Travel tips, foreign currency tips. help.?

[patience]

Hi,
We're going on holiday in a weeks time to Texas in the USA and I want advice on best way to keep my bank charges down. I was going to take 400 ish dollars initially to cover us while we get to a hotel then for the rest of the holiday just use my barclays debit card at a bank of America ATM as I only get charged 2.75% conversion and no transaction fee, also the same if I use my card in stores, bars, restaurants etc.(As Barclays and Bank of America are part of the Global Alliance) Am I going about this the right way to save me money? Thomas cook are also offering me a card to just put dollars on and use too, not sure what to do. Please someone who's been in my shoes and to America tell me the way to go here. Thanks.

[rcha123]

Thank you very much for such a lovely information.Here I have some doubts on this related topic.
In the past I have always exchanged foreign currency upon arrival in travel destination, but would like to take advantage of the weaker Euro. Any advice as to where to purchase foreign currency at competitive rates with no or reasonable service charges, in the New York City area? Thanks.

[mooseman]

Whenever you use an ATM in a foreign country, you will have to pay much higher fees when you withdrawal money. The smart thing to do is to have plenty of foreign currency when you arrive to your destination. Try an limit the amount of times you use your credit cards.