Las Vegas how to bring money?

2Mad2BeMad

Myself and the girlfriend going over in a few weeks. Only for a week to see if we like it.
Anyhow were bringing 4k each. Anyone know if it's best to exchange it all here and bring it over on our person or to just use our debit/ credit cards over their? Also were looking to pre book a few events or shows anyone have a decent website they would recommend? Cheers.

seklly

I'll be going over next month and will be loading up my Revolut online debit card, free ATM withdrawals at the interbank rate, there's a thread about it in the Bargain Alerts forum.

Ponster

4K? each?

That'll make for a very, very nice holiday. Stick $100 cash in your wallet before you leave and just use your card while over there.

2Mad2BeMad

Ponster wrote: »

4K? each?

That'll make for a very, very nice holiday. Stick $100 cash in your wallet before you leave and just use your card while over there.

I'm a bit of a gambler hahaha so better to be safe then sorry.

2Mad2BeMad

seklly wrote: »

I'll be going over next month and will be loading up my Revolut online debit card, free ATM withdrawals at the interbank rate, there's a thread about it in the Bargain Alerts forum.

I'll look into that debit card. Is it a top up card like 3v? Thanks.

iusedtoknow

Make sure you have a credit card that is usable. Your hotel will swipe it and put a hold on x amount. Better to just forget about it than think that they froze a few thousand on your debit card.

The Backwards Man

When I go, I bring cash for gambling and tipping, credit card for hotel/shopping and if I'm hiring a car, and debit card for eating and non gaming related drinking. ATM fees, especially in the casinos, are extortionate. Expect to pay $6 or $7 dollars on top of the bank fee which when added to the $200 daily ATM withdrawal limit the major banks here impose make taking out cash over there for gambling not an option.

Best place to change cash here has always been my own bank, never got a better rate anywhere else. Don't change cash at the airport or the bureau de changes in Vegas, you will be ripped off. On the flipside, the best place to change your money is at the casino cage, they give very reasonable rates believe it or not. In fact, if you have sterling, you won't get a better exchange rate anywhere in the world for your Queen's head than at a casino cage in Las Vegas. I guess they be counting on getting it all back anyway.

InTheTrees

The Backwards Man wrote: »

When I go, I bring cash for gambling and tipping,

Good point. Remember the tipping. And Las Vegas is probably the worst city for it.

You should tip everywhere in your hotel. They will remember you.

The Backwards Man

InTheTrees wrote: »

Good point. Remember the tipping. And Las Vegas is probably the worst city for it.

You should tip everywhere in your hotel. They will remember you.

Aye, the worst or the best depending what way you look at it I suppose. I wouldn't have the biggest daily coin-in in the world in the place I stay in, but I still get great comps because I tip well. Some might say it's a messed up way of getting bang for buck, but Vegas isn't really like anywhere else and you have to play with their ball.

option

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

Myself and the girlfriend going over in a few weeks. Only for a week to see if we like it.
Anyhow were bringing 4k each. Anyone know if it's best to exchange it all here and bring it over on our person or to just use our debit/ credit cards over their? Also were looking to pre book a few events or shows anyone have a decent website they would recommend? Cheers.

THe best is to go to an ATM, the rate is better than from banks

The Backwards Man

option wrote: »

THe best is to go to an ATM, the rate is better than from banks

Not on the strip, no bank ATMs on the strip. There used to be a BOA on the top floor of the M&M building down by MGM, don't think it's there anymore but I don't be down that way often, it only charged a dollar per transaction (if I remember right). You have to go of strip for a bank ATM, and even then you're still limited to your own bank's withdrawal allowance.

syklops

2Mad2BeMad wrote: »

I'm a bit of a gambler hahaha so better to be safe then sorry.

You are definitely gambling if you think bringing 4k in cash with you is a good idea. As another poster said, bring 100 bucks in cash and use your debit card for everything. If I was you, I wouldnt have all 4k in the account your debit card is attached to, in case it gets skimmed.

phater phagan

Las Vegas is great if you don't gamble - lots of good shows to enjoy and entertainment abounds; and free stuff ( to a lessor degree). It is a gamblers town, which benefits those who do not throw their money away foolishly. Enjoy

option

phater phagan wrote: »

Las Vegas is great if you don't gamble - lots of good shows to enjoy and entertainment abounds; and free stuff ( to a lessor degree). It is a gamblers town, which benefits those who do not throw their money away foolishly. Enjoy

and the Grand Canyon is also great to visit...

ceadaoin.

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Not on the strip, no bank ATMs on the strip. There used to be a BOA on the top floor of the M&M building down by MGM, don't think it's there anymore but I don't be down that way often, it only charged a dollar per transaction (if I remember right). You have to go of strip for a bank ATM, and even then you're still limited to your own bank's withdrawal allowance.

I'm pretty sure there's a BOA ATM in the forum shops at Caesars. It's right beside where the toilets are, not far from the field of dreams shop.

syklops wrote: »

You are definitely gambling if you think bringing 4k in cash with you is a good idea. As another poster said, bring 100 bucks in cash and use your debit card for everything. If I was you, I wouldnt have all 4k in the account your debit card is attached to, in case it gets skimmed.

Yes, card skimming is rampant here. Ive had to have new cards issued twice this year because of it. I'm not sure if it's as easy to get the data from chip and pin card though?

mickjohnlong

Make sure you let your bank know you are going to Vegas I had my cards frozen after my first transaction until they verified ot wad me using the cards

lynchie

Don't forget about the ATM withdrawal limits. Got stung before over there as it is much lower than within EU. Think it was €250 per day. - visa debit payments should have a much higher limit. Check with your bank though!

January

The BOA atm is still at top of M&M store.

We just brought cash, stored it in our hotel safe, took out a certain amount everyday. One tip I got is to divide your gambling money out into envelopes for each day you are there, if you go through the envelope quickly it's up to you to keep going with the other money but stopping when the envelope was empty was the idea.

Also, with regards the hold on the credit/debit card... I just used my debit card (my bank account was empty), it worked, nothing was said about no funds being on it.

TeaBagMania

Forget the cards, Cash is King. Each traveler can bring up to 10K “dollars” into the US

The Backwards Man

TeaBagMania wrote: »

Forget the cards, Cash is King. Each traveler can bring up to 10K “dollars” into the US

And when you win big be sure and ask for one of these so they don't take 30% of it off you

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf

TheChizler

Pre load your credit card before hand. The limit for non-chip and pin debit card transactions is ridiculously low. You have to walk miles to find bank operated ATMs that work with chip and pin. Be prepared to pay a $4 charge at any of the casino ATMs.