for thought. Its a Nationwide Debit card by the way, I know they charge for ATM transactions.

[dzug2]

Nationwide do NOT charge for ATM transactions and will be your cheapest source of cash/method of spending. They charge a 1% exchange fee - way less than most other banks and way less than the cost of TCs. The ATM may charge - but that would be the case with any card.

[cc1]

We always use the Nationwide card, the 1% is far less than the charges for Travellers cheques. the because they deal in bulk currency rates, the exchange rate is usually far better than buying TCs.
Some banks in the US charge for using the ATMs, but not all, we went in and asked, before we needed to draw cash.

[spudqueen]

Charges for travellers cheques cc1? What charges? If you buy them in the Post Office there are no charges, and there are certainly no charges when you exchange dollar travellers cheques in the US. No charges is certainly cheaper than 1 per cent!

[BenDToy]

How naive spudqueen. So how do you think they make money? The Post Office may not be the most successful business but they are certainly not a charity. Their rate today for travellers cheques and cash is the same. Do you really think that if you bought USD (or travellers cheques) at that price and then immediately tried to change them back to GBP that you would get the same amount you started with? If you don't then they are obviously not free. And if you do then you really should not be allowed out of the house unaccompanied.
Commission Free does not mean free. The charges are hidden in the lousy exchange rate they offer, in order to con the most gullible members of the population.