Thetownend.com

Hi people,me and my good wife are off to Florida to see our daughter and grandson in October of this year,it is an exiting time for us and if the truth be known one of the reasons i cannot support the town as much as i would like at present...any how my main questions are these.

For holidays is there a maximum amount of spending cash you can take and what are the facilities like over there regarding credit cards etc....in other words is it best to take more cash rather than rely on cards :hmmm:

Booking the flights i am a little worried about doing it online....not sure why because i have done it lots before but would it be better to do flights only with a travel agent...or just kick on and get it online

Another thing is we are planning to fly from Florida to New York for a few days so will it be best booking them over there at short notice or doing it now more advisable.

Thanks chaps...and be kind :D

There is absolutely no reason not to book flights online directly with the airline. I'd advise booking early.

Where in Florida are you visiting?

Hi Leefer

No limit on the amount of cash you can take but you need to declare anything over $10,000.  Think you do this on the customs form you fill out on the plane.  Using cards over there is just like here although rather than chip and PIN you usually get asked for a photo ID.  Be aware though that you can pay a commission on certain debit and credit cards and fees at ATM machines so it is wise to do a little research in to what cards are best.  Money saving expert website has good info regarding this.  I usually take a few hundred dollars and then use my Post Office credit card for most of my spending (you get a slightly better exchange rate using a card).  You can also get a pre-paid visa card that you load up with cash and use just like a normal card.

Flights I always book online.  Kayak and Skyscanner are good at comparing lots of different airlines, nothing wrong with comparing the cost in a travel agent you might be able to get a deal?  With flights its always best to book as far in advance as you can as prices usually go up as seats are sold.

Hope this helps?  You will have a great time out there!

There is a maximum amount of cash you can take, I think its less than 10K USD you don't need to declare, anything more you do. If you are taking ten grand - happy holidays.

Card facilities are generally excellent. Obviously you need to check on fees and so forth your bank may charge you (purchases), and just like here you may get charged by the US bank for using their machines. That said, it is safer than walking around with a big bulge in your pockets (oo eerr)

edit: damn you slinky..

Don't bother taking too much cash, take your cards (just remember to tell your bank etc you are going) I know from personal experience what a pain it is being robbed, and having a fair amount of cash in the stuff stolen.

Brilliant,thanks to you all,we are going to Orange City,not far of Orlando and Daytona....my daughter emigrated there last year with her son.

Again thanks, most of what you said i suspected but it is nice to have you people confirm it.

If you can book me a seat and guarantee me accommodation then I'll quite happily be your tour guide/bag carrier  :)

Just off the I-4 north of Orlando, so about 45 mins from Disney and the like.

Sanford would be the best airport to fly into but tends to be charter only, so check out Thomas Cook and Thomson.  Orlando International for scheduled flights but this is South of Orlando City area.

Credit cards are easy to use, nearly always needing a good old fashioned signature (sometimes taken on a digital screen).  Like cash in the US and you tend to get decent exchange rates more than cancelling out the per transaction fees you'll be charged for any debit/credit card transactions.

Book the New York flight as early as you can.  Think Southwest Airlines (who are usually cheapest) might fly into NY, if not someone like United will do and probably looking at a couple of hundred dollars return per person.

So that you are not taking lots of cash with you, ask your daughter to give you cash. If she still has a UK account you could transfer pounds into that, or if she hasn't you could settle up with her with one credit card payment/paypal payment/bank transfer.

Lots of good advice above. Remember to complete an ESTA online before travelling (this is what you fill in instead of getting a visa.)

It's fine to use cards, but do check what your bank will charge you. Also, credit card details seem to get 'misused' a lot more in the US than over here. At least in my experience. BEWARE!!! ;)

And do the ESTA direct rather than through some third party that some companies (Expedia I think) offer. Its cheaper and its the same thing!

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/‎

Worth shopping around. I'm off to Florida in Aug and although i have a package with these bods they have broken down the quote for me so i can see what's what. suffice to say that V the high st they came out £1400 cheaper! for the whole package mind. This lot are Virgin and Disney specialists and flights only will be right up their street.

www.chartertravel.co.uk They are based in Newbury and have agents working from home as well as staff in the shop. I am booked with a bloke called Graeme who works from home. Really nice and very, very helpful. let me know if you want his number.

Get yourself a pre-loaded dollar currency card, Leefer.  Either with someone like www.fairfx.com , or the post office do one where you can stick 800 quid on in a year and you don't have to jump through any hoops to get it.  Best rate of exchange you'll get, as far as I know.

Is your Duaghter picking you yup from the airport or are you hiring a car?

Some folk are a bit wary of driving on the wrong side of the road but, Florida being a major tourist destination has worked hard at making it less fraught for forign drivers. We have been a couple of times and done the fly drive thing.

Flights- I would recommend booking all flights as far in advance as you can- saves a fortune. Online booking is safe as well. We use expedia and nver have problems.

I can vouch for this, he arranged our holiday last year to Florida.  Think I might have name dropped them to you in a previous thread.

Indeed you did. I owe you.

We take holidays in the US quite often, and now rarely take much cash with us.

We tend to use credit cards quite a bit, as you usually get a much better exchange rate than you do at the currency exchanges.   

One thing to we wary of, it will be worth telling your credit card company you are going to the US, as they may decline a transaction on the grounds of fraud prevention.  This happened to us in Dallas in October last year, where my other half was trying to use her card.  The stupid thing was as it declined I just used my card, which was from the same provider (Nationwide) and it worked fine.

As for flights, we have booked ours online for the last few years, both direct with the airline (Virgin & BA) and also with a third party company as they only wanted a deposit whereas the airlines wanted full payment.

When we have been to Orlando we have always stayed in the Kissimmee area so have preferred to use Orlando International rather than Sanford, but I'm sure either will be OK.

If you aren't getting picked up from the airport, it might be worth making sure you have some cash handy as the roads around the airport have tolls (only a dollar or two).

Hope you have a great time!

Thanks Posh and indeed thanks to all of you who have posted,taken note of all the posts...we have decided to visit some travel agents this week just to get some quotes...may get a deal ref a hire car if we book through them.
If we are not happy we will book online soon as possible as it seems you do save a bundle,my son in law is picking us up but i want a car for over there...tempted to do the 15 hour drive to New York and stay a couple of days rather than flying there from Sandford...will check the air fares when we get over there.

Sandford is nearer to Orange City than Orlando so will use that airport....cheers again and as i have said i have read all posts and i appreciate your input.

I got myself a halifax credit card before I went gallavanting last year. No charges for withdrawing abroad, and one of the better exchange rates.

My mum lives in Panama City, known locally as the redneck riviera.

I didn't really enjoy it much, although the weather was nice. I went for a walk every day and the locals driving in their trucks kept staring at me as if I was an alien.

I left some shopping at Walmart or wherever it was and when I said I had left my shopping the locals had no idea what I was on about, it was as if I was speaking another language. Shouting SHOPPING, THE BAG OF SHOPPING did no good. Eventually I got it.

True story.

I'll not be rushing back.

What are you on a bout? Your groceries?

When you look to rent a car, check on line for airport and non airport drop off. Also, get your daughter to check on the US side. I have found in the fast that it is a lottery as depending upon time of year, phase of the moon etc depends upon which is cheapest. I'm talking significant saving here and not the odd dollar or two.

Haha, yes. Stupid septics.

Our sons childminders brother/sister/inlaw etc lives in Orlando and when they went they booked them a car thier side and saved a fortune.

Thanks...will take that advice