USA travel money: cash, cards, fees and trip budget

Recognise dollars before you spend

US paper currency has seven denominations: USD 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Use the denomination, not just the colour, when checking notes and change. Before exchanging money, ask which denominations you will receive; a large note may be less convenient for a small purchase. Keep the spending you actually expect to pay in cash separate from the amount reserved for card payments.

Check payment and withdrawal terms

Confirm your card’s international-use settings, conversion charges and cash-withdrawal limits before leaving. For accommodation or a rental, ask which cards are accepted and whether a deposit or authorisation hold is required. Do not treat a temporary hold as a paid expense in the planner. At an ATM, compare the operator charge with your own issuer’s fee; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains that both may apply.

Budget from the final booking total

The FTC’s pricing rule covers short-term lodging and live-event tickets. Its guidance says calculable mandatory fees must be included in the upfront total, while government taxes and optional additions may be shown later, before payment. For your budget, use the final checkout amount including the extras you selected. Avoid adding a resort or cleaning fee a second time if it is already included.

Check the bill before adding a tip

When planning restaurant and service spending, include the tip you intend to leave in your own estimate. Read the itemised bill first: check whether a service charge or gratuity has already been added, and ask what it covers if unclear. The percentage buttons on a payment terminal are options to review, not a personalised budget recommendation. This guide does not assume one tax or tipping percentage for every US destination.

Keep city stops and paid bookings separate

Create a stop for each part of your itinerary. Enter daily accommodation, food and transport for the whole group, and put a one-off flight or event ticket in one-off costs. Include prepaid bookings in the total costs and also enter them as already paid. The planner calculates what remains, adds your optional reserve, and lets you allocate part to cash. Its converted paid total uses the displayed reference rate, not your historical card statement.

At the payment screen

If offered conversion into your home currency, compare its rate and markup with your card terms. Choosing local currency avoids that particular conversion service.

Before you leave

• Confirm whether your booking total includes taxes and mandatory fees.
• Ask about card acceptance and temporary deposits for your own bookings.
• Choose cash amounts from your expected purchases, not a universal daily allowance.
• Save your plan explicitly and download an offline USD conversion card.