Thread: Card acceptance in New York and Florida?

Hello, I'm in the UK and have an Amex card and am planning on using it on my work trip next year but how accepted is it in Florida and NY? Will I be able to rely on it? Or will I need to bring a MC as well?

Depends where you go. Many places take Amex but smaller merchants may not. Bring a MC and especially bring cash.

If you bank with Barclays, the Global ATM Alliance will save you some bucks on withdrawals when you use Bank of America ATMs.

NYC and Florida's Gold Coast (Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami) are pretty ritzy so you have a very good chance at it being accepted. I would bring a MC or Visa just in case but otherwise you should be fine.

Also, you can buy some traveler checks in advance and use them to pay the hotel, or cash them to have access to some liquid funds.

in New York American Express is accepted everywhere, you'll be doing business, hotels, all restaurants, if you will be going to the theatre with clients. there will be plenty of places that will help you get tickets.

I do agree with everybody a Mastercard would be good in case a small merchant doesn't take American Express. I also agree with David that cash is a great idea. if you want to go to a fast food restaurant by yourself and your bill is about 9 dollars then cash is nice.