Newbie help

[whiteboy]

Hi everybody it's my first time to the usa. When i normally go abroad i take pounds as you get a higher rate than travellers checks does this apply in the usa. Any help would be much appreciated

 

[UKPhil]

You'll struggle to find anywhere to change sterling notes. Better to take travellers cheques or dollars. If you have a credit card (and they're almost essential in the states, e.g. for renting a car) most give a good rate of exchange and you could just use that plus some cash in dollars.

 

[whiteboy]

Thanks for info. What travellers checks should i go for us dollars or pounds?

 

[SammieG]

dollars.. you can spend them like cash in the USA.. you dont need to change them in a bank.. just spend them in shops.

 

[whiteboy]

What banking facilities are available at the Walt Disney World Resort and where are they located?
Currency exchange and Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available at all four Disney Theme Parks and at all Disney's Hotels.
Where can I exchange money?
Foreign currency exchange is available at the Orlando International Airport in the baggage claim area and at the international gates, as well as many banks throughout the area. Currency exchange is also available at Orlando Sanford International Airport in the international departure lounge as well as at the welcome center. Many hotels and attractions also offer currency exchange facilities.

 

[Goofyish]

In WDW there are Sun Bank ATMs in the resorts lobbies and in the parks. Usually in or near the Guest Relations. In the MK the ATM is in the City Hall building.

As for changing Sterlng to Dollars, as you say there are Bureax de Change in the airports, and I'm sure there are other locations in hotels etc. that will exchange Sterling for Dollars, but to be honest it's so easy to just take Dollars and travellers cheques in Dollars and just use them like cash - you don't need to keep running round changing money all the time that way . You can also get Dollars with your debit card from ATMs (usually there is a charge for this, so best to make larger withdrawals rather than lots of little ones).

If you use a credit card to make purchases you usually get a rate of exchange somewhere between the tourist rate and bank rate, depending on your card provider. With a Nationwide card ther are no fees for foriegn purchases, so you get near bank rate

 

[SammieG]

yes, as I said earlier.. dont worry about exchanging the money.. you can exchange travellers cheques in any shop, cart, restaurant.. anywhere. Its so much easier than in europe where you have to exchange the money in a bank or bureau de change.

its so easy in the USA!

 

[Miffy2003]

Another vote here for TC's (dollar ones!) as being very easy to use and accepted everywhere - you get cash for change. They do state that you will need photo (?) ID (eg passport or photo driving licence) but I have only ever been asked to provide this once in literally hundreds of times of using them

 

[tartangirl]

Lots of votes for dollar TC's and not surprisingly as they're used as money.

I would echo Goofyish's comments about the credit card - most credit cards give the bank rate but then charge you (the exchange rate on your bill includes the charge) - if you check out your terms and conditions (and sometimes the back of your statement) you'll see the charge but it's probably 2.75% which equates to about a 5cent reduction in the rate. Taking cash out the ATM usually has an added 1.5% charge with a minimum fee so penalising taking regular small amounts.

Now the good news - the nice people at Nationwide dont charge the 2.75% for their credit card (I checked my last statement and I got the bank rate). I even got 1% cash back but they've stopped that now for purchases abroad.

Now the better news - the very nice people at Nationwide dont charge for their debit card (Flex-account) so long as you're in credit. You can load up your account with £s and then just use the cash machines in the US as you would over here - this is the cheapest way of getting your dollars.

I sound like an advert for Nationwide - and I dont even work for them!!