How much cash to take to New York?

[GeneralSOneill]

Off to New York in a few weeks. Just wondering how much cash I should take. It's years since I've been to the states but I think most places take card? What about cabs? Are they still cash only?

I'm not asking about overall spending money, just what proportion of it/ how much cash? We're going for 5 days, usual tourist stuff.

It depends, what you will use the cash for.

Will you be paying by card or cash for food / tourist attractions / transport?

That's kind of what I'm asking. What do I NEED cash for. I'll pay by card where I can but don't want to land with no cash and find the yellow cab doesn't take card!

Basically everywhere takes cards, its just hard to tip hotel staff without some cash and that is about it.

make sure you put a travel advisory on your credit card so that it works overseas

How long is piece of string?? Nobody can possibly answer that question. What is your budget? Have you researched the price of anything? Are you aware of the exchange rate? Of course most places take card. Load money on a Revolut or Starling card and use that.

A couple of hundred bucks for tips.

I really despair of threads like this. The poster’s response was perfectly sensible.
The cost of the cab will depend on many factors, but the main ones are distance to your hotel from wherever you are catching the cab.

Every cab I used this year and last year had a card machine in! We still took a couple of k in cash for tips, coffees / cake stops / incidentals and random bits. You'll only really need cash for tips for your hotel cleaners / porters, everything else you should be able to use your card for. Most places you pay by card let you add the tip on then, even the cabs.

Let me rephrase then: do yellow cabs take card? Do street vendors mostly take card?

Thank you. This was exactly the kind of response I was wanting. Answers my question exactly.

I think I must have worded it poorly as people seem to think I was asking how much spending money I should take, which I was not.

Great thanks. So a few hundred in cash and the rest card.

That’s clearer. Yes, cabs in NYC do. I suggest you prebook one or take a vanshare from the airport, which is much cheaper. I travel a lot, and don’t keep much cash with me. I’ll withdraw as and when I need it. Definitely get a Monzo, Revolut, or Starling so that you aren’t being ripped off on exchange rate. They are excellent for travel.
You’ll be able to use your card for all attractions.

Enjoy your trip. NYC is an incredible city.

I'm not asking how much money I'll need overall, just if cash is any use these days - I haven't used cash in the UK for many years but last time I was in New York we needed a fair amount of cash as cabs, diners, street vendors didn't really take card, just the bigger places. I was wondering if that had changed.

Most places take card. Use a Monzo card or similar for payments as they don’t charge an international fee.

Can you get a Monzo/ Starling card without having a bank account with them? Not sure I'd get it opened in time?

I went to NY in 2019 and used very little cash, I imagine you'd need even less now post Covid. We mostly travelled by Subway though rather than by cab.

Bound to be ATMs in the airport. Get a card which doesn't charge an extra fee for foreign withdrawals.
I use a Halifax Clarity credit card and either put some cash into my account before leaving or pay off the balance the moment I get back, as interest is naturally charged on cash withdrawal from a c/c.

We took a few hundred dollars for tips but all the street food places and cabs took cards

We have a Halifax clarity card but you could get a virtual Revolut card if you don't have much time before you go

Have a fabulous time - take 2 pairs of very comfortable shoes!!

None

Take a card

Oh I'm so jealous!
Yes you have time to get a sterling card.
Open an account with them on their app and you should get the card through the post this week.
Download the app, fill it in them they do this really clever thing where koi upload id then you do a mini video thing where you show you face and read out the message they have on the bottom of then screen to prove it's you and you match the ID. Genius!
Ps. Your first post was clear enough to understand!

Thanks. Have done that now. Felt a bit of a prat doing the video!

When are you travelling? You apply online - done need an existing account.

3 weeks. I've just applied.

We went to New York in July. Hardly needed actual cash at all.

Took none - used cards

Some street vendors do not take cards (others do) so if hot dogs are your thing I would take some cash (or go to an atm on arrival!) didn't take a cab so can't help you with that, subway and bus network is excellent and cheap. Airport train very good