US help.

[Hisashiburi]

Bring a card that doesnt charge foreign exchange fees, otherwise u are gonna hurt...

Then use the card everywhere in the usa.
Dont really need to use cash there.

Atm gives the best exchange rate.
So u can withdraw cash using the atm but each time u withdraw, it charges a fee, so withdraw just once or twice if needed.

 

[fone]

Bring a card that doesnt charge foreign exchange fees, otherwise u are gonna hurt...

Beware that the bank or card might not charge fees, but VISA / Mastercard might still have the 1% charge.

 

[paul02]

I exchanged at Bishan.

 

[y0nGsAn]

Hi,

Thanks for all the advices! Think i will just do that.

 

[critical888]

in usa, u can use a radar detector + laser jammer for driving, while in singapore cannot.. comes in handy while u are on the move.. tends to speed when too long on the road ..

 

[fone]

in usa, u can use a radar detector + laser jammer for driving, while in singapore cannot.. comes in handy while u are on the move.. tends to speed when too long on the road ..

Not legal in all states and yet not illegal in all states. Some states specifically say that they are illegal or legal, others have no stand on them (thus making them not illegal, yet not really legal). Similarly, it is illegal to use in Singapore.

Also, to speed and use a radar detector to beat the speed trap, requires understanding on its operations. Not say you speed with radar detector, you will 100% evade the speed trap. For jammer, it will depend on how good your equipment is vs the cops' equipment. These stuff can costs few thousand dollars.

Lastly, if you are one who tends to speed when too long on the road, I shall introduce to you this equipment called cruise control. Allows you to rest your leg and keep you from speeding. I've yet to see a car in the US without one (note that for rental cars, they are usually quite new).

 

[patryn33]

in usa, u can use a radar detector + laser jammer for driving, while in singapore cannot.. comes in handy while u are on the move.. tends to speed when too long on the road ..

If u get pull over for the wrong reason some cops can still ticket u.
Their reason u must have speed else why do u need this device if u always drive below speed limit

If cop is park not using radar but u speed and is faster than other cars they can still pull u over. It's not fool proof. I just don't use it and use cruise control

Lastly, if you are one who tends to speed when too long on the road, I shall introduce to you this equipment called cruise control. Allows you to rest your leg and keep you from speeding. I've yet to see a car in the US without one (note that for rental cars, they are usually quite new).

Cars above compact or Econ grade often have cruise control. Econ or compact most of the time they don't come equip with cruise control

Issue is cruise control is boring, drivers tend to get sleepy need other means to stay awake.

Some states say Washington 60 means 60 not 65, same as Ohio.
Else where it's often safer to do 5 to 10 above limit.
Depending on cars, most odo reports a little below the real number..
American generally btw 1-2miles , jap can be as much as 3-5

Btw radar device not thousands of dollars usually ~usd$500-600 for the super good ones.

 

[fone]

Cars above compact or Econ grade often have cruise control. Econ or compact most of the time they don't come equip with cruise control

Ok, I never rented below intermediate. Was basing this on the fact that $3000 cars bought by me or my room mate also have cruise control.

 

[patryn33]

$3000 used car don't say lah, a $3k used car can easily be a full size car
Car oem don't really wanna include cruise control package in compact or Econ size car. No demand.

I always get a small car when I am in la or San fran since I am
Not driving out the city

 

[critical888]

no one going to Las vegas, ces 2015 show?

 

[patryn33]

Adult entertainment expo happening at the same time too..

U going to CES? Company send usually need to make report no fun

 

[critical888]

i heard about the adult expo, quite interested, got chance i also wanna go!

 

[dilphinus]

twinklingstars, I'm also planning a trip to the US of A next month.

My itinerary is SIN-LAX//JFK-SIN on Delta. Fare is S$1212 inclusive of taxes. It's around S$1100 on Air China.

I'll stay a day in LA, take the Coast Starlight or Pacific Surfliner to SFO. Awesome scenery. The train will take a day. Stay the night and the next day in SFO. Then head to Yosemite. Will take the Amtrak/YARTS. Stay the night at Groveland. Next day hike/trek in Yosemite. Stay the night in Groveland. Then return to SFO. Stay another day in SFO. Take the California Zephyr to Chicago. Arrive Chicago 3 days later. 6 hours in Chicago. Then connect to Buffalo. Take the NFTA bus to Niagara Falls. Walk across to Canada via the Rainbow Bridge. There are 'affordable' hotels in Ontario that has packages with meals. Some hotels/rooms are for US$68 with US$40 to US$70 food vouchers. A dorm bed at Niagara Falls, NY is around US$25. With the food vouchers, kinda make sense to stay in Ontario. If not staying over in Ontario, can just walk to Canada and back to Niagara Falls, NY.

The Amtrak from Ontario leaves in the morning and arrives NY after dark. The scenery from NY to Niagara Falls is pretty awesome. Better to take the train that arrives NY before dark. So will have to head back to Buffalo to take the Amtrak back to NY.

Am still shortlisting lodging for NY.

 

[mudxblood]

twinklingstars, I'm also planning a trip to the US of A next month.

My itinerary is SIN-LAX//JFK-SIN on Delta. Fare is S$1212 inclusive of taxes. It's around S$1100 on Air China.

I'll stay a day in LA, take the Coast Starlight or Pacific Surfliner to SFO. Awesome scenery. The train will take a day. Stay the night and the next day in SFO. Then head to Yosemite. Will take the Amtrak/YARTS. Stay the night at Groveland. Next day hike/trek in Yosemite. Stay the night in Groveland. Then return to SFO. Stay another day in SFO. Take the California Zephyr to Chicago. Arrive Chicago 3 days later. 6 hours in Chicago. Then connect to Buffalo. Take the NFTA bus to Niagara Falls. Walk across to Canada via the Rainbow Bridge. There are 'affordable' hotels in Ontario that has packages with meals. Some hotels/rooms are for US$68 with US$40 to US$70 food vouchers. A dorm bed at Niagara Falls, NY is around US$25. With the food vouchers, kinda make sense to stay in Ontario. If not staying over in Ontario, can just walk to Canada and back to Niagara Falls, NY.

The Amtrak from Ontario leaves in the morning and arrives NY after dark. The scenery from NY to Niagara Falls is pretty awesome. Better to take the train that arrives NY before dark. So will have to head back to Buffalo to take the Amtrak back to NY.

Am still shortlisting lodging for NY.

hi there, can sic where u get that price for inter flight? I usually go to skyscanner to search for the cheapest flight. thanks

 

[dilphinus]

Where is the outlet (shopping) in Buffalo?

Iis this the one? Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls USA : Home? worth going?

I may have to stay an extra day in Buffalo in order to catch the train to NY that arrives in NY in the afternoon instead of at night.

 

[invisible999]

Bring a card that doesnt charge foreign exchange fees, otherwise u are gonna hurt...

Guys, you are forgetting that those folks are coming from Singapore. There are no cards in Singapore which do not charge foreign transaction fees - all of them do.

The question is which card does less and what benefits (points, miles, special bonus points for overseas charges) one might want. So as the question to the correct section of this forum.

As far as ATM withdrawals - open savings account at CIMB bank (you can do it with SIN $1K, however, you do not need $1K to maintain) and then use any ATM with VISA network for withdrawal - CIMB won't change you ATM fee.

 

[patryn33]

CIMB may not charge u atm fees but if take many from say Wells Fargo or union bank they may charge u a fee. U will not be hit on both ends just 1 side

 

[invisible999]

CIMB may not charge u atm fees but if take many from say Wells Fargo or union bank they may charge u a fee. U will not be hit on both ends just 1 side

True. You just need to find a bank/CU which won't charge fee for using other banks' cards at their ATMs.

Except BoFA and some other high profile cases, ATM fees in US are less comparing to fees what Singapore banks will charge for using their cards at foreign ATMs. Example - Patelco CU charges $1.75 ATM fee, while DBS/UOB charge SIN $5 and HSBC charges $8 for using their cards at foreign ATMs.

 

[patryn33]

Sg is costly cannot be help but what's the pt of comparing since Singaporean don't pay that anyway

Usa fees ranges from usd$1.50 to $5

 

[critical888]

citibank create a USD account, than u exchange it online and dump into the USD account,use your atm card to withdraw at citibank usa

set USD as primary account by calling customer service before you leave sg.

try and see, ask customer service see how much