$ Cash

[WAMUMOF4]

How much cash do you take and what is the minimum you would take not spending money in total but actual cash, I am wondering how to get away with taking less because its actually a better exchange at the moment to put everything on the Visa Debit card.
I found it a pain to take cash out of ATM's over there because they would only let me take out $300 at a time and it seemed to go nowhere and the ANZ would charge me $5 each transaction but because the $ was so high last year it still worked out to $4$.
I realise if the $ drops this will reverse but it would have to drop 3 cents to work out to what the cash rate is now compared to our card

[Andona]

We usually travel with $1000 to $1500 cash. (for roughly 3 weeks to 3 1/2 weeks travel time) We always need to visit an ATM a couple of times but we just don't feel comfortable carrying a lot of cash on us. I don't think we have such a low limit on withdrawals though?

Most of our purchases, shopping, restaurants etc go on the credit card.

Andona

[australiankaren]

when at Disney we only use cash for outings off property..so around $200-$300..everything else is put on the credit card in $1500 lots.
On the cruise we have approx $400 for the week
when out in the real world $500 per week

so this trip I'll take around $1000 usd in cash, split between the 2 of us,but have $$$ in my eftpos account to withdraw more if need be.

[WAMUMOF4]

Originally Posted by Andona

We usually travel with $1000 to $1500 cash. (for roughly 3 weeks to 3 1/2 weeks travel time) We always need to visit an ATM a couple of times but we just don't feel comfortable carrying a lot of cash on us. I don't think we have such a low limit on withdrawals though?

Most of our purchases, shopping, restaurants etc go on the credit card.

Andona

It wasnt our limit that was that low it was the ATM's in the USA they wouldn't let us take out anymore than that in 1 transaction i have no idea why but every ATM i used was like that

Originally Posted by australiankaren

when at Disney we only use cash for outings off property..so around $200-$300..everything else is put on the credit card in $1500 lots.
On the cruise we have approx $400 for the week
when out in the real world $500 per week

so this trip I'll take around $1000 usd in cash, split between the 2 of us,but have $$$ in my eftpos account to withdraw more if need be.

Are you using an Australian Eftpos card over there to withdraw money, if the answer is yes what bank ATM do you use that in? I used my Visa Debit card to withdraw cash maybe that was the problem

[australiankaren]

we use combank eftpos..and withdraw amounts of around $250-$400 per withdrawal....so only really do it once or twice in the 4 weeks......fingers crossed.

i know they have charges etc, but its the convenience., and they are able to be used everywhere, and we both have a card linked to the same account.

[Luisa]

I was really surprised that you pay a $5 fee for using overseas ATMs. I work for Westpac who are part of a 'global ATM alliance' - our customers don't get charged for using certain o/s atms and vice-versa for their customers, I just assumed all banks did this? Maybe you should ask your bank if they offer this too. I've also got a cash passport debit card so I really don't need to carry much physical cash on me.

[WAMUMOF4]

Originally Posted by Luisa

I was really surprised that you pay a $5 fee for using overseas ATMs. I work for Westpac who are part of a 'global ATM alliance' - our customers don't get charged for using certain o/s atms and vice-versa for their customers, I just assumed all banks did this? Maybe you should ask your bank if they offer this too. I've also got a cash passport debit card so I really don't need to carry much physical cash on me.

I was quite surprised last year it was that much to when i took the money out they charged me usually between $2 and $3 at the time then they also charged me $5 for each cash withdrawl i have just downloaded there fee chart and it is still $5. I think we will just have to put a lot more on the debit Visa card this year it seems to be the best rate at the min.

[australiankaren]

I think with combank its between $4-$6 per transaction at going exchange rate that day..not to good, but will do the job.

[Andona]

Originally Posted by australiankaren

I think with combank its between $4-$6 per transaction at going exchange rate that day..not to good, but will do the job.

I agree! , We're with Commbank too and usually use our Eftpos card ( I still think of it as my keycard but I don't know if they call them that anymore?!) we can withdraw up to $800 per day on the Keycard, iIf we need more we can use our MasterCard to withdraw from the savings account to up to another $800 per day. But we've never needed to withdraw that much


We try to limit withdrawals to only 2 or 3 per trip, figure that $8 to $12 fees isn't really all that much in the scheme of things and worth it for the convenience/ peace of mind of not walking around with wads of cash

Andona

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by Andona

We usually travel with $1000 to $1500 cash. (for roughly 3 weeks to 3 1/2 weeks travel time) We always need to visit an ATM a couple of times but we just don't feel comfortable carrying a lot of cash on us. I don't think we have such a low limit on withdrawals though?

Most of our purchases, shopping, restaurants etc go on the credit card.

Andona

This exactly what we do. This trip we are away longer so I might have to think about this again. Will have to get some CAD for our week in Canada as well.

[Travel Mum]

In terms of carrying cash, I check to see how much cash I'm covered for on my travel insurance and never carry much more than that. For example, our current policy covers us for NZ$750 so I'd carry a maxium of about US$1000 and have DH carry half in his wallet and I carry half in mine. Then, if during the trip we needed more cash, we'd run out existing cash down as low as we could and then withdraw large amounts (keeping within the travel insurance limits) to save paying regular ATM fees.

However, most purchases on our recent Orlando trip went on our Travelcard on which we had already loaded US$ and that actually meant we never had to withdraw more cash.

[australiankaren]

hey
yep the DH and I carry 1/3 of the $$$$ each and I have the rest in my passport wallet, in case we both lose our wallets also I dont trust DH to carry more than $125-$150 as he'd think he could blow it all on hats
used the travelex card etc on previous trips, found them expensive ..especially to cash them out when I got home..i think it was a $20-$30 fee for that.
so sticking with my keycard (we also still call them that, but I say eftpos for the youngins amongst us)

oh, but the great thing about USA is you can use your credit card EVERYWHERE on any amount..even a 30 cent ice cream at maccas.....so cash is becoming the way of the dinosaur...so if you use a card like 28 degrees, no international transfer fees......so less cash needed.

[5ofus]

I'm old fashioned at Disney and use Travellers Cheques. I don't like ATM fees and conversion fees so TC's work well. Disney are happy to give large amounts of cash as change too. Usually we'd pay for a small item with a $100 TC and get the change in cash. At WDW I charged everything back to my room and then paid THAT with Travellers Cheques at the end of the trip. Of course not everywhere is like Disney though so it might not work for you on your big trip.