kimilseung

I haven't used them in year either, but I always thought America was (at least in the day) the place to use them, that they could be used in places like restaurants and businesses. My mum told me she used them traveling around the States, using them as she went rather than the usual way of cashing them out at banks. this was a few decades ago. I am sure it is not like that any more.

Weeze

We didn't bring much cash, a few hundred I think. We opened a US bank account and then transfered money across. For big purchases before our real checks arrived we got checks drawn up at the bank. For smaller purchases we used our US credit cards, debit card and the checks without our address on that you get straight away.

Funstuie

Thanks mate. Perfect answer.

Pulaski

Many (most?) businesses won't accept cheques these days, and I'm reasonably sure that would include travellers cheques. Also agreed, that most customer facing staff would not know what they are.

Yorkieabroad

We're with Wells Fargo and I called them a couple of weeks ago to ask about TC's. The guy I spoke to didn't know what they were, and called his supervisor who told me they didn't do them, but to be honest, he didn't really sound totally sure.

mamasue

I found the easiest way was to use my NatWest debit card at local banks....They charged about $2 per transaction, as well as a small fee for exchanging the money.
I could get $800 a day doing this... and the transaction fee's the same whether you take $5 or $500.
Credit cards seem to charge more for cash than debit cards.... but getting large items with a UK CC works.

andrewlohnes

Ice card

How about 1 of these? I used them last year when I travelled America, very easy and no fees! I think travellers cheques are accepted everywhere aswel, not sure why people are saying they're not.

Sally Redux

My mum brought Travellers' checks with her one time. They were a nightmare, and she could only cash them at Wells Fargo because I had an account there. To say they were suspicious is a severe understatement. It took so long that I felt faint and had to sit down until my attack of the vapours passed.

GeoffM

Because they're not accepted everywhere. Even back in the 90s when I last used them there were plenty of places that wouldn't take them. The big decline in acceptance means less people are likely to buy them and so fewer places accept them, and so on.

ExpatAussieInNJ

You will need money for several things in the first few weeks, such as buying new appliances (UK electricals don't work too well here in USA), and also if you are going to rent your accommodation here. Renting often requires 3.5 months rent up front to pay is month's rent plus security deposit plus realtor's commission. Rental money is usually not payable by credit card. You need cash or checks. If you don't bring the cash over with you, you will need to open a bank account pretty quickly here, and then transfer cash to the USA to be available for this.

Other expenses upfront can be for renting a car to drive around or for deposit on a leased car etc.

andrewlohnes

When you can use travellers pre-paid cards these days there is no need for them anyway. They are basically the modern day travellers cheque.

Pulaski

When you can use credit cards almost universally anyway, a "travellers prepaid card" looks to me like a solution looking for a problem.

kimilseung

1 in 12 American households do not have bank accounts.

Pulaski

I'm gonna take a wild guess here that all of those 1/12 don't have passports and have no use for travellers cheques, or any replacement or substitute thereof.

Bob

Not all places around where I am accept them, but plenty do...hotels and the like are a safe bet...probably because they're popular with the Brazilians that come over.

I wouldn't want to rely on them and cashing in at a bank will be a chore.

Visa gift card is much easier and less hassle, get one at any old bank or what not with any cash you bring as you can use the card for most things from parking metres to taxi's. Cash is still handy for toll roads though and some older taxi's etc.

Sure, you could use a credit card, but some charge a %/fee, HSBC have started doing it per purchase on their credit/debit cards for the phleb accounts.