Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Is it better to use a travel card, cash, credit card, debit card or a mix while in USA?
I am getting a loan for my holiday in June to Florida.
Although I have a two-card credit account (one is a Mastercard and one is an American Express) the interest rate is 30% and I have no intention of using that card while abroad if possible.
I am finding it hard to work out which payment type would be cheapest though. We will have a small safe in our room, although I have heard they are not very secure so taking lots of physical cash doesn't thrill me. We will be spending money on meals out, groceries, travel and clothes shopping for the most part.
Although I tried looking up different travel cards, trying to understand the different costs is not going well. I THINK the gist is something like this:
Card 1: 2.99% of amount spent plus £1.50 fee per transaction
Card 2. 3.66% of amount spent per transaction
Card 3: £1.50 per transaction plus £10 to receive unspent funds upon return
I haven't been abroad before, used any other currency, used traveller's card or cheques, and my bank were ridiculously unclear as to what fees were applicable on my cards (I'm sorry, but if you use twelve different percentage rates in a three minute conversation, I am not going to follow when I was questioning two cards...)
Does anyone have any CLEAR advice about payment types and rates? Especially given I could be spending anywhere from $5 to $400 at a time?
@Steven S - By pre paid debit card do you mean a normal debit card or a pre-paid travel card?
@hiddenmyname - I don't want to use traveller's cheques as it screams "I'm not from here" but am looking at travel cards which aren't immediately identifiable as not a credit card to passers by
@NOLA Guy - Thank you, that information is really helpful!
@drip - You don't differentiate in your answer between debit and credit cards? My question is also about going TO the USA FROM the UK, not the other way around
@boy boy - It does make sense. I saved £2000 for the flights, hotels & parks, but ran out of time to save spending money (2 family deaths impacted finances) so need to get a loan or use my credit card for spending.
The interest rate on the card I have is 29.5% and the interest is payable on the 1st of every month.
We don't drive and are staying in one hotel, already paid for. The money is solely for spending and eating. We are staying entirely in the
5 Answers
- Anonymous5 years ago
Credit cards are generally a more secure method to pay for things and use at the ATM, as if there are any suspicions, your credit card provider should flag it and contact you, to clarify if the suspicious transaction was actually made by yourself. Some credit card providers will charge you for using there services overseas, so check before travelling. Debit cards are usually free to use from wherever you are in the world (excluding the use of a privately owned ATM, who may charge all users a fee for each transaction). Generally, debit cards are safe to use, however money can be taken from your account a lot easier than by credit card. So, you either use your credit card for secure transactions and possibly pay for the service, or use a debit card for free, but is not as secure as a credit card!
- hiddenmynameLv 78 years ago
Credit cards and debit cards charge a lot. I would take some cash for smaller purchases. You can also use travellers cheques which are accepted in most places and are covered if lost or stolen. The best I can see is travel cards. The third one below looks good. the 2.99% foreign currency fee only applies if you buy something not in us$ so for eg if you use it at heathrow airport or whatever. Hope this helps!
- dripLv 78 years ago
My daughter spent the summer in the UK. My husband travels a great deal for work. both only used a credit card and got cash from ATM machines or charged their purchases. It is the only way to go.
Do not use travel checks, they are a huge hassle.
Pay off the card when you get home and you will not have any interest charges. If you have money for your trip, charge while you are here, then pay if off as soon as you are home. You only have interest charges when you do not pay off your monthly bill.
DO NOT BRING CASH! Only bring a bit for the airport or taxi to your hotel.
Yes you may have a fee for using the ATM, but you will not have any interest charges. and this is the safest way to go
- boy boyLv 78 years ago
this does not make sense ..never heard of anybody getting a loan for a holiday ..and as for interest @30% ..i travel the states ..to get anywhere ..ie motels ..car hire ..they will want your credit card ..that's how america works ...they don't want your cash ..they want your credit card because if there is any damage they can charge you ..on the card ...but if you use the card wisely you get 60 days of interest free credit ...buy say on 1st april ..repay on 30th may ..cost?0..if your new to travelling get some dollars in travellers cheques ....do not buy any dollars at the airport ..florida is a great start to seeing the states ..if you hire a car ..head east to daytona beach ..then to space centre ..a must ..then straight down to key west ..forget miami ..keep all doors locked at all times ..especially in traffic
- How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
