How much Travel money ? (How long is a piece of string?)

[lisagirlyUK]

Hi,

yes I know its one of the questions that everyone will have a different answer on!!!!

Basically there is me and my husband going there with 5 other members of my family. We have already ordered 1k in travellers cheques, $500 and have also now got a nationwide CC.

We aren't huge shoppers but this is the holiday of a lifetime for us so we got the cards so we can get something if we want it. We were going to use the money to buy food, tips, drinks, snacks, ride photo's etc. It isn't really clear cut as we are going with all my family, it will probably work out that my parents will pay for a meal one night, we'll pay the next and so on.

Anyway, what I am trying to decide is do you think it would be worth getting another £500 worth of dollars? I am trying to get it as accuarte as possible so we dont come back with tons of cash. H thinks we should maybe just get the extra and monitor it through the hols and use the card less if we need to - but the card will give us 6 months interest free so I am stuck now!!

Any opinions or advice would be great!!

Thanks

 

[allie5]

Lisa, I would use your 0% card rather than take more cash. Its safer and easier. You get very good exchange rates on CCs as well, so that would be the route I would take.

If you have £1000 in TCs and another $500 in cash then if thats just for you and your hubby, then you wont have to put too much on your card on top of that. Well, unless you go REALLY REALLY mad!!

Have fun!
Allie

 

[gilld]

It obviously depends on where you intend eating etc. Last time we went as a family there were 5 of us for 2 weeks at Christmas time in 1997. We allowed (and used!!!) £1200 plus used the cc a couple of times for "special" meals etc. If it's to be a holiday of a lifetime, then you don't want to be counting every penny. You CAN do it quite cheaply and you can spend LOTS it's up to you.
Personally, I think I'd take a little more in travellers cheques AND the cc, though if you're staying onsite you can charge most things to your room( this is if there are more than you and husband). If you choose to do this, you can check on the balance at any time to make sure you aren't going too mad ..it happens!!!!!
Anyway, have a wonderful time, it really is a magical place.

Gill