foreign currency help

[crochetmonkey74]

Off to the US in a few weeks- last time we went was about 10 years ago when we were still taking a mix of dollars and travellers cheques- this is probably way outdated now- what do you lot do? Had a quick look at the Post Office currency card- any tips or recommendations?

I always take enough currency for tge first couple of days then take a preloaded card with the rest of my spending on it. The one I've got just now is from Ramsdens

Thank You!
Not heard of Ramsdens so will have a lokk..

Revolut payment card is the way forwards www.revolut.com/

Much better exchange rates than cash or travellers cheques; app notifications of balance and any payments made (telling you GBP amount); fund card in GBP, spend in any currency - it's converted when you pay, so you can also use the GBP in the UK when you get back; great app for tracking it all.

That sounds great! will investigate that too Thank you

When we were in the US last year we took the Post Office currency card, preloaded and VERY easy to top up from the app.

I think I am being really thick but do you just use it in shops and restaurants like a normal debit card? Defender90

We withdraw cash when we get there from an ATM, but mainly use CCs. We've got a Creation Card which doesn't charge for each international transaction (although probably paying by way of a worse exchange rate - they have to make money somehow!).

I have a Caxton card which is used just like a debit/credit card and is free to withdraw currency in your country of choice although not in the U.K.

Haven’t used it in the USA but have in Europe and it was fab. Top up from my current account debit card, there’s two cards so one for me and one for DH. Would recommend.

Yes just like a normal card, we never came across chip and pin in the US we found so it was just swiped.

Revolut card.

Exchanges at almost spot rate. No fees to use the card. Fees for cash but only over a certain amount. Lots of safety features.

Thank you all!