Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

282  SUR VIV AL GUIDE PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  283

Banking and Currency can be wired to major bank Coins DIRECTORY
branches or to any Western American coins come in 50-, 25-, 10-, 5-,
Aside from the risk of gambling away all of their money in the Union or American Express and 1-cent pieces. Gold-tone $1 coins, American Express
Vegas casinos, visitors should encounter no problems with Moneygram outlet. though rarely in use, are in circulation, Moneygram US only
financial transactions in the Southwest. Banks and foreign Currency as are the State quarters, which feature Tel (800) 543-4080.
Stolen credit and charge cards
currency exchanges are plentiful throughout the region, American currency, based on a historical scene on one side. Each value Tel (800) 327-1267.
although it is wise to check out opening times. There are a great the decimal system, has 100 of coin has a popular name: 25-cent 25-cent coin Discover
pieces are called quarters, 10-cent pieces
number of ATMs in towns and cities that enable visitors to cents to the dollar. Bills are all are called dimes, 5-cent pieces called (a quarter) Stolen credit cards
make cash withdrawals 24 hours a day. Credit cards are a the same size and color, so nickels, and 1-cent pieces called pennies. Tel (800) 347-2683.
more common form of payment than hard currency, check the number before MasterCard
especially at hotels or car-rental companies, although they paying. Smaller denominations Stolen credit cards
are preferred in small towns and
can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs. Tel (800) 627-8372.
remote gas stations.
Large $500–10,000 bills are no VISA
longer printed but are still legal Stolen credit cards
All credit, charge, and debit tender, usually found in the hands Tel (800) 847-2911.
cards can be used to withdraw of collectors. The 25-cent piece is
money from an ATM. These are useful for parking meters. Always 10-cent coin 5-cent coin 1-cent coin
usually found at banks, train and carry cash for tips, public (a dime) (a nickel) (a penny)
bus stations, airports, and transport, and taxis.
convenience
stores. With- Bank Notes (Bills)
drawing cash Travelers’ Checks Units of currency in the United States are dollars and cents. There are
on a debit card Most travelers 100 cents to a dollar. Notes come in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100.
costs less than choose to use The $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills in circulation include security
doing it on a credit cards for features with subtle color hues and improved color-shifting ink in
credit or charge purchases, or the lower right-hand corner of the face of each note.
card. The most obtain cash from
common international ATMs thus
ATMs are usually open 24-hours a day systems are Cirrus and avoiding the need N
throughout the country Plus. Ask both your American Express to carry large E
own bank and credit charge cards amounts of cash; M
card company which besides, travelers’ I
Banks and Foreign ATM system your card checks are no longer C
Currency Exchanges P E N
can access, and how much you readily available. Be sure to have
Bank opening times vary will be charged for trans actions your checks issued in US dollars S M E
throughout the Southwest, of differing amounts. Withdrawals rather than in the currency of I
but generally they are open from ATMs may provide a better your own country. Foreign- 1-dollar bill ($1) E C
between 9 or 10am and 5 or foreign currency exchange rate currency checks can be cashed P
6pm. Banks in the larger centers than cash transactions. at large banks or major hotels, S
will change foreign currency but you are unlikely to get a N
and travelers’ checks, but reasonable exchange rate, while E 5-dollar bill ($5)
branches in small towns may Wiring Money checks in US dollars are I M
not provide this service. If you need extra cash, have the accepted as readily as cash in C
money wired from your bank at many restaurants, hotels, and P E N
home in minutes using an stores, so long as you have your S E
Credit, Charge, electronic money service. Cash passport with you. M
and Debit Cards C I
10-dollar bill ($10) E
Credit and charge cards are P
practically essential when S
traveling in the US. The cards are
accepted as a guarantee when N 20-dollar bill ($20)
renting a car (see p290), and are E
used to book tickets for most I M
forms of entertainment. The C
most widely used cards are P E E N
VISA, American Express, S M
MasterCard, and Discover. Visa I
and MasterCard are the most 50-dollar bill ($50) E C
widely accepted credit cards in P
the US, but it is a good idea to S
carry two different cards to
increase the odds of acceptance. Bank of Colorado building in the town of Durango 100-dollar bill ($100)

282-283_EW_SW_USA.indd 282 28/11/17 12:43 PM 282-283_EW_SW_USA.indd 283 28/11/17 12:43 PM