Cash or Travellers Cheques?

[Karenpowley]

Hi there,

Can anyone advise me if there is a limit to how much cash you can enter into Florida with? We really dont like taking Travellers cheques, as its such a bind getting them changed. Of course we realise the safety aspect tho. Can anyone advise anything?


Thanks Karen

 

[alisonbestford]

I seem to think it's some ridiculous amount like £10,000

 

[Karenpowley]

Thanks. Dont think we'll be taking that much!!!!

 

[alisonbestford]

Just had a look and it seems to be $10,000

Check here:

http://***uoka.usconsulate.gov/wwwhcustoms.html

The first 3 *** are actually f u k but it won't let me post that

 

[Claire L]

Just remember most travel insurance policies only cover up to about £250 cash so if you have a large amount of money to take TC's or CC's are the safest way to carry money.

Claire

 

[mikki.young]

IF you take US$ travellers checks then you can use them like cash - much safer than actual cash. You may need picture ID occasionally but not often. You don't need to change them for cash at all so there is no hassle involved.

 

[macca77]

I find the changing travellers cheques in florida really easy as they accept them in restaurants, shops anywhere the only bad point is carrying id everywhere for them

 

[tink too]

Traveller's cheques are definately the best way to go - from a safety point as well as the ease of use. Spend them just like cash, and receive your change in cash.

DO NOT take British cash to exchange - US banks don't seem to know how to deal with "weird, foreign money!"

Watch the dollars, too as all notes are the same size and colour - a $1 can easily be confused for a $10, etc!

 

[alisonbestford]

We bought a $2000 American Express Travellers cheque card, with $250 'free' dollars, before our last trip

You just use it as you would a credit card but it's actually a debit card.

Okay so it costs $2.50 to withdraw from an ATM and a possible $1.50 charge from the ATM bank, and you can only check your balance online (or, as another DISer pointed out, by checking your 'Super Target' receipt) but we found it really good
The 'free' dollars more than made up for the $10 or so we totted up in charges

I originally intended to make one or two big withdrawals, to keep cash in the safe, but it was so easy to use that it wasn't necessary

As everyone else has stated though changing Traveller's cheques in the US is totally different to changing them anywhere else

 

[tink too]

Oops, not sure if I made myself totally clear the last time!

What we all really mean on here is, get US $ Travellers Cheques - they'll accept them like cash!

Obviously, if you bring £ Sterling T.C.'s you'd have to change them, and yes, that'd be a total pain!

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Watch the dollars, too as all notes are the same size and colour - a $1 can easily be confused for a $10, etc! [/QUOTE]

I thought this too, but when I got $1000 from M&S exchange they were different colours. Not very nice wishy washy greens, beiges, orange, pinks. Please someone back me up and tell me I've not got Monopoly money.

 

[Claire L]

'Watch the dollars, too as all notes are the same size and colour - a $1 can easily be confused for a $10, etc! '

I thought this too, but when I got $1000 from M&S exchange they were different colours. Not very nice wishy washy greens, beiges, orange, pinks. Please someone back me up and tell me I've not got Monopoly money.

The US are slowing phasing in new designed notes I think the $10 and $20 are already in circulation, so it is all ok.

Claire

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Phew, thankyou for that reassurance.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Must admit we always take cash, whilst you can use Traveller's Cheques for anything and they are more secure just prefer to have cash personally.
Especially for smaller purchases, once saw someone pay for 50cents worth of sweets with a $100 TC

 

[wilma-bride]

We take a mixture of cash and TCs. Usually use cash for small things like drinks, snacks etc. adn use the TCs for buying gifts and meals

As others have said, taking TCs to the US is not as much of a pain as it is in Europe and other places as you can use them just as you would cash and will receive your change in cash as well.

 

[gilld]

We usually take a couple of hundred $$$ and then use an ATM and/or a CC for everything else and any extra cash we might possibly need- paying the bill in full on our return. It saves all the aggravation charging everything.

 

[kazd]

Have you got time to open up a Nationwide Flex Account. I haven't used travellers cheques in years, last time was about 15 years ago. We just load up the Nationwide account and then withdraw cash as and when we need it. Everything else gets put on the Nationwide Credit Card, then we do not need to worry whether we have put enough cash in the current account. Just pay the CC off when we get back and no commission charges.

 

[Miffy2003]

I would never take a significant amount of money in cash - if you lose it or it gets stolen (and it can happen, however unlikely it may sound) there is a good chance this will completely ruin your holiday.

We take TCs (and then pay for our first purchase of the day with them) and then get the change in cash, for spending for the rest of the day.

I would not pay for something really small with a $100 TC but there is not usually a problem getting breakfast for example of $15 / $20 and paying with a $100.

 

[tink too]

Oops - I'm sorry - I didn't realise that the US were finally updating their notes!

I am really glad about this though - it's been a long time coming!

I always get a mixture of denominations for our T.C's ($20 to $100 value) so if I need to buy sweets, I'm not breaking a $100 to do it!

We do take some cash - just enough usually to get us through the first day or two.

 

[Karenpowley]

Thanks Everyone,
That really helps! Might opt for $traveelers cheques and some cash. Brilliant!!!!