Whether you’re travelling to the mighty mountains of Maine or California’s golden coast, it’s a good idea to buy US dollars (USD) before you go.

Here at Asda Travel Money, we make buying or selling USD as easy as picking up your weekly shop.

Benefits of buying USD with Asda Travel Money

Buy your USD with Asda Travel Money for:

• Our Price Promise– we guarantee to beat the exchange rate of any competitors within 5 miles
• Free home delivery on orders over £500
• Same-day travel money service for last-minute travel, subject to availability
• Order online for delivery or in-store collection
• Ease and convenience – pick up your US Dollars with your weekly shop
• Our Buy Back Promise– we’ll buy back your dollars at the same rate

How to buy USD

You can buy dollars with Asda Travel Money in three different ways:

In-store bureau

Changing your pounds to dollars is simple at your local Asda Travel Money bureau. We have locations in various Asda stores all over the UK. Simply pop in when you’re doing your weekly shop and get some last-minute dollars before you travel with our same-day travel money service (subject to availability).

Convenient collection while you shop

Simply buy your dollars online and choose Click & Collect to pick up your currency in one of our selected Asda stores.

Home delivery

Get your dollars delivered right to your door with home delivery from Asda Travel Money. We’ll deliver your dollars the next day if you order before 2pm (Monday to Thursday), and you can get free home delivery for orders over £500.

Useful Information about Dollars

When paying with cash in the USA, you’ll be handling both coins and notes. You’ll find dollars in note form as single dollar bills up to £100 bills (they each feature a different former president), whilst the smaller denomination cents are coins.

Countries that accept the Dollar

There are a number of other countries that use USD, including Puerto Rico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Zimbabwe, British & US Virgin Islands, and the Marshall Islands. You’ll also find many countries worldwide where USD is readily accepted. They include Canada, Russia, Panama, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and Belize.

Should I buy Dollars now or wait?

Buying dollars before your trip helps you avoid hefty international transaction and ATM fees. Keep in mind that in the US, you’re typically charged fees to use an ATM from a bank or network that you don’t bank with. And if you’re not an American bank account holder, that means you’ll pay for every ATM you use.

This can be as high as $2.50 to $3 for the bank fees, but you may also pay around $3 to the ATM provider[6] as well. Each time you withdraw money, that’s a fee of up to $6, on top of potential charges from your bank at home for a foreign transaction.

Changing pounds to dollars before you travel also means you can lock in a more competitive exchange rate now, rather than trying to find a suitable rate when you land.

How much should you tip in the US?

Tipping is an essential part of American culture and you should expect to tip:

• Bartenders: 20% per round or $1 per drink (it’s usually $2 for more complicated drinks like cocktails)[7].
• Hotel housekeeping: $2 to $5 per night: leave it under the card provided[8].
• Waiters/Waitresses: Typically tip at least 20% on the total cost of your meal, unless it’s already charged on your bill[9].
• Taxi Drivers: Tip 15-20%, rounded to the nearest dollar[10].

Why visit the US?

The good old USA really does have it all. There are the world-class museums, trendy neighbourhoods and the world-renowned buildings of New York. There’s jazz, Mardi Gras and the stunning architecture of the French Quarter in New Orleans. You don’t want to miss learning about the history of Boston, and who can ignore the glitz and glamour of LA? Plus, there’s the street food scene of Austin and the windy city itself, Chicago. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Whether you want to relax on the beach, enjoy nightlife in some of the most famous cities in the world, get out and explore the desert or breath-taking national parks, or learn to live like a cowboy, the USA is calling.

Just make sure you have those dollars in your pocket, so you can make the most of every moment.

As well as your trip to the US, if you’re heading off on holiday soon, it makes sense to buy your foreign currency as soon as possible. You’ll want to secure competitive exchange rates, as well as avoid fees for foreign transactions or the hassle of trying to find an ATM while you’re away.

At Asda Travel Money, you can buy currency for your next trip, whether you’re travelling to Canada, Australia, Dubai, Singapore, Turkey, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand or Indonesia.

[1] Sourced: statista.com. February 2024.

[2] [5] Sourced: numbeo.com. February 2024.

[3] Sourced: time.com. February 2024.

[4] Sourced: nytimes.com. February 2024.

[6] Sourced: businessinsider.com. February 2024.

[7] Sourced: bankrate.com. February 2024.

[8] Sourced: southernliving.com. February 2024.

[9] [10] Sourced: cnbc.com. February 2024.