Im sure im being thick but ill ask anyway

[wayneg]

This has helped me convince OH that Nationwide is the way to go for Florida

I use Nationwide Credit card. Never withdraw cash, just pay for every item with it, even if its just a $2.95 Mickey bar. Its saved me £100's in fees over the past few years.

 

[Cyrano]

I use Nationwide Credit card. Never withdraw cash, just pay for every item with it, even if its just a $2.95 Mickey bar. Its saved me £100's in fees over the past few years.

That is how I used Nationwide cc at DLP, so will be planning the same approach

 

[Cyrano]

Arrrggh my brain is fried now !! So simply I will pay a small fortune with the bank account I have but it will be convienant!!
Im not really up for changing banks just to save £13 but I do see your point and maybe ill do better to change money and only use debit card as a back up!!
I dont see how the fairfx card is an option though as they charge you a fee to get back the money you dont spend ( I know its unlikely but hey !!) Also charge a 2% fee for cashpoint withdrawals.
So wayne you have converted my way of thinking who do you reccomend I use to change my money???
sorry I know im a pain !!

I've got a nationwide cc and debit card that is only used for holidays Since my primary account is fine at home but charges fees

 

[wayneg]

Arrrggh my brain is fried now !! So simply I will pay a small fortune with the bank account I have but it will be convienant!!
Im not really up for changing banks just to save £13 but I do see your point and maybe ill do better to change money and only use debit card as a back up!!
I dont see how the fairfx card is an option though as they charge you a fee to get back the money you dont spend ( I know its unlikely but hey !!) Also charge a 2% fee for cashpoint withdrawals.
So wayne you have converted my way of thinking who do you reccomend I use to change my money???
sorry I know im a pain !!

Thats £13+ on every $500, withdraw $2,000 and its £52+
Your problem is same by converting to T/C's, you lose a % buying them in 1st place, usually around 3%, then if you have any left they give a very poor rate to exchange back so lose again just same as FX card.
The only way is a fee free card or accept the fees and go with way you feel best with.

I also don't bank with Nationwide, only got the Credit card for Holidays

 

[Beep]

We hadn't planned to use the Fairfx card for cash withdrawals but they only charge $1.50 (I think) each time so we may use it. Obviously if you were to draw $50 off like you might use a bank card over here the charges would really add up so it wold make sense to draw out a larger amount, but thenyou have the security risk.

This is one of the reasons we like TC's - pay for something and get cash back. That is the way we have always done it in the past.

 

[alibeau]

We too have the Nationwide debit card which we use only on holiday. We transfer some cash into the account before we go and then transfer back any remainder when we get home. Wouldn't use my usual bank debit card as the charges/fees are too high. We also take some cash and this year for the first time are using a Fairfx card and put the dollars onto that when the rate was much better (1.87 I think) so I am glad we decided to do that.......

As other have said we like to know that we have as many different options as possible on 'how to pay' whilst away, should we encounter a problem at all.......

Ali

 

[wickesy]

I dont see how the fairfx card is an option though as they charge you a fee to get back the money you dont spend ( I know its unlikely but hey !!) Also charge a 2% fee for cashpoint withdrawals.

Just one correction in case others are thinking of using Fairfx - it is $2 per cashpoint transaction not 2%.

Also if you are intending to make another trip to the US you can leave your remaining money on the card.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

We take around $200 with us for things when we arrive in Florida and little purchases through out the holiday. DD's also have dollars which we change to disney dollars when we get to the resort they then take a small amount out with them each day. Everything else is charged to our disney resort room card, from drinks brought in the parks to table service meals. The card is capped at $500 (I think or maybe $1000) so once we reach this limt we go and clear the card with our visa debit (which is kept in our room safe) and start again. Last time I think we only cleared the card maybe 3 times so we only had 3 transactions on our visa card the whole time we were out there.

We find this the most convienent way, no need to bother changing loads of currency, putting money onto a card or sorting out travellers cheques. Anything for an easy life even if it does cost a little more

 

[tttessa]

Also -

keep an eye on those who have your card - we got cloned in Florida!!! One of the diners on I-drive I believe. Luckily Tesco card folks noticed we couldn't be buying stuff in Austria whilst we were actually in Florida (and had told them we were in Florida between specific dates thankfully) So all was sorted easily!
Wouldn't use a debit card though - if it's cloned you then get your account cleaned out, your direct debits bounce and heaps of hassle. (as my dad could testify after a different trip!!)

Tessa

 

[pktbMouse]

Im a brit now living in America...most debit cards work as long as they have "pulse" on them...also no fear of the machines keeping them..all our machines are swiped.
Heres something that I cant believe that will make you smile....next time you go through a "drive through ATM" check the keypads....they have Braille on them!!!!!!!!!!!! Only in America..gotta love it.
I know when my Mom comes to visit she uses her debit card/pin and they charge her $3 here but $12 back home per transaction. She uses her Abbey national card and also Royal bank of Scotland.