Take USD with me or grab it as soon I hit JFK?

[2infinity]

Credit card everything. Have a small amount of cash for just in cases, say $200. Ensure you have smaller notes for tipping purposes only, eg: where it can't be put on the card.

Last time I went to the US, the person I was with didn't want to use their credit card, so carried around $8000 in cash everywhere. They were always on edge about getting robbed, and we almost were at one point. They're using credit card from now on.

Get the cash before you go. One less thing to worry about on arrival. Avoid banks and airport exchange locations.

 

[Lynda2475]

My last two trips to the USA i've landed with $7 and $0 cash respectively and not had a issue. Just used citibank debit card to buy a subway ticket to get from the airport my air bnb, and then withdrew a $100 (comes in 20s) from a citibank ATM at nearest Duane Reade just in case. Found myself mostly using card everywhere as others have sai, then again i was in New York not some small town.

If the subway machine or petrol station machine request a ZIP, you just enter 00000 for foreign issued cards, works every time.

If you do get cash before you go, as others have said just change 100 into small notes - then use your travel debit card of choice in credit card terminals everywhere.

 

[jpp42]

I find it useful when say going out with friends to contribute to the bill.

Note that US restaurants will not bat an eye if you ask for the check to be split , unlike Australia and other places. They always keep track of who ate what, or alternatively they can just split it evenly between multiple cards. This is totally normally and 100% what your US colleagues and friends will expect when dining out (if you are splitting the check). So this is not an all a reason to carry/use cash in 2019.

 

[get me outta here]

Okay I will carry cash and you won’t that’s fine.

Note that US restaurants will not bat an eye if you ask for the check to be split , unlike Australia and other places. They always keep track of who ate what, or alternatively they can just split it evenly between multiple cards. This is totally normally and 100% what your US colleagues and friends will expect when dining out (if you are splitting the check). So this is not an all a reason to carry/use cash in 2019.

 

[jpp42]

Okay I will carry cash and you won’t that’s fine.

That's fine, but I wanted you to be aware that this is unexpected/unusual in the US these days. Part of travelling well is understanding local custom and adhering to the extent that it is practical and reasonable. If it's not practical for you for good reason, that's fine, but I'm just sharing my experience.

 

[mrsterryn]

I travel to the USA fairly regular and have always carried cash. Admittedly a lot of that is 1 and 5 dollar notes
100's value notes are usually detested and some places have signs stating not acceptable
Edited to say I travel as a tourist

 

[frankie4fingers]

Thanks to all. Some good info in there and it looks like a small amount of cash could be an option but not necessary. Like many others, when I'm home I never carry cash so I may look to do similar in the US. Maybe I will take a small amount with me initially and then tap from there.

 

[tdimdad]

Like few others, too, I ended up using cards only. All the cash I had on me returned back home. Jpp42's response matched exactly my experience, though couple of times in a grocery store the checkouts were surprised when I used chip to pay (when tapping didn't go through) - I was apparently the first they had seen doing that.

 

[DC3]

... Maybe I will take a small amount with me initially and then tap from there.

When you put those greenbacks into your wallet you realise that the USA trip has arrived.

 

[frankie4fingers]

Thanks for the info from all. Looking at the Travelex website they are offering no collection fee during September if ordering online and collecting currency from Australia Post so a saving of the usual $10 they charge.

Currently they are offering 0.6692 USD.

Are there better online options to use to purchase before going? The key reason to have cash is to pay for the accommodation we are staying at upon arrival. After that I reckon we will just card it.

One last one, does anybody know the max you can withdraw from US ATM's?

 

[DC3]

... Looking at the Travelex website they are offering no collection fee during September if ordering online and collecting currency from Australia Post so a saving of the usual $10 they charge ...

Just be aware that you are unable to specify the denominations of the notes when ordering on-line. So, you may not receive any $1, $5, $10 notes, for example, as they are usually sent as a 'mix". This may not bother you but I tend to shop around at Money Exchanges (I have several in my local shopping centre) for those notes for use on the day of arrival.

…. One last one, does anybody know the max you can withdraw from US ATM's?

Can be variable. It has never affected me as I only withdraw up to about $US250 or less on any day.

 

[frankie4fingers]

Ah right. Maybe I will order to cover the bulk of the accommodation cash cost I need to pay and then do the floor walk either in the Melb CDB or local shopping centre too see what is available.

 

[DC3]

[

Ah right. Maybe I will order to cover the bulk of the accommodation cash cost I need to pay and then do the floor walk either in the Melb CDB or local shopping centre too see what is available.

Would you be better off by not carrying large amounts of cash for accommodation? Perhaps a debit card for this, or withdraw as needed.

 

[knagelli]

Am I better to find an ATM in the airport or take the cash with me before leaving Melbourne?

My personal choice is always exchange cash at the destination airport as you always find better rate in the local currency when going overseas. However it depends if you are carrying 100's or 1000's of dollars with you. I always carry 200-300 AUD cash and exchange as soon as I land in the destination country. Most of the times I use my coles mastercard as it does not charge overseas transaction fee and at odd occasions I use the cash.

 

[get me outta here]

Don't you have a low forex cc like the free Bankwest Plat, or the 28Degrees card to pay for things? Check what the mastercard rate is against the Travelx and you'll know if it's worth getting too musch cash. Currently 100AUD = USD68.74 (if I've done that correctly). As the card mentioned chaghe 0 back fees. Currency Converter from Mastercard | Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Calculator

If you have to take cash, they will all negotaite to get you to buy with them. The 'delivery' fee is complety arbitrarty.

Thanks for the info from all. Looking at the Travelex website they are offering no collection fee during September if ordering online and collecting currency from Australia Post so a saving of the usual $10 they charge.

Currently they are offering 0.6692 USD.

Are there better online options to use to purchase before going? The key reason to have cash is to pay for the accommodation we are staying at upon arrival. After that I reckon we will just card it.

One last one, does anybody know the max you can withdraw from US ATM's?

 

[get me outta here]

It is not a good idea to use a debit card for accommodations unless that is all you ever intend to use it for as the hotel will put a hold on it.

[

Would you be better off by not carrying large amounts of cash for accommodation? Perhaps a debit card for this, or withdraw as needed.

 

[DC3]

I know that some people like to change currency on arrival, looking for better rates. I just want to get out of the airport after collecting bags, immigration, etc, and prefer some small stuff already on me (not really saving much in the exchange rate anyway). One less thing to forget.

 

[mrsterryn]

I use my Coles card for overseas.
Just recently saw it was one of the recommended ones for OS
Between that and cash I am usually covers .
Also have a back up ING debit and another banks platinum (which has no points and charges fees however handy as a backup )

 

[frankie4fingers]

The cash is to pay for the remaining balance of the accommodation which isn't an airbnb as they aren't readily available but is effectively an airbnb under a different different disguise. We need to pay the remaining amount upon arrival which is fine.

Post that I would be using my Bankwest OneWorld Mastercard which has fee free transactions or my ING Everyday card which also has the same.

I don't think I want to be using my CC for cash withdrawals so as to stay away from the interest attributed with using it that way.

I could with withdraw from the ATM upon arrival but as before I don't know what the maximum amount I can withdraw in a day is.......Does anybody know this?

The other concern I have is that I cannot withdraw (for whatever reason).

 

[get me outta here]

I think it comes back to yr personal preference. I would not wait till I got there to get the cash, myself. I cannot comment on ATMs. I think it would be best to ask whichever bank or source you intend to use - this could be an expensive excerise if not done properly.