Trip to the U.S

Dylan12345

I've made quite a few post's already about getting help when it came booking my trip and what i need to do for my ESTA so this should be the last one. We've booked the trip, printed out the tickets and the ESTA is all done. Are there any other things we need to do before going on this trip? Thanks, Dylan

Atlantic Dawn

Just make sure you have travel insurance, any injuries in US are mega money to be treated.

kujaultima

What are you doing for transport? Certain places in the US are really hard to get around. LA is a nightmare and needs forward planning.

Jimbob1977

A power adapter for appliances. Completely different plugs from Ireland and continental Europe.

Travel insurance

Photocopy of passport (leave your passport in accommodation or safe place) and carry the photocopy in your wallet.

Credit card. I'd be wary of debit cards working in 100% of places.

A legitimate address for the first night of your stay (although I think the ESTA covers this). Making up fake addresses and zip codes is detectable. Pick any hotel off the internet and jot down its details.

Yamanoto

kujaultima wrote: »

What are you doing for transport? Certain places in the US are really hard to get around. LA is a nightmare and needs forward planning.

My first 2 visits to LA, I used nothing but public transport.

Stayed in Pasadena (on the light-rail Gold line), visited Amoeba records on Sunset (Red line to Hollywood & Vine), LA County Museum of Art (Metro Bus), Santa Monica (Big Blue Bus) & the Getty Museum in Brentwood (Metro Bus). I believe Santa Monica is now reachable by light-rail on the Expo line.

Of course a car makes life a WHOLE lot easier in LA, but it is doable without one.

pl4ichjgy17zwd

I used ubers in LA, relatively cheap and so easy

Dylan12345

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Just make sure you have travel insurance, any injuries in US are mega money to be treated.

I don't know how ill get travel insurance. Seems quite costly.

Dylan12345

kujaultima wrote: »

What are you doing for transport? Certain places in the US are really hard to get around. LA is a nightmare and needs forward planning.

Well I'm going to Philly so hopefully ubers will be the way to go.

Dylan12345

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

A power adapter for appliances. Completely different plugs from Ireland and continental Europe.

Travel insurance

Photocopy of passport (leave your passport in accommodation or safe place) and carry the photocopy in your wallet.

Credit card. I'd be wary of debit cards working in 100% of places.

A legitimate address for the first night of your stay (although I think the ESTA covers this). Making up fake addresses and zip codes is detectable. Pick any hotel off the internet and jot down its details.

Travel insurance I'm not too sure about, but I can try get a photocopy of my passport. Not sure how though. Credit card? Is that where you can put a certain amount of money onto a card and if it gets lost then I can get the money refunded?.. We have the hotel booked so all of the details we have printed out.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Travel insurance for the US is cheap, 20-30euro for the year -

Oh really? How would you go about getting that and is it necessary or?

coylemj

Dylan12345 wrote: »

I don't know how ill get travel insurance. Seems quite costly.

Do not go to the US without travel insurance which includes medical cover for the US, preferably with a limit in the millions.

I was in Austin, Tx on my first trip to the US many years ago. I acquired a minor injury which required outpatient treatment in the local general hospital A&E. When I presented myself at the reception desk, they asked me how I was going to pay before they asked me what was wrong with me.

Dylan12345

coylemj wrote: »

Do not go to the US without travel insurance which includes medical cover for the US, preferably with a limit in the millions.

I was in Austin, Tx on my first trip to the US many years ago. I acquired a minor injury which required outpatient treatment in the local general hospital A&E. When I presented myself at the reception desk, they asked me how I was going to pay before they asked me what was wrong with me.

Ok ill try and get travel insurance

Sparko

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Ok ill try and get travel insurance

Try multitrip.com, not hugely expensive, especially considering the alternative in the event that you needed medical attention in the US.

stargazer 68

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Ok ill try and get travel insurance

Search online. AA, 123.ie, blue, travelinsurance.ie
Just a few places that do it.

Dylan12345

Dovies wrote: »

Search online. AA, 123.ie, blue, travelinsurance.ie
Just a few places that do it.

Would i be able to get that in time for my trip. I'm going in 24 days?

stargazer 68

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Would i be able to get that in time for my trip. I'm going in 24 days?

You can buy it today and go tomorrow if you need to.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Don't try - get it.

It's cheap and very easy to get. Just get a plan that includes the US.

https://www.theaa.ie/aa/insurance/travel-insurance

Alright i will get that today. Is there anything else i will need to have? ESTA, Power adapters, tickets printed. Do i need to get a checkup at the hospital?

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

A check up at the hospital?

How are you going to pay for things while your over there? Good idea to get cash in Ireland before you go so you don't get raped on commission or bank charges.

Also you will usually be asked for a credit card to keep on file at the hotel, if you have a debit card, they'll most likely put a large hold on the card.

Yes i was told something about hopsital checkups but maybe that was bullshizz. I've been converting my euros to dollars for the last while. I should have 1,000$ in total for the trip. And i only have a debit card.

irishgirl19

Try your credit Union for insurance

shopper2011

Last time I was there, Debit cards were not much use as they rate them like store cards (dundrum gift voucher is a type of debit card) They always took cash, could buy stuff in most shops with debit cards, but for car rental and hotels, they wanted Credit cards. It was pain to navigate the syatem to be honest but a work around was always available. My other half used her CC for car rental etc

Hope you enjoy yourself over there and it meets expectations.

Dylan12345

shopper2011 wrote: »

Last time I was there, Debit cards were not much use as they rate them like store cards (dundrum gift voucher is a type of debit card) They always took cash, could buy stuff in most shops with debit cards, but for car rental and hotels, they wanted Credit cards. It was pain to navigate the syatem to be honest but a work around was always available. My other half used her CC for car rental etc

Hope you enjoy yourself over there and it meets expectations.

We had a bit of an issue with the hotel at first. We booked a hotel that said you need to be 18 or older to book in and then when the confirmation email came back it said 21. Contacted Expedia and they contacted the hotel and they said we should be fine as long as we have our Credit Cards or Identity Cards. So I'm assuming my passport and DC will work. Fingers crossed.

whiskeygirl

AA is generally cheaper than multitrip or all the big advertising travel insurers. The second tier option is usually 35 quid or so. Always get that when I go to the states.

fennor72

Dylan12345 wrote:

I don't know how ill get travel insurance. Seems quite costly.

We were in the States earlier this year, I had to go to the doctor for a pulled muscle on my side. Thank God we had insurance. In order to see a doctor we had to go to a private hospital, final bill was 7500 euros.
Also an post do a currency card for the US you use it the same as a credit card. We both got one and put most of our spending money on it.

Sixtoes

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Do i need to get a checkup at the hospital?

Eh...troll alert.

Dylan12345

fennor72 wrote: »

We were in the States earlier this year, I had to go to the doctor for a pulled muscle on my side. Thank God we had insurance. In order to see a doctor we had to go to a private hospital, final bill was 7500 euros.
Also an post do a currency card for the US you use it the same as a credit card. We both got one and put most of our spending money on it.

Ill go to an post tomorrow and see about buying one. Thank you.
And yeah ill get travel insurance.

coylemj

Dylan12345 wrote: »

And yeah ill get travel insurance.

Make sure that it covers travel to and medical treatment in the US.

Activity (=skiing) holidays and US travel are the first things that insurance companies leave out when giving cheap quotes so be careful if you are going to buy a policy that's much cheaper than the competition.

Duff

Quick question on the money front - Has anyone used the PostFX Mastercard currency card from An Post in the US? Heading to LA/San Diego start of September and thinking of putting the majority of my spending money on one as long as it's accepted everywhere like a credit card. It also says purchases from merchants with the card has no fee which is nice.

bee06

Sixtoes wrote: »

Eh...troll alert.

I think he's just young and clueless rather than a troll.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

If you don't have a credit card, be prepared to have a large sum of money held on your debit card upon check in, they usually also accept cash.

Unless you have a large balance on your debit card, a credit card is far easier.

The hotel has already been paid for?

Dylan12345

bee06 wrote: »

I think he's just young and clueless rather than a troll.

I'm not a troll. I just don't know a lot about traveling and i don't want to miss out on something and possibly be denied entry to the U.S

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Yes but to cover any charges during your stay / if you trash the place and leave, the hotel will use your payment card to cover this, and they'll ask for it when you check in.

They don't actually take any money, but they usually put a holding charge on the card to reserve the funds, usually this is done with a credit card. Debit card should be fine, but as a debit card is just using whatever funds you have a available, you will loose access to a large chunk. Once you checkout and everything's fine, the holding charge is reversed.

Some places also accept cash.

Oh, crap. Should i get my money put into one of those cards or just keep cash?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Dylan12345

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

We're staying in The Westin Philadelphia. And yeah we do plan on trying to visit NYC one of the days but that may not happen.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Your fine to use a debit card (usually!), just make sure you have enough money in the account, e.g. 1.5k total (500 for the room charge, which you'll get back, and 1k spending)

Holding charges varey per hotel, could be less, could be more.

I would be lying if i said i would have that much money. I'm looking at around 1,000 total. I didn't expect a hotel fee tbh. Kind of a bummer hearing that haha.

fennor72

Duff wrote:

Quick question on the money front - Has anyone used the PostFX Mastercard currency card from An Post in the US? Heading to LA/San Diego start of September and thinking of putting the majority of my spending money on one as long as it's accepted everywhere like a credit card. It also says purchases from merchants with the card has no fee which is nice.

As I said we used them earlier this year. They are brilliant worked everywhere, you could withdraw cash for a small fee, and check your balance from a bank machine.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Well deff think of something, because you will be asked for a credit / debit card on check in, or cash to cover a guarantee during your stay.

Generally the cheaper the hotel, the less they care - but Westin is a fairly big chain.

So if i were to get a lend of that extra 500 is there a guarantee that it won't be taken out of the account?

GeneralSherman

Duff wrote: »

Quick question on the money front - Has anyone used the PostFX Mastercard currency card from An Post in the US? Heading to LA/San Diego start of September and thinking of putting the majority of my spending money on one as long as it's accepted everywhere like a credit card. It also says purchases from merchants with the card has no fee which is nice.

I also would highly recommend the An Post FX Dollar Card. We did a big trip to family a couple of years ago and after a lot of research I came to the conclusion that it would be the cheapest way to spend money in the USA apart from cash. Bank was going to charge me a lot more for each use of my debit and credit cards. It was a bit clunky before our trip to get setup online in order to see the reducing balance but worked really well once in the US. Both my husband and I had a card each on the same account. I even managed to use it to book bus tickets online when my BOI Mastercard wasn't accepted. I still have the card for future use.... One DAY !

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

As long as you don't incur any charges during your stay (eg room service, minibar, food or drinks charged to the room) and don't break anything - then the guarantee is removed / returned. This is why a credit card is easier, as you most likely wouldn't notice the charge.

Contact the hotel directly and ask, the 500 figure is just an estimate.

That really puts a dampener on things. But sure what can ya do, ill send them an email. Thanks for the heads up!

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

As long as you don't incur any charges during your stay (eg room service, minibar, food or drinks charged to the room) and don't break anything - then the guarantee is removed / returned. This is why a credit card is easier, as you most likely wouldn't notice the charge.

Contact the hotel directly and ask, the 500 figure is just an estimate.

There is a 154$ Charge. That is fine.

Dylan12345

Mr.S wrote: »

Cheap! grand to put on the debit card so.

I'm with AIB and i've already got most of my money turned to Dollars. Is it possible to put dollar bills into an AIB account?

Jimbob1977

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Travel insurance I'm not too sure about, but I can try get a photocopy of my passport. Not sure how though. Credit card? Is that where you can put a certain amount of money onto a card and if it gets lost then I can get the money refunded?.. We have the hotel booked so all of the details we have printed out.

I just meant to run your passport through a photocopier or scanner yourself (in a library, university or internet cafe). Only costs about 10 cents.

The difference between a debit card and credit card is:

Debit card - attached to your own bank account. You can only make transactions to the value of your bank account funds. If you have €500 in your bank account, any debit card transaction in excess of €500 will fail.

Credit card - you are given a limit by Visa or Mastercard. Say €4,000 as an example. You can make cumulative transactions up to that limit. Hotels prefer credit cards because the credit card company will guarantee the payment. If you miss the repayments to the credit card company, you get hit with high interest rates. However, it's very useful to have a credit card as it gives you access to surplus funds and can also be used in an ATM.

Jimbob1977

PS when are you travelling?

AIB could probably turn around a credit card quickly.

Your credit limit might be small, but it gives you leverage in the USA.

For most daily transactions, debit card and hard cash will be fine

Dylan12345

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

PS when are you travelling?

AIB could probably turn around a credit card quickly.

Your credit limit might be small, but it gives you leverage in the USA.

For most daily transactions, debit card and hard cash will be fine

I'm traveling on the 23rd of august.

Jimbob1977

Dylan12345 wrote: »

I'm traveling on the 23rd of august.

Go into your bank on Monday morning and ask them what they can do.

Seems like loads of time. I think it should take a fortnight at a guess

Dylan12345

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Go into your bank on Monday morning and ask them what they can do.

Seems like loads of time. I think it should take a fortnight at a guess

Well my card wasn't used to book the hotel and now that we know the price it isn't a problem. Is there much of a point apart from the hotel fee?

Jimbob1977

Dylan12345 wrote: »

Well my card wasn't used to book the hotel and now that we know the price it isn't a problem. Is there much of a point apart from the hotel fee?

If the hotel is already paid for and everyone is happy, then you won't need a credit card.

I assume that the hotel are taking a security deposit (to be fully returned if everything is fine).... rather than charging a fee.

Alcohol - very strict rules. When I was 37 years old, I was carded at a White Six game!!!!

Chances of getting served under 21 are slim. They can lose their licence.

Dylan12345

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

If the hotel is already paid for and everyone is happy, then you won't need a credit card.

I assume that the hotel are taking a security deposit (to be fully returned if everything is fine).... rather than charging a fee.

Alcohol - very strict rules. When I was 37 years old, I was carded at a White Six game!!!!

Chances of getting served under 21 are slim. They can lose their licence.

I would like to drink over there, but I can't and I'm fine with it though. It's not a bother

Humour Me

I would always take 2 cards to the states. When the bank sees purchases on the card in the States they can assume that you have been the victim of credit card fraud and freeze your card temporarily until they confirm with you, which could take time and leave you without a card. I got a call from BOI when I was in New York last time because of my purchases.

Give AIB a call on Monday, let then know that you are travelling so that they have a record on file. Ask them if a credit card application could be processed before you travel and what you would need to apply.

coylemj

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Chances of getting served under 21 are slim. They can lose their licence.

-1 Less than zero.

If you look under 30 you will be asked for ID.

Even if you're in a party of 30 somethings, they will still ask the youngest looking member of the party for ID.

If you look under 30, bring your passport everywhere. Driving licence or other stuff wont do as it isn't a US document so they won't recognise it. The requirement doesn't necessarily involve you purchasing alcohol or being in a bar, I've seen accounts here of someone sitting in airport smoking lounge which happened to have a slot machine (one-armed bandit) and they were asked for ID.

Jimbob1977

Be prepared for the obnoxious tipping culture.

Many employees are paid a pitiful 'service sector' wage by their employer. Maybe $3 per hour. They live on the tips. If you are a good employee, you can make a fortune... especially barmen.

Effectively, the customer is directly paying the employee's wages. Doing the job of the stingy proprietor.

Hence Americans obsess over tips. They have all these unwritten rules, but a good meal warrants about 15 to 20%. No tip is considered an insult. Tips covers proper restaurants and places like that.

Also, retail shop assistants survive from commissions. They will follow you around the shop like a leech. No breathing space. Irish people would find it overbearing. Americans expect to be fawned over... that's why they are shocked by European service standards.