Bringing Money With You

The US money system is quite easy to learn. We have several denominations of bills: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. The coin system is equally as simple. We have a penny (1 cent), a nickel (5 cents), a dime (10 cents), a quarter (25 cents), half dollar (50 cents), and several $1 coins (Sacagawea, the silver dollar, and the new gold President dollar).

Foreign exchange bureaus are not easily found in the US so make sure you have your money converted before your trip. Some banks may exchange it for you at a fee.

Traveler's Checks in US denominations are accepted everywhere in the US. Foreign checks are quite difficult to exchange. There are three that are widely recognized here in the US. They are Visa, Mastercard, and Thomas Cook. Be sure to keep the serial numbers written down in a safe place in case yours are lost or stolen. To exchange them for US cash, you will need your driver's license and/or your passport for identification.

Credit Cards accepted in the US are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, and Carte Blanche. Some Vegas vendors may also accept international cards such as enRoute, EuroCard, and JCB. Most businesses will have a sticker in the corner of their door to let you know what they will and won't accept. Also, some businesses may require a minimum ten dollar purchase before they will accept the card.

ATMs can be found on almost every block in the US. Make sure your PIN number is well out of sight and don't place it on the back of your card. You can only get US currency out of the ATMs. If you are not with the bank you are withdrawing from, expect to be charged $3 or more for the transaction. One way to get around the fee is go to a grocery store and buy something and get cash back. Fees are not usually charged then.