Calchas

the outlet has fulfilled its duty

If there is a dispute that is a matter for the issuing bank

TravelerMSY

ATM on arrival. Keep ~$100 or equivalent for next trip.

IcHot

As if a retailer is an expert in handwriting?

I had a pub in Cardiff want to decline a card after matching signatures. In my opinion, it wasn't so much that they didn't match as that he was scared to death of chip and signature.

I pulled out a photo ID to help assure the young man and to keep myself from getting very annoyed.

84fiero

I go for many weeks and never have a need to use cash here in the US. Car wash, post office, fast food, grocery, gas station...I'm hard pressed to think of anyplace that requires cash in my daily life. The occasional vending machine that doesn't take plastic is about it. Even the Girl Scouts selling cookies on a foldout table in front of the grocery store take credit cards nowadays.

txflyer77

Agreed. Even parking meters take credit cards these days.

Allan38103

Totally confused.

People "care less", but YOU don't? (or you do)?

Do you care MORE?

Annalisa12

I travel with 3 to $5,000 in cash. Currency depends where I am going. I usually get it from the bank before I go because that amount does not necessitate trying to save a few pennies. If I was taking 500k out I would look around for the best exchange rate.

Annalisa12

I was declined something overseas, I think in the USA or Canada as the shop assistant had never seen an Australian Driver's Licence. I said because you have never seen one does not mean that this is fake. Frustrating.

ft101

The Post Office Card is good for overseas purchases, but ATM withdrawals are heavily charged (relatively), and buying currency from the Post Office can usually be bettered. I appreciate convenience may be a factor for some.

As previous posts, Halifax Clarity provides the best of both worlds and can be paid off almost real time.

Santander Zero is unfortunately not accepting new applicants so Norwich and Peterborough Debit Card comes next.

Now, if only one of the UK cards reimbursed ATM fees as branches aren't always open, things would be ideal.

ft101

But does it have a foreign currency transaction fee?

Tchiowa

Yup. Keep enough cash for taxi from airport to the hotel, tips and a meal that will hold you long enough to get to an ATM.

US is slowly becoming a cashless society. I use cash for 2 purposes. One is for tiny purchases. The other is that there are a number of Mexican restaurants in my neighborhood where they don't accept anything but cash. Not sure why. They also don't speak English. Coincidence, I'm sure.

It's important to keep *all* the factors in mind. Exchange rates, fees, etc. Myself, I decide not to "sweat the small stuff" and just use a CC that doesn't have fees and an ATM card from a credit union that refunds the ATM fees. Then I just live my life and not worry about a percent here or there.

darthbimmer

While society as a whole will be slow to go cashless the ability to go cashless -- for those who want to-- has evolved rapidly. Within the past 5 years virtually all the cash-only types of merchants have changed to accepting credit cards. Fast food restaurants all accept them. Street vendors largely accept them, via easy and low-cost tools like Square. Taxi drivers accept them, if only because more and more cities have passed laws requiring that they stop pretending their machine is broken. The last holdouts seem to be small, mom-and-pop type operations. But even they will probably have to get on the bandwagon within a few years as fewer and fewer customers carry cash.

Years ago I'd withdraw $100 from the cash machine and it'd last me a week if I was frugal. Nowadays I withdraw $100 and it can last months. I'd advise foreign travelers visiting metropolitan areas in the US to rely on using credit cards (assuming no forex fees), keep their cash withdrawals small, and use cash only for small transactions like tipping the bellhop. Travelers visiting remote small towns and rural areas may need to rely more on cash.

Calchas

Ah but tips I prefer cash. If you tip by card I always imagine that not much of it goes to the front end staff!

gooselee

As a US resident, I love the comments in this thread. Particularly because I frequently find myself in the company of people here (near my home, not on FT) who blindly believe the US is the best and greatest at everything and always on the forefront of all technology in the world.

As a US resident going abroad, it really depends on where I'm going. But I will usually bring a small amount in cash, <$200, and only change it if I cannot find a local ATM in my first few hours on the ground. I try to use no-forex credit cards whenever possible and minimize cash, but prefer to use local ATMs rather than money changers when possible just based on the exchange rates and lack of fees my bank charges.

In terms of advice to others visiting the US, shop around if you need to convert large sums and require cash, but in large metropolitan areas like NYC, DC, LA, ATL, SFO, your need for everyday cash will be minimal of you have charge/credit cards with magstripes. As backwards and unsecure as our point-of-sale systems are, cards are very widely accepted. Major exceptions are to support our tip-based services like hotel bellmen, shuttle drivers, etc.

chrismk

You hardly need to be an expert to check a signature!