best way to take currency to usa?
- Thread starter utajoker
- Start date
Soldato
Just take the notes but strap them to your body. 
Soldato
http://www.fairfx.com/
I'm a big fan of these prepaid mastercards, although there are withdrawal fees if you need hard cash. Still has the best rates and it is easy to transfer/add more money to your card if necessary.
I'm a big fan of these prepaid mastercards, although there are withdrawal fees if you need hard cash. Still has the best rates and it is easy to transfer/add more money to your card if necessary.
Soldato
Untraceable, negotiable bearer bonds.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
The best way to take money to the States is by withdrawing cash on a Halifax Clarity credit card. There is no cash advance fee (You are just charged interest from Day 1 which works out at a 1% or so charge if you pay it back within a month or so). You can also make all your purchases on it as well. All transactions will be at the Visa wholesale rate.
There is no cheaper or easier way to do it - I recommend you take this option.
There is no cheaper or easier way to do it - I recommend you take this option.
Travellers cheques? That was the standard way to carry cash when on holiday.
Now I just take a little of the national currency and use my Nationwide card (which doesn't charge for purchases abroad...). The exchange rate with the card is usually better than cash anyway.
Now I just take a little of the national currency and use my Nationwide card (which doesn't charge for purchases abroad...). The exchange rate with the card is usually better than cash anyway.
Take enough cash to buy a coffee at the airport and no more. Cash is a ripoff - withdraw it from cash machines in large lumps to avoid the effect of the withdrawl fee, using the card I recommended.
You WILL pay more doing it any other way.
You WILL pay more doing it any other way.
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I just use my nationwide debit card and withdraw my maximum each time I need money, in every country I visit as then only get charged once a relatively small amount (a few pounds at worst) and you will get a better exchange rate that the majority of the money changers out there. Although The Change Group offers great rates and a really good service and I would recommend them if you are going to buy some currency before traveling to the USA.
Not any more - they've withdrawn the cheap rates as of November 1st. Using a nationwide debit card is now NOT recommended.
I cant beleive everyone is ignoring my suggestion!
Soldato
Make a load of these: http://www.instructables.com/id/Coin-roll-dynamite/ and simply strap them to a Vest or Belt concealed under your normal clothes, US Airport Security has a fantastic sense of humour, they'll love you for it!
Personally I'd reccomend Fair FX but there are plenty of options, loads of info here...
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money
The link you posted even says..
Seriously, just get a Halifax Clarity card and use it to withdraw cash and buy things. Then pay it off in full when you get back. Job done, cheap, easy, no hassle.
Why even consider any other option?
This :
http://www.citibank.co.uk/personal/banking/international/eurocurrent.htm?merchant=citi
It's the US Dollar Current Account. Got one recently, you transfer money into it online and the exchange rate I believe is a standard bank exchange rate with no extra charges (I think), e.g. on 3rd November I got a rate of 1.6021 when I transferred some money in.
You get a VISA debit card, chequebook etc if you want but I wont use that, and there are no fees on withdrawal at cash machines or on transactions. It's good for me as I travel to the US more often now and I get a US$ cheque every now and then.
I looked around a lot and this seems the best way to be honest.
Caveat is, use it anywhere else than where US$ is accepted currency and you'll get charged as your own UK debit card abroad. Also free withdrawals are only from Citi cash machines, but they're everywhere.
Handy for Europe too because you can just call up and say 'can I switch to Euros' and BAM.
Until recently they used to charge $20 a month if you didnt have $2000 in it, but they've stopped that, surprised everyone's not jumping on it.
http://www.citibank.co.uk/personal/banking/international/eurocurrent.htm?merchant=citi
It's the US Dollar Current Account. Got one recently, you transfer money into it online and the exchange rate I believe is a standard bank exchange rate with no extra charges (I think), e.g. on 3rd November I got a rate of 1.6021 when I transferred some money in.
You get a VISA debit card, chequebook etc if you want but I wont use that, and there are no fees on withdrawal at cash machines or on transactions. It's good for me as I travel to the US more often now and I get a US$ cheque every now and then.
I looked around a lot and this seems the best way to be honest.
Caveat is, use it anywhere else than where US$ is accepted currency and you'll get charged as your own UK debit card abroad. Also free withdrawals are only from Citi cash machines, but they're everywhere.
Handy for Europe too because you can just call up and say 'can I switch to Euros' and BAM.
Until recently they used to charge $20 a month if you didnt have $2000 in it, but they've stopped that, surprised everyone's not jumping on it.
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