america and cash ???
Discussion
we are shortly staying in a budget hotel in the usa hence leaving valuables in a safe might be a problem.
we have 5 children so I will be carrying 7 passports, licenses etc and approx $6000 in cash.
can anyone give me any other options as it is a big worry carrying all that in a bum bag?
cheers
we have 5 children so I will be carrying 7 passports, licenses etc and approx $6000 in cash.
can anyone give me any other options as it is a big worry carrying all that in a bum bag?
cheers
Edited by brianlewis on Friday 25th November 21:21
Credit card? just withdraw on your debit card? Traveller's Cheques?
Make sure you take photocopies of the passports if you are worried. The important thing is to not look like a tourist; you are much less likely to get pickpocketed if you do that.
As a result, don't wear a bumbag (get a money belt), don't wear UK football shirts, and don't wear shorts. If you dress like a local you'll blend right in.
Make sure you take photocopies of the passports if you are worried. The important thing is to not look like a tourist; you are much less likely to get pickpocketed if you do that.
As a result, don't wear a bumbag (get a money belt), don't wear UK football shirts, and don't wear shorts. If you dress like a local you'll blend right in.
30 days...11 hotels....5 kids. Good luck!
Seriously though, that's a lot of cash to be carrying around anywhere. If you must carry it and you're paranoid, you might as well buy a proper money belt.
Also a lot of small stores and gas stations will baulk at anything over a $20, so you may be carrying a lot of notes.
I really don't get why you wouldn't just use cash machines and credit cards.
Seriously though, that's a lot of cash to be carrying around anywhere. If you must carry it and you're paranoid, you might as well buy a proper money belt.
Also a lot of small stores and gas stations will baulk at anything over a $20, so you may be carrying a lot of notes.
I really don't get why you wouldn't just use cash machines and credit cards.
DoctorX said:
I use my debit card to withdraw cash from ATM's, just make sure you tell your bank first.
I struggled with this. I'm currently out here and have had debit card problems before, so we called the bank in advance (natwest) and said we'd be spending lots of cash in the US over the next couple weeks, they were unable to do anything an said we'd have to call and explain when the card stopped working.Your best bet is a credit card, check around for deals and then pay off immediately. Also with a CC you could get other benefits (cover your travel insurance for tue trip, discounts on hotels you could stay in.)
Try talking to bank of America, they may have a good idea and are generally pretty helpful.
Also I don't know what your holiday plans are, but I hope that 6k is spending money, as a couple rooms in 11 hotels over 30days adds upto the whole 6k rather easily.
Enjoy it. I'm currently in a giant log cabin in Boone NC. Yesterday was spent by a pool in Charlotte at 29degrees, today up grandfather mountain it was -3 and snowing!!!
I was in the US for 3 weeks recently and took $500. I used it for taxis, small items (eg. food), and other stuff where a credit card wasn't so easy to use.
I use the credit card for nearly everything when abroad, as it makes life so much easier!
You just get a horrible shock when you get home and check the bill
I use the credit card for nearly everything when abroad, as it makes life so much easier!
You just get a horrible shock when you get home and check the bill
$6k?
I'd be more worried about losing it or getting it stolen than saving a few quid on transaction fees.
Just do what you'd do in the UK: Carry a couple of day's worth of cash but pay most stuff on a debit card.
Or if you really must, then use travellers cheques. The AMEX ones are accepted 'as cash' at a lot of places, so no need to 'change them' at a bank or hotel first.
(For example, you'd go to a shop, bill is $30. You hand over a $50 travellers cheque which you counter sign in front of the clerk. They give you your goods and $20 cash in change.)
Simples.
I'd be more worried about losing it or getting it stolen than saving a few quid on transaction fees.
Just do what you'd do in the UK: Carry a couple of day's worth of cash but pay most stuff on a debit card.
Or if you really must, then use travellers cheques. The AMEX ones are accepted 'as cash' at a lot of places, so no need to 'change them' at a bank or hotel first.
(For example, you'd go to a shop, bill is $30. You hand over a $50 travellers cheque which you counter sign in front of the clerk. They give you your goods and $20 cash in change.)
Simples.
Nickyboy said:
How about holiday cars from travel agents? Use them like a VISA etc but the limit is whatever you want to put on it.
^^ this. The one I've used in both the US and Canada had a 7,500 dollar limit and everywhere accepted it with no problems.Plus it's replaceable if it's lost/stolen, whilst you're there.
Well you are online here so you clearly have some IT ability. In which case why are you intending to travel loaded with cash as if computers did not exist?
I am baffled as to why you would even entertain the thought of travelling with $6,000 in greenbacks on your person.
As mentioned before get a http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/cards_description.asp?...
Keep your money in your UK bank account.
Load the Caxton with $1,000 using your UK bank debit card. There are no transaction fees and you'll get a better exchange rate than from the bank/travelex etc
If you need cash withdraw it from an ATM. Use the card for everything else.
When the $1,000 on the card runs out, use your mobile phone to send a coded text message to Caxton (or phone them or use the hotel internet facility to log on to your account) and load it with another $1,000 (using a pre-registered debit card).
That way you are only exposed to a temporary loss of $1,000 if the card is lost or stolen ( the 'lost' money is transferred to a replacement card)
It's a lot less hassle than waking up in intensive care in a US hospital with a £550,000 medical bill after being bashed on the head by someone who saw you with a fistful of dollars.
I am baffled as to why you would even entertain the thought of travelling with $6,000 in greenbacks on your person.
As mentioned before get a http://www.caxtonfxcard.com/cards_description.asp?...
Keep your money in your UK bank account.
Load the Caxton with $1,000 using your UK bank debit card. There are no transaction fees and you'll get a better exchange rate than from the bank/travelex etc
If you need cash withdraw it from an ATM. Use the card for everything else.
When the $1,000 on the card runs out, use your mobile phone to send a coded text message to Caxton (or phone them or use the hotel internet facility to log on to your account) and load it with another $1,000 (using a pre-registered debit card).
That way you are only exposed to a temporary loss of $1,000 if the card is lost or stolen ( the 'lost' money is transferred to a replacement card)
It's a lot less hassle than waking up in intensive care in a US hospital with a £550,000 medical bill after being bashed on the head by someone who saw you with a fistful of dollars.
Edited by audidoody on Sunday 2nd October 10:35
id just take a bit of cash to cover the first night , then debit card at any atm and cash back from the supermarkets, tell your bank you are going
as said petrol stations often wont accept the pay at pump with uk cards otherwise its all fine
took some travelers cheques years back and they was the biggest pain ever
as said petrol stations often wont accept the pay at pump with uk cards otherwise its all fine
took some travelers cheques years back and they was the biggest pain ever
I've always been the same in the US, in fact in all the trips I've done there in the last 9 years I've always taken the full amount in cash, I even try and avoid prebooking anything from the UK.... I pay the car hire in cash, all hotels in cash etc etc....
The most I've ever carried was just over $20k but that was split between 2 of us, and mid-way through I actually opened a Citi-Bank account and now have a proper US based debit card and cheque book.
Carrying large amounts of cash never bothered me, but it is a little more conveneient to have a locally based ATM card.
I really wouldn't worry overmuch about having $6k on you, just don't make it obvious by counting it all in public, but it's only 60 x $100 bills so it's hardly the biggest stack.
The most I've ever carried was just over $20k but that was split between 2 of us, and mid-way through I actually opened a Citi-Bank account and now have a proper US based debit card and cheque book.
Carrying large amounts of cash never bothered me, but it is a little more conveneient to have a locally based ATM card.
I really wouldn't worry overmuch about having $6k on you, just don't make it obvious by counting it all in public, but it's only 60 x $100 bills so it's hardly the biggest stack.
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