Best option for payment in USA

I am off for a holiday in the USA in September, and was wondering what is the best methods of payments out there. All hotels, major excursions (shows, trips etc) and car hire is payed for, so we are talking meals, parking, shopping, odds and sods.

I have various credit cards including MBNA, and Amex, and my bank is the Abbey with a multi-functional debit card. My partner has a Halifax account with a Visa debit. However, I believe that all of these charge really awful exchange rates, some charge amounts for using them abroad, so want the best option. Is it travellers cheques, cash or just use the plastic?

I don't partially want to go to the effort of opening new bank accounts to save a few pounds.

Many thanks in advance

Jaffa

Reply to
JaffaB
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A debit card in an ATM for cash and a credit card for purchases - all yours charge pretty much the same, which is 2.75% for purchases and another 1.5% on top of this for cash. If any of yours are Nationwide (you don't give a full list) then these charges are waived.

In some US states some banks will also levy a charge for use of their cash machine. In these the balance may just tip in favour of TCs.

Travellers Cheques and cash will cost you even worse exchange rates - typically 5% or 5.5% on the interbank rate even if they are 'commission-free'

Reply to
dtren

Found a list of the USA states where charges MAY apply:

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

As here, machines in petrol stations and convenience stores may also charge

Reply to
dtren

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