Taking money on trip to NY

[PhoebeFriends]

My 15 year old DD is going to New York in October. School have advised to take limited cash and recommend a pre paid card.
It seems the post office travel card is for 18years plus. Would a young persons bank account with debit card be a better option?
She has a savings account but no instant access account as yet so I am thinking this would be better long term but I am not great with finances and have never be n to NY myself so advice is much appreciated.

Would also recommend Revolut. You could top it up if needs be.
If you get one in your name should be ok- she can't spend more than is on the card anyway.

I would choose Starling or Monzo over Revolut - had loads of problems with Revolut and they were terrible at dealing with it. Card and account would have to be in your name though.

Post office card in your name, that is what my post office recommended

DD just took cash, and was fine. I looked into prepaid cash cards, and every one I looked at was for over 18 only. The charges on debit cards in the US are very high so DD left hers at home. I did think of getting a prepaid cash card in my name, then worried in case DD needed to produce ID for any reason and then get questioned why the card wasn't in her name.

BTW I didn't think you could get contactless debit cards for under 18 year olds.

I think cash is better on a school trip. It is easier to separate it and store in a number of different places, rather than being reliant on one card. Not sure if apple pay might be allowed if backed up by your card if she has an iPhone.

I cannot imagine they will be making many purchases by using a debit card. My DC have been to NY and just took cash. They didn’t spend much as most things were included in the price. They didn’t lose the money either. They were taught how to keep money safe.

It’s expensive to make purchases. DC need to know there is a purchase tax of around 8% and this will be added to the advertised price. We have usually signed for purchases in NY but it’s much easier to go to a bank and get money out in one transaction and pay cash. It is very expensive there so money doesn’t go far.

If the school has experience of running this trip, ask what participants spend money on and how much do they realistically need. Surely it’s just the odd drink and something to bring home? What card have other parents organised or do they just accept the higher charges with a debit card? How long is the trip? For just a few days, cash is easier.

Get him a pre-pay credit card (such as ‘Revolt’). You can get one in your name and he can use it. You use it exactly the same way as a credit card in shops, restaurants etc and in cash points.

You can link it to your bank account and load money onto it.

He’ll get a better exchange rate and there are no fees. I’d he uses a normal U.K. debit or credit card you’ll pay a 3% fee on each transaction.

I’ve had one for years and would never go back to taking cash and getting a crap exchange rate or paying a fee.

Myself & all kids have Nationwide accounts as spending abroad is free/no charges. If the kids ever need extra cash (happens everytime they are abroad with school) it's an instant transfer for them. Highly recommend them

I'd recommend the Nationwide account as well - there will be other school trips after all! No fees and you can have contactless. Also you can't go overdrawn. But I would take some cash as well.
Bubbles is right about the sales tax though - worth mentioning that to dc.

another vote for the nationwide too for the abroad spending

and once the children are grown ups too, Nationwide have the plus account which you do pay a fee for, but it covers (amongst other things) travel insurance, phone insurance, car rescue so it's really good value for money. We are quids in just taking into account the car rescue thing instead of forking over a fortune to the AA .