Okay.... This is my first year at camp and I’m feeling 3 things at the moment. Nervous, Confused but most of all EXCITED!!!

So....I need some help from an experienced Camp American

1. How long would you allocate for travel after camp.... I have 2 weeks maybe 3 if I push it would this be long enough in your personal opinion?

2. I’m taking $2,000 - $2,500 with me for time at camp and travel after. Plus my $700 pocket money, how much would you recommend taking?

3. What’s the best way of money management.... Travlers Checks or Debit Cards as I don't want to take cash with me and I really don't want a credit card.

4. What size Bag do you take? I have a 100L rucksack, would this be big enough for all the standard "junk" I gotta take to camp?

That’s all I think, any help is great

Thanks!

hey danny im a returner so heres what id do!

1. Last year i travelled for two weeks, depends on what you want to do really. I just went to new york for a week and la for a week, this time though im going to hang out for a month or so cos i have more time

2. Thats plenty money! Dont go crazy spending during camp though, save it for the big travels!

3.I used my debit card, got a small charge but heyho. I believe the nationwide flex account doesnt charge you, so maybe worth getting one of those! its dangerous taking too much cash cos if u lose it there goes ur holiday.

4. I took a wheelie holdall, just like a massive sport bag with wheels! Got it from argos, so easy to move around cos of the wheels and had tons of space! not a fan of backpacks but if your hiking or anything that might be a better option.

hope this helps!

btw i applied for nationwide account for free withdraws abroad back in jan - didnt get anythin in the post so rang them up and they sed letter much of got lost in post and was told my application was declined! they sed it was something to do with amount of money goin into account or somethin! (really annoyin) so i need to go up there some point next week to collect my money off them and hopefully try and sort out whats wrong so i can open an account!

yeah ive heard they are quite stingey whenn it comes to opening one, i dont have much money either, maybe try one of thos travelex foreign currency cards.....oooh i dunno as long as i can get my money without to much hassle or charges

Thanks Guys! That helps alot

Hey I opened up a nationwide flex account a few weeks ago and they were fine with giving me one they just told me that i hd to close my other accounts first and use that as my main account because I wouldn't be depositing much into it.

ah thats rubbish then. ill go up on weds and hope i can sort it out, if not i guess ill have to find another account that does free withdraws abroad.

Good luck but i can't see why they wouldn't let you open an account, they even gave me an overdraft which i didn't think that they would.

Barclays!!!

Apparently they have a deal with "bank of america" which allows you free cash withdrawal

Heard this on the orientation day in Plymouth. Nationwide are also being funny with my application as well.

I wanted 2 get a nationwide flex account as well but i was told i needed 2 put in 750 quid each month for the first three months! coz every1 was just getting it 4 their holidays instead of using it as a normal account!

I'm taking some traveller's cheques - if you lost them/they get stolen you can get them replaced and no-one else can use them Take some cash with you though, maybe like $100 or so cause you may need some for travel to camp, and if your camp's in a remote location it might be hard to cash them etc.

I went into nationwide to see about opening an account and explained it would only be used for like the 3 months I am in america and they said to get a current account. Maybe u could look in2 that?

Do you get free cash withdrawal abroad with that account? read the T's and C's.

I just heard back from the bank and they approved my application for a flex account even though i only have an income of £120 a month.

Theres hope!

hey everyone, this is goin off the topic of bank accounts, (btw i managed to open a nationwide account and it was fine) but im a first timer so would like help with this!
i've been reading all this info on flights. im currently on GS, provisional flight date of 13th june. do i need to sort my flight details out or will CA do that? As i might not defo b goin on 13th. what do i do about my return flight? as im not sure if i need to look into all these DIY options until i know what camp im going to??

Hey, back on the money issue... I am with HSBC, and have a debit card. They have HSBC all over the world, I used it in canada and the only thing they did was give you the money at the exchange rate on that day.... Im not sure wether its as big in the states though, just know that they dont charge for cash withdrawals at HSBC banks abroad.