Trip to the US

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jamacouve

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Hi Guys,

I went overseas last year and made use of a Cash Passport(FNB). Everything went perfectly.

I am going to the states next week and I have asked a few people about how they dealt with money that side. I have heard a few people saying that a lot of places don't accept cash passports due to cards not having names on it.

What do you reccomend ?

Transaction fee on cash passport is 1.9% once off for the conversion. And 2.75% for each swipe on my local CC.
 
In the US, take cash. Cash is king there. Also, use your CC for things like hotels and rental cars.
 
I had a big trip last year, really regretted that I had put money on a Cash Passport - useless.
 
jamacouve said:
Hi Guys,

I went overseas last year and made use of a Cash Passport(FNB). Everything went perfectly.

I am going to the states next week and I have asked a few people about how they dealt with money that side. I have heard a few people saying that a lot of places don't accept cash passports due to cards not having names on it.

What do you reccomend ?

Transaction fee on cash passport is 1.9% once off for the conversion. And 2.75% for each swipe on my local CC.
Click to expand...

Capitec 0.2% conversion fee charges :)
 
If I went again, I would take a fair amount of USD cash (for really small stuff), a conventional credit card, and a card (credit or otherwise) from which I can withdraw some cash.

If you don't have the latter, then maybe get a Cash Passport as well, but don't put too much cash on it. Just for ready cash.

You can use a credit card for just about everything.

Cash Passport :
- Often not accepted because your name is not on it, can't do hotel bookings.
- Fees are quite high.
-The banks often give you one that expires just after your trip completes.
- In any event, due to Exchange Control, you have to cash in the balance after your trip, which means even more fees.
- Etc.

IMHO
 
Take your credit card. Less hassle. Go and calculate it and you will notice the sum total of the fees are maybe 100 or 200 bucks more in total if it even is that much. Don't get too mesmerised by those percentages. In the grander scheme of what you spend on an overseas trip, the small difference of a couple bucks extra isn't nearly worth all the hassles.
 
I travel to the US quite often. At least half of the times I have only credit card and passport. Cards are universally used, even for little purchases. If you need cash to buy a postage stamp, say, just draw $20 at an ATM.
 
Arthur said:
I travel to the US quite often. At least half of the times I have only credit card and passport. Cards are universally used, even for little purchases. If you need cash to buy a postage stamp, say, just draw $20 at an ATM.
Click to expand...
/eyes suspiciously
 
HavocXphere said:
Just use a card. People overthink this stuff.
Click to expand...
I've heard a few people say it can sometimes be a mission (in the US) to use a card terminal in a restaurant or something - like they're not used to using them / the terminals are really crap. I'm sure it's not like that everywhere - was just curious how much truth there was to that.

But yeah @op: Would just stick to using your VISA/Mastercard branded bank card to swipe or draw money.
 
saor said:
I've heard a few people say it can sometimes be a mission (in the US) to use a card terminal in a restaurant or something - like they're not used to using them / the terminals are really crap. I'm sure it's not like that everywhere - was just curious how much truth there was to that.

But yeah @op: Would just stick to using your VISA/Mastercard branded bank card to swipe or draw money.
Click to expand...
SA is on the EU system of EMV cards using chip & pin. US is on Chip & signature. Plus still a fair bit of swiping.

What I did find weird is the order of things
Normal: Buy drink > Get receipt > Pin & chip payment
US: They take card & swipe it > Get drink > Ask for bill > You sign > You walk away

So was more a case of confusing than crap. Using an amex card which obv work in the US so didn't have compatibility issues. I'd imagine mc/visa would be fine too.
 
saor said:
I've heard a few people say it can sometimes be a mission (in the US) to use a card terminal in a restaurant or something - like they're not used to using them / the terminals are really crap. I'm sure it's not like that everywhere - was just curious how much truth there was to that.

But yeah @op: Would just stick to using your VISA/Mastercard branded bank card to swipe or draw money.
Click to expand...

Been to the US 3 times, I have never had a single card related problem.

They use cards a bit differently to what we have become used to. I.e they still take the cards away at restaurants and terminals aren't brought to you, pins are not required often and the chip feature is relatively new over there.

Restaurants handle tips a little weird as well. Bill is first processed, transaction goes through right away. Then receipt is brought to you to specify tip only after that. Then later the original transaction is reversed and the new transaction including the tip amount is processed. Some processed the tip separately afterwards as just the tip amount. So just not stuff we are used to but I never had any issues where my card didn't work. All places also took cards barring small outlets like hot dog vendors or Taco trucks.

Just enable your card for international purchases before you leave. Never had any hassles. Worse come to worst you can still use a bank or ATM to access your money and the fees are pretty much the same as all these other options.
 
Bring a wad of cash and a credit card.

Not sure how prevalent things like Apple Pay (and other similar services) are now there but I've just got back from the UK and I made 90% of my purchases using Apple Pay. I didn't even carry my wallet most days.
 
Don't understand why people are still asking this. Take some cash for when you get there and trying to figure things out and have credit card unlocked to use there. Everyone knows was a CC is and what it is for. As long as it's visa or mastercard you're fine.
 
Lord Farquart said:
In the US, take cash. Cash is king there. Also, use your CC for things like hotels and rental cars.
Click to expand...

You must be talking about the 1980's US.

I go there every few weeks, and I have zero paper currency. It's all credit card or NFC payments via my phone.
 
whatwhat said:
You must be talking about the 1980's US.

I go there every few weeks, and I have zero paper currency. It's all credit card or NFC payments via my phone.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the only thing I use cash for is tips.
 
bwana said:
Bring a wad of cash and a credit card.

Not sure how prevalent things like Apple Pay (and other similar services) are now there but I've just got back from the UK and I made 90% of my purchases using Apple Pay. I didn't even carry my wallet most days.
Click to expand...

^^vampire^^ said:
Don't understand why people are still asking this. Take some cash for when you get there and trying to figure things out and have credit card unlocked to use there. Everyone knows was a CC is and what it is for. As long as it's visa or mastercard you're fine.
Click to expand...

I don’t even bother changing cash beforehand any more as it’s a waste of time and lots of drama SA side.

I wait until I actually need cash and then simply go to ATM to draw.

Short of African countries this approach works pretty well just about anywhere.
 
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