Funds

[h0dGi]

I was just wondering, for all those with previous experience :P But how much money do you recommend to take with you? Like, for travelling after camp and on camp and what not :) THanks!

[Sparkes]

I averaged spending in cash $100/2 week period. but that was just money for going out at night and stuff. Day off trips and the like were all put on my credit card which I paid off when I got home.

[collissimon]

It depends whether you are allowed to take advances from your wages and whether you want to. Also, is it your first visit to the States?

I took 800$ my first year, because it was my first time in America, and everything was exciting! I didn't do any travelling much after camp, so was able to save about that much for my next summer!

[h0dGi]

Yeah, its my first visit to the states. Also, with my pay, I can choose to get paid every two weeks or a big one at the end..

[Trees]

I don't recommend "taking" much money at all--maybe $200-300--and an ATM card. In fact, when I travel I don't take any money and just pull it out of the ATM at the airport, but that's cutting it a little close for some, I know.

You will probably want to set a budget before you go, though.

I don't recommend traveler's checks, but if you feel uncomfortable with just the ATM card, you could take about $200 in traveler's checks to be saved for emergency. I always take a $100 bill in actual currency for emergencies.

So, if I were coming to the US to summer camp for the first time, I would land in the US, draw about $500 from the ATM at the airport in case the camp is a long, long way from the bank, and then take out more money as needed. (Even if your camp is really far from a bank, almost any grocery store will give you a cash advance. But if your bank charges a foreign transaction fee--$2 dollars or so for most US banks, I don't know about abroad--you want to take out larger amounts to avoid that fee.)

In general, I would spend what you need to spend for the stuff that's really great--national park admissions, for instance--and avoid spending too much for stuff you won't remember--like too many Cokes or clubbing on nights when you don't really feel like clubbing.

[h0dGi]

Ohh ok then thanks for the info :)

[collissimon]

Hey,

You do have to bear in mind with ATM cards that there will be a charge for taking money out. Also, you will get them at an unfavourable exchange rate. I had trouble getting money out of mine, because the small banks in Honesdale didn't really like my card.

Personally, I go with traveller's cheques, because they are just like cash, except you need ID like a passport and a matching signature. Almost everywhere accepts TC because they work just like cash, even the local diner. Also, as you are getting your TC out at a certain time, you will have a set exchange rate, meaning you can work out what it is in Aussie Dollars, which means it's easier to work out what is good value for money (which if you're British is most things!)

[Sparkes]

The charges of the bank fees is why I went with my credit card. But of course, this relied on having someone back home being able to pay off my bill/have online banking set up and having money in my account at home to pay it off. Make sure you have some American cash with you when you land - I was in the states for 2 weeks before I could get to a bank, and by that time I had run through all my US dollars. I had to borrow money from friends (which wasn't a problem), and pay them back as soon as I got to a bank.

[Trees]

I don't know where you heard that ATMs give a bad exchange rate. That's pretty much the very best exchange rate you can get.

If your card is on the PLUS or CIRRUS system (there's a logo on the card) you shouldn't have any trouble.

Traveler's checks have good points, such as being easy to replace, but you have to pay a fee when you buy them AND when you cash them. (Generally more than the ATM fees.) In truth, many places don't accept them anymore (because fewer people use them now). It may be that in your camp's area they were widely accepted, but this is definitely not standard in the US.

On a less concrete note (but still important, in my opinion), traveler's checks separate you from Americans. They mark you instantly as a tourist. There's nothing wrong with being a tourist, but I feel the more you can blend in, the better experience you'll have. And the nicest American friends you make will probably still feel a little impatient when they take cash out of an ATM, but you still have to drive around looking for an open bank so you can cash your traveler's check.

[Sparkes]

I never had anyone feel impatient about cashing a cheque. All the foreign straff was paid by cheque, so it was a given that we all were going to have to go and cash it on pay day (which was our day off) and unless you wanted to not hang out with a single foreigner, so the 10 minute trip to the bank wasn't a big deal. We'd always first stop off at the bank before leaving for whatever it was we were going to, and beacuse our day off was during the week, there was never a problem with finding an open bank.

[collissimon]

This has turned into a tad of a debate! :D

Trees,
The issue is more with the fees they charge you, my bank account is in British Pounds, so when I buy something using my card in Dollars, they will exchange the currencies for the buying rate, which is more expensive than when you buy currency/Travellers Cheques as the selling rate.

You can get commission-free travellers cheques in certain branches. I sometimes ask my gran to get them, because over 65's can get them fee-free!

Also, you don't have to cash TC (i.e. go to a bank and ask for that much in cash), because if you do, it will cost you. You can just use them to purchase things, and then you'll get your change in cash, which doesn't cost anything extra. I've never been turned away for using TC, because it costs them if I go elsewhere. The nearest town to camp is only 5000 people, but has no problem accepting them.

As soon as Internationals open their mouths, it is obvious that they aren't American! This isn't usually a problem, people are usually quite curious about where you come from etc. Personally, when I go to the States, I don't really want to blend in (with the obvious exception of looking completely green and having 'rob me' tattooed on my forehead ;)), but want to share part of my culture etc., and learn more about American culture etc.

Sparkes,
I definitely agree with going with some hard currency, it's so much easier, especially if you have to stay in a big city before you go to camp.

[Trees]

Of course you want to share your culture, and of course you won't be able to "pass" as an American most of the time (indeed, you probably wouldn't want to), but my point is that there's a difference between experiencing a foreign country as a tourist and experiencing it as a temporary local.

What you say about fees and ATMs and traveler's checks is totally contrary to everything I've experienced or read, but if that's how the best deal works out for you, more power to you! We should all be looking for the best deals. Just want to warn others that they may not find this to be true for them and/or in their area (home or camp).

[collissimon]

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree here, as we both obviously have bodies of experience that contradict one another.

Perhaps the best situation for a new traveller would be to take a bit of cash to begin with (as Sparkes mentioned), have travellers cheques because they're safe and refundable when stolen, and have banking cards for when you've run out of the former and they won't accept the latter! That way you definitely have all bases covered.

[h0dGi]

Yes that sounds like a very good plan, collissimon :P I think my bank has an overseas affiliate anyways so thats always good :) This is really helpful!