Money Advice while travelling to the US

Eogclouder

I'm spending Christmas in the states, it's my first time there. For anyone that's been, I want to ask how you managed money over there as I'll be there for 3 weeks.


Should I just use my visa debit to withdraw cash? Should I get a student credit card and put all my money on it and withdraw as needed? What's the easiest and best way to do this?

for context, I have a 3rd level account with BOI.

Also, I assume I should notify my bank of the trip, yes?

diana123

You may use your visa debit to withdraw cash.

biko

Visa debit should be fine.
The bank should be informed or they may block card temporarily. Just ring them.

coylemj

Check the fees your bank will levy for cash withdrawals, it may be better to take out larger amounts if there is a minimum charge per withdrawal. And try to only get cash from ATMs in bank branches, you will find yourself tripping over ATMs in convenience stores, off-licences, McDonalds and pretty much everywhere, the reason there are so many of them is because they all make a profit by charging the customer for the withdrawal on top of what your bank will charge you.

When paying by credit card, decline any offer to do the transaction in anything other than US Dollars.

And don't buy electronics and gadgets in any of the independent shops in Manhattan, they are all gangsters who will oversell on features and then fob you off with last year's model which will probably come with an AC adapter that won't work in Ireland. Only buy from Radio Shack, Apple, Staples, Best Buy etc.

unclebill98

Great advice so far.

One thing to get is the number to call if your card is blocked. I know telling them advance is meant to stop this put there have been treads of this advise not working so having the number is very handy.

drbeatz

Is this still the best option? Some people mention the post office card? By the time I withdraw money and put it on a post card, would that be a better option?

adam88

drbeatz wrote: »

Is this still the best option? Some people mention the post office card? By the time I withdraw money and put it on a post card, would that be a better option?

One word

REVOLUT

just have a back up card as well

JTMan

drbeatz wrote: »

Is this still the best option? Some people mention the post office card? By the time I withdraw money and put it on a post card, would that be a better option?

Do not use the rip off An Post product. As the poster said above, use Revolut.

troyzer

I hadn't noticed the An Post cards being a rip off?

JTMan

troyzer wrote: »

I hadn't noticed the An Post cards being a rip off?

An post charge a large FX margin on transactions.

troyzer

JTMan wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

I hadn't noticed the An Post cards being a rip off?

An post charge a large FX margin on transactions.

Yeah, I just looked up Revolut after it was mentioned. Holy crap, signed up instantly. I've been looking for this kind of thing for yonks.

Duncanwooly

Just with the revolution, beware of how much you can withdraw at an ATM. Obviously you can use it in places that accept master card. Similarly, try n26 they do free FX transactions - would be a good backup to the revolut card