Soldato
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I'm going to New York mid Jan and currently only have a Visa debit card, would I be best to get a credit card and can anyone recommend a good one for using abroad?
Credit Card for USA
- Thread starter chipperhead
- Start date
When we went to the US in 2011 we used a Post Office Travel Money Card. You just put as much as you want on it and be done with it. You can also top it up online from your debit card and then drain the remaining balance when you get home.
The current Post Office GBP/USD exchange rate is 1.5090 compared to the Mastercard rate you get with the Halifax Clarity card of 1.5656.
That looks like quite an expensive option to use money aboard.
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Thanks for the info, if I get a Clarity Card am I best off drawing my money out of a cash machine over there or changing it here before I go?
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Take it out of an ATM. You'll get the perfect exchange rate, a trivial amount of interest (About 1% a month!) and just the ATM fee.
IF you change it before you go you'll end up with a crap rate, a pile of cash, and spare dollars when you come home.
They are always about that far behind decent rates on something like a Clarity.
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Ok cheers.
I plan on getting a taxi to get us from JFK to our hotel. I appreciate it isn't the cheapest way but it'll be late and it's the least stressful.
I'll just change enough before hand to get us to the hotel and up and running.
I plan on getting a taxi to get us from JFK to our hotel. I appreciate it isn't the cheapest way but it'll be late and it's the least stressful.
I'll just change enough before hand to get us to the hotel and up and running.
You can draw out aboard free of charge, I don't think you could draw out USD here anyway using the card.
One of the main benefits of using the card is that you can draw out as and when you need it meaning you don't need to carry around hundreds of dollars all of the time, using the card in shops also carries no transaction fee.
One thing to be aware of is that interest is charged from the point you draw money out / use the card in shops. However you can pay the balance off at the end of your trip you'll incur minimal interest, e.g. if you spent $100/day for 10 days you'd be charged about £1.30 if you paid it off the day you returned. If you want to pay even less interest you can pay the balance off each day online!
One of the main benefits of using the card is that you can draw out as and when you need it meaning you don't need to carry around hundreds of dollars all of the time, using the card in shops also carries no transaction fee.
One thing to be aware of is that interest is charged from the point you draw money out / use the card in shops. However you can pay the balance off at the end of your trip you'll incur minimal interest, e.g. if you spent $100/day for 10 days you'd be charged about £1.30 if you paid it off the day you returned. If you want to pay even less interest you can pay the balance off each day online!
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Cheers weringo.
I mean just change a bit at the post office before we go to pay for the taxi and tips etc to get to the hotel.
I mean just change a bit at the post office before we go to pay for the taxi and tips etc to get to the hotel.
This isnt quite true, you are only charged interest from day 1 on cash withdrawals.
There is NO charge at all for card transactions provided you pay it off as normal by the statement due date.
Just use a cash point in JFK.
Don't get a taxi, it will cost a fortune and take ages. Simply take Air Train from JFK to Jamaica Station and then take the Long Island Railroad direct to the centre of Manhattan. A fraction of the price and probably quicker.
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You can avoid ATM fee by going into a bank and asking for "Cash Advance" It will show up as ATM withdrawal on Clarity.
Another +1 for the air train. Can't remember how much I paid last year, but assuming you're flying back from JFK buy a return. Also if it's a standard yellow cab, you can pay via card onboard. Only ever caught one a short distance in manhattan and was able to pay via card. Very handy.
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[TW]Fox;27382609 said:
We land at 21.20 and wanted the least stressful way to get to our Hotel.
The thing is Fox I know you're right but I've heard mixed reviews on public transport being difficult to navigate and at that time of night just wanted to go straight to our Hotel.
I think it should be around 70$ for a taxi, if it's only an extra £20 or £30 I'd rather save the hassle.
I can't imagine who would find it difficult or stressful but it's up to you I guess.
It couldn't really be any easier. I don't even think the train stops between Jamaica and Penn Station in central Manhattan, it takes 19 minutes.
$13 each.
Consider Uber if you absolutely must get a taxi.
It couldn't really be any easier. I don't even think the train stops between Jamaica and Penn Station in central Manhattan, it takes 19 minutes.
$13 each.
Consider Uber if you absolutely must get a taxi.
As per all the rest, clarity card.
I use it to both withdraw and just purchase abroad and tbh I don't think I've ever accrued more than a few pence of interest. I usually round the payment amount up to the next piund and end up with a tiny little bit of credit until I use the card next.
I use it to both withdraw and just purchase abroad and tbh I don't think I've ever accrued more than a few pence of interest. I usually round the payment amount up to the next piund and end up with a tiny little bit of credit until I use the card next.