Travelers Cheques, Apple Pay and Prepaid cards

[Lee Matthews]

Need some advice please


Been 7 years since I've been to the US and WDW and not sure how to deal with spending money.

I plan to carry some cash for tips ect.

Uber for travel but I don't know about food and spending money. Always used to use travelers cheques before but don't really enjoy using them.

What can I use instead that won't incur me fees? Are there fees for using Apple Pay on my iPhone which is linked to my UK accounts?

Are there any prepaid Visa cards which would be a better option?

 

[Elise79]

Cheapest method for spending in the USA is a fee free credit card such as the Halifax Clarity or the Post Office Platinum.

Next cheapest will be the pre-paid cards such as FairFX.

Apple Pay will incur charges I believe if your UK card it is linked to charges for foreign transactions although I haven't personally used it in the US.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have been going to USA every year since 2009. I use the prepaid FairFX card and cash. I load up the prepaid card during the months before my trip, its a handy way to save. I have used it for almost everything, petrol, in shops, getting tickets etc. Some people look at it a bit strange as there is no name or signature on the card, but once they swipe it , the payment goes through just fine.

Using your normal UK cards in ATMS in the most expensive way of getting cash. Travellers Cheques are obsolete now, if you do have them, you will find it very hard to use them, and probably would have to go into a bank to use them

 

[jon18uk]

Get supercard https://www.travelex.co.uk/services/supercard

You add your debit/credit card to it and it bounces charges through to your card with no charges. I used it all over the place when outlet shopping in Florida. But you may not be able to use it as the hotel guarantee4 card.

I also got a Halifax Clarity mastercard, no fee when using abroad and it was used by Disney for the room charges OK. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/travel-credit-cards#halifax

 

[disneyholic family]

definitely avoid travelers cheques if you can....i don't think anyone even uses them anymore in the states...
they are a major pain in the derriere...
better to use what the previous posters suggest...

 

[Lee Matthews]

Thanks for your replies. So travelers cheques and Apple Pay is out.

Something like the supercard looks good as it's purely for spending on merchandise and food so won't need it for room reservations or anything

 

[Lee Matthews]

Ordered a supercard but hopefully I won't have to wait too long for it to come

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks for your replies. So travelers cheques and Apple Pay is out.

Something like the supercard looks good as it's purely for spending on merchandise and food so won't need it for room reservations or anything

We have used TC every year since 2007 and still find them as easy to use as ever.

Safe and reliable.

Apparently a few places don't take them like Golden Corral, we don't go there so never been an issue.

We came back in October after using them for 18 days and had no issues anywhere. We used them everywhere except restaurants where we usually pay cash. We did pay with TC at Longhorn and it wasn't an issue at all, our waiter asked for some help how to process it and that was that, took an extra few seconds. Your hotel will be able to cash a certain amount every day, think ours was $250 a day.

There seems to be a myth being perpetuated that they are being phased out. We contacted Amex last year when we read on another forum they weren't being made anymore.........total nonsense. You may find some staff members don't know how to process them, but that's only happened a few times for us.

We will continue to use them as we like them. They're safe and handy for us. Lots of our friends use them too and no one has said they ever have any problems.

 

[Jon84]

Ordered a supercard but hopefully I won't have to wait too long for it to come

Don't bother with it, my Barclaycard keeps denying its use, yet if I use the Barclaycard itself it works fine. I think it's a location error where it thinks I'm moving around more than I am!! Worth having an alternative.

I recommend the Revolut, no issues and really easy to top up!

 

[2Tiggies]

WDW takes travelers checks (with ID). Off site I think most places don't even know how to deal with them anymore!

If your Apple Pay is linked to a fee free credit card it's an option, but we've found the Apple Pay system here is still a bit hit or miss. Sometimes it just doesn't work and DH still has to take his card out anyway so have a backup.

If you are staying on site and get some TC's you can put them into your resort 'account' at the front desk or use then to pay off your balance if you are paying with Magic Bands though.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Done some research and signed up for a Monzo card. Uses Mastercard and can transfer money from UK bank account to it via the app and no conversion charges.