USA: Taking, changing and accessing money
Expect to pay most of your major expenses by credit or debit card ; hotels and car rental agencies usually require a credit card imprint as security, even if you intend to settle the bill in cash, and you'll be at a serious disadvantage if you don't have one. Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express and Discover are the most widely accepted.You'll also need to carry a certain amount of cash . If you have a Mastercard or Visa, or a cash-dispensing card linked to an international network such as Cirrus, Plus, Maestro or Visa Debit - check with your home bank before you set off - you can not only withdraw cash from appropriate automatic teller machines (ATMs) but often use your debit card for purchases, as you would at home. For both American and foreign visitors, US dollar travelers checks are a better way to carry money than ordinary bills; they offer the great security of knowing that lost or stolen checks will be replaced. Checks such as American Express, Visa and Thomas Cook are universally accepted as cash in shops, restaurants and gas stations, and change from your transactions will be rendered in hard currency. Be sure to have plenty of $10 and $20 denominations, and don't be put off by "no checks" signs, which refer only to personal checks. Foreign travelers should not bring travelers checks issued in their own currencies; it can be hard to find a bank prepared to change them, and no other business is likely to accept them.
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