travelling to usa:to bring cash or not to bring that is the q:advice

steo123

im going states side bitta advice required cashwise:

should i bring say 5k usd cash with me which ill be spending
is this good bad or indifferent idea?
can you take money out of atms over there?anyone aware of the cost?
or is cxredit card better option?also risky as possibility of getting scammed?
is there a max cash amount can bring to states anyone know?
all advice welcome thanks

homah_7ft

When I go over I usually make sure there is plenty on my credit card and I take cash. There is no limit as such but you do have to inform customs if you are taking over more than a certain amount of cash (maybe 10,000). Cash in hand is always useful I find.

ncmc

steo123 wrote: »

im going states side bitta advice required cashwise:

should i bring say 5k usd cash with me which ill be spending
is this good bad or indifferent idea?
can you take money out of atms over there?anyone aware of the cost?
or is cxredit card better option?also risky as possibility of getting scammed?
is there a max cash amount can bring to states anyone know?
all advice welcome thanks

I think that is way too much cash to be carrying, you'd be really up s*!t creek if you lost it. The max cash I would carry would be $1500 and I would even be worried about that amount.

If your credit card is in credit, then you can charge to it without paying any interest. If there is a balance on it, then you need to cheque with your card company, with my BOI Mastercard last year, I was just charged the standard interest and no transaction fees.

With regards to withdrawing money, again it depends on the bank, with BOI last year it was 3% of the amount withdrawn. It annoyed me to pay that, but at least it was more secure than carrying a load of cash.

Meathlass

You can use credit cards widely over there and my aib card worked in bank machines no problem. THere's no way I would carry that much cash with me; $200 tops, I'd be terrified I'd lose it. Just have 2 different cards and keep them separate so no hassle. Check with your bank for charges before you go.

Four of a kind

would there be as good an exchange rate over there though?

Meathlass

Not sure. I found everything very cheap over Christmas and it must be even better now. It would only be a small diffence of a few cent in the exchange rate. Ring your bank and ask them how much they charge for atm transactions and is there a specfic bank atm you should use. Then Ring credit card company and ask them what rate you'll be charged buying stuff in dollars over there.

Ponster

Don't take cash. Always use your bank card. Take out lots of $100/$200 to minimise costs.

Do what Meathlass said, don't reply on forums for the final word

robinph

That is a crazy amount of cash to be carrying around on you, and if you planning on spending that much whilst there anyway then I cannot see why your so worried about a couple of Euros extra that you might end up loosing out on in the credit card fees.

steo123

IF i lost/got credit card robbed id be uo ))(* creek without a paddle anyways so may just bring the cash sure the safe in hotel should be safe enough?????

Meathlass

steo123 wrote: »

IF i lost/got credit card robbed id be uo ))(* creek without a paddle anyways so may just bring the cash sure the safe in hotel should be safe enough?????

Presumably you'd bring some cash, a credit card and your normal bank card and keep them separate. Plus if card is lost then you can cancel it immediately and won't lose any money and you can go into an affliated bank over there and they will give you an advance from your bank at home. If you lose cash that's it, there's nothing you can do. Depends on hotel you're staying in if hotel is safe enough. Your word against there's if you leave money in safe in room or safe in reception.

steo123

sound advice meathlass

thats what i may then


any idea what sort fees they charge for atm withdrawals?% wise?

some1 say
better off to taske 100/200 dollar amounts out?

ncmc

Meathlass wrote: »

Presumably you'd bring some cash, a credit card and your normal bank card and keep them separate. Plus if card is lost then you can cancel it immediately and won't lose any money and you can go into an affliated bank over there and they will give you an advance from your bank at home. If you lose cash that's it, there's nothing you can do. Depends on hotel you're staying in if hotel is safe enough. Your word against there's if you leave money in safe in room or safe in reception.

Perfectly put, If you bring a combination of the three, you won't be scr*"ed if you lose one. 5K is a huge amount of money, if it was me, i'd spend half my hol worrying if my money was safe. Also are you 100% sure your hotel has a safe? They don't all have one and often they charge a few to use one. You'd be better spending that money on the transaction fee for withdrawing cash.:)

Spud83

steo123 wrote: »

sound advice meathlass

thats what i may then


any idea what sort fees they charge for atm withdrawals?% wise?

some1 say
better off to taske 100/200 dollar amounts out?

Yes better to take out large amounts as that reduces the charges. Every bank charges different rates so l I think you will have to check with your bank.

ncmc

steo123 wrote: »

sound advice meathlass

thats what i may then


any idea what sort fees they charge for atm withdrawals?% wise?

some1 say
better off to taske 100/200 dollar amounts out?

Steo123, they tend to charge a % rather than a per transaction fee, so it doesn't matter if you take out lots of small amounts or one big amount, it'll work out the same. It's about 3%:mad:

Spud83

ncmc wrote: »

Steo123, they tend to charge a % rather than a per transaction fee, so it doesn't matter if you take out lots of small amounts or one big amount, it'll work out the same. It's about 3%:mad:

Not every bank does this. For example my bank charged a percentage but my friends bank didn't. Also some banks have a maximum charge so it could cost the same to take 200 or 400, but more to take out two 200's, some also have minimum charge so if you take out 20 it could you as much as taking out 100.

ncmc

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Not every bank does this. For example my bank charged a percentage but my friends bank didn't. Also some banks have a maximum charge so it could cost the same to take 200 or 400, but more to take out two 200's, some also have minimum charge so if you take out 20 it could you as much as taking out 100.

That's a good point, with BOI it is a % which is worse than a transaction fee IMHO, at least if it a transaction fee, you can take out in bulk and only pay once.:mad: