Hey,

Im going travelling in the States and Canada very soon, its my first time on a big travelling expedition on my own, and I was wondering how do most of you people take your money when you go away? I was thinking of taking a cashcard with about 75% of my money, and having the other 25% in travellers cheques...dyou think this is the best value option? I know banks here in the UK probably have an average charge of about 2% of the transaction or £2 or something, which sounds nominal, but would really add up after a lot of transactions. Would you recommend taking pretty much all of it in travellers cheques, or is it safer with my cashcard? Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
Rick.

Hi Rick.. would suggest you use both travelers chqs and cash card. You can buy and sell Thomas cook (NOT American Express)travelers cheqs at Thomas cook travel locations in Canada for no service chrg. but if you use bank card be sure you inform your bank and credit card co,of travel plans b4 you leave. Most cards have an anti fraud chip in the card and you need to advise the bank/c/card co that your spending habit will change. you will get a more honest rate of exchange if u use bank card. if u use Travelers chqs buy them in Canadian or US $ not POUNDS. when I travel i use my debit card for cash dispensers and visa for Car rental/hotels. I never use Travelers chqs as personal choice. Have fun Viv

Viv

Hi Rick,

Yes, I'd agree - a combination of travellers cheques, cashcard and credit cards. I also suggest you take a small amount of US dollars in cash - say $200 - $300 to get you started.

Travellers cheques are now regarded as a little old fashioned in Europe, and I never take them now on European trips. But they're useful in the US as many restaurants, hotels, shops etc will accept them as cash - and give you change if necessary. But they have to be American Express, and in US dollars. Give a copy of the travellers cheque serial numbers to a trusted friend or relative back home in case of loss or theft.

Check with your bank whether your cashcard is accepted in the US - and make sure you have the funds in your bank account to back up your spending!

For international phone calls from the US, buy a pre-paid phonecard. They're widely available there in units of $10 upwards, and can work out very cheap.

Have an excellent trip!

Pete

I'm in Canada now on a 4-month exchange from my uni back home in the UK, with 2-months traveling after. Travellers' cheques are brilliant - nearly every shop I've been in (and I'm female so that makes quite a few!) have accepted them. The only hiccup I've had is if the cashiers don't know how to deal with them, but its soon sorted when the manager comes along. My cheques are all already in Canadian dollars so in effect they're just like bank notes, and you get change back.
I hope you have a good trip - I'm hitting the road in May and June and can't wait
Nat x