The one that costs everyone money
When you pay by card, American terminals frequently ask whether you'd like to be charged in pounds or in dollars.
Always choose dollars.
Choosing pounds is called dynamic currency conversion, and it lets the retailer's payment processor set the exchange rate — typically 3–6% worse than your bank's. Over a two-week trip that's easily £100 gone for the convenience of seeing a familiar currency symbol. Same at ATMs: decline the "conversion" and let your own bank do it.
What to carry
- A fee-free card is the main thing. Wise, Revolut, Chase, Starling — anything that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. A standard high-street debit card typically charges around 3% on every single purchase.
- A credit card for big-ticket items. Section 75 protection covers purchases over £100 — flights, tickets, car hire. Worth using even if the fees are slightly worse.
- A credit card in the main driver's name for the car hire deposit. Debit cards are often refused outright at rental desks.
- Some cash, but not much. $150–$200 covers tips, valet parking and the occasional cash-only stall. America is overwhelmingly card-based now.
- Tell your bank you're travelling, or expect a fraud block halfway through a $400 dinner.
Sales tax
Prices on shelves and menus exclude sales tax. Orange County (most of Disney, Universal, I-Drive) is around 6.5%; Osceola County (much of Kissimmee) is around 7.5%. Hotel rooms carry an extra tourist development tax on top.
It's not a scam, it's just how American pricing works — but it means a $10 item is $10.65 at the till, and it makes budgeting by menu price consistently optimistic.
Tipping
Tipping in the USA is part of the wage structure, not a bonus for good service. Servers are legally paid a lower base wage on the assumption that tips make up the difference.
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Table-service restaurant | 18–20% of the pre-tax bill |
| Bar, per drink | $1–$2 |
| Housekeeping | $3–$5 per night, left daily |
| Airport / hotel porter | $2 per bag |
| Taxi / Uber | 15–20% |
| Valet parking | $3–$5 on collection |
| Quick service, counter pickup | Nothing expected |
Two things to watch:
- Check whether gratuity is already added. Many restaurants add 18% automatically for parties of six or more, and the card machine will then also prompt you for a tip. Read the bill.
- Tip on the pre-tax total. The suggested amounts printed at the bottom of receipts are often calculated on the post-tax figure, and sometimes start at 22%.
Practical
- Keep receipts for anything you might return. American shops are generous about returns, with a receipt.
- Card everywhere. Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted virtually everywhere, including in-park.
- Set up one card as the family payment method in the Disney and Universal apps for mobile ordering, then you're not fishing for a wallet mid-queue.
- If you're giving a teenager a card, a Revolut sub-account with a spending limit saves an argument.