USA trip - money?

[WeeBitWobbly]

Feeling a bit naive here! previous trips have been to my home country and changing money was never an issue.
We are however going on a trip to the USA.

What is the best? easiest? most economical way to get US dollars.

Are travellers cheques are thing of the past? is it all atm cards? what about charges, are they expensive??

We will be away for a few weeks, so obviously will need to change some throughout the trip.

When we visit the US, I normally get most of our spending money up front at M&S. Towards the end of the holiday if need be, we use the ATM's. I don't think the charges are particularly expensive.

WE go to Cape Cod near Boston every year. Every year I take traveller's cheques (as I'm always terrifies ny card doen't work in the ATM) and every year I have issues as most peolpe in shops don't seem to know what they are.
Last year we went into a supermarket to buy a week's worth of groceries. Before I'd left UK I phoned the bank to advise them we would be away for 3 weeks and would be using the card in the US. So get to check out and card is refused. Hand over traveller's cheques. Then spend 20 minutes waiting while the store duty manager phones someone even higher up to find out if they take them and what to do with them!

However, a work colleague went to Florida and had no issues with traveller's cheques so it mayd epend on where you go.
Bear in mind that if your bank is like mine it may put asecurity block on your card whether you advise them in advance or not. I did get it removed and I used the card with no issue for the next 2 weeks before it happened again!

Travellers cheques are of no real use as people do not know what to do with them in some parts of the US!. Also many people do not like them due to the fees charged. Prepaid cards in dollars are more often used these days. The US banking system is also far less modern than the UKs.

Always phone the credit card company before you leave to inform them of your travel plans; if you do not you run the risk of your card having a "stop" marker placed on it. Same with debit cards, you need to inform the bank beforehand.

Have a look at www.moneysupermarket.com as their money travel advisorys are always helpful.

Many ATMs do charge fees in order to receive cash. However, if you have a Barclays account, they have an arrangement with the Bank of America so you are not charged for withdrawing funds (think you only get charged a small fee rather than having two lots of fees).