<p>One of my kids will be going to a summer camp in the USA with most of the expenses covered under the enrollment fees but there will be the need for some cash for a few supplies, the weekend and travel days. </p>
<p>I plan to send about $70 in cash but believe they will be needing about $120 to $150 in all. So I would like for him to have another $100 but really don't want him to carry that much in cash - in case something gets lost or worse.</p>
<p>As a parent when I used to travel years ago I would just get a $100 in travel's checks (say 5 $20's). Can you even get a $100 in travel's checks anymore (my bank said their minimum was $200) and if so are they still accepted by most stores in leu of cash like they used to be back in the dark ages? </p>
<p>The bank said they also sell an "AMerican Express Gift Card" for like $4 that should be accepted at locations that would take the Am. Exp. credit cards. I have never heard of this before so is that a better alternative than travel's checks or what else is out there?</p>
<p>What is the safe way to send a bit of extra "cash" or spending power with a minor student traveling in America?</p>
<p>Why don’t you contact the camp? My youngest will be going to camp out of state and we are able to put money in a camp account for the same uses that you mentioned.</p>
<p>My D’s summer travel camp recommended a company called Payoneer which is a pre-paid Mastercard cash card which can be used to withdraw money from ATMs as well as charge items to the card. Parents can load money to the card and manage the account online. However, there is an activation fee of $9.95 as well as fees to use the card at ATM’s and when loading money onto it.</p>
<p>I prefer to send my D with an ATM card that is not a debit card and is linked to her high school savings account (which I can manage online as it is linked to my accounts). There is no fee for cash withdrawals when she uses her own bank. She also has a credit card of mine in her name for pre-arranged limits for spending.</p>
<p>My S has a Teen Checking account with a debit/visa card. I am on the account as well, so I have total control. On his visa/debit card we put a small daily limit ($20) for purchases, and larger one ($100)on the withdrawls from bank/atm (I figured that when he looses the card, and I am sure it will happen knowing my son, the most he can loose this way before reporting the card stolen is $20, if any ). I can access his account online together with all my other banking and make immediate transfers if necessary. I can make changes to limits as well.
Since he is a minor without a DL, and I do not want him to be traveling with a passport, we made an ID card for $18 at the local DLD place.</p>
<p>Another bonus of this situation - whenever I owe my S any money (allowance, money he earns) I can transfer it immediately into his acount. We both love it. You can open an account like that for a kid 13 and older.</p>
<p>Believe AAA has prepaid debit cards that can be used at ATM machines; a service offered to members and nonmembers at a nominal fee. This is what we used when kids went to Europe. You can dole out the $$ over the summer as you need to–No mon, No fun, Ur son!! :-)</p>
<p>Our bank sells visa gift cards (can be used wherever visa is accepted) for no fee if you are a bank customer. You keep the receipt so if it gets lost it can be replaced.</p>
<p>I don’t think stores like travelers cheques these days. When my teenage kids travel without me, I loan them my debit card. They’ve used it at at ATMs and in stores without a problem. I’m much less concerned about losing that than a large amount of cash.</p>
<p>VISA Buxx cards are great it you will have a continuing need over time. You reload quickly and easily anytime. I do it from my computer or even my cell phone that has internet access. Got D one for a summer program when she was 12. She still uses it today. I load her allowance, etc on it. </p>
<p>VISA or AmEX prepaid cards, but check to see if they can be used with a PIN at an ATM. This makes them far more flexible. You can buy one time use cards or reloadable cards. The reloadable cards you can buy at WalMarts, and use them anywhere. Not sure about the cash access feature though. The AAA cards can be used with a PIN for cash.</p>
<p>Many camps have an account that you can pay and your child can “withdraw” money as needed, with a refund to you at the end of the camp. They don’t like kids having $150 cash that might be lost or stolen, either.</p>
<p>Whoa, THANKS for all the helpful comments! </p>
<p>The student is 16 years old and this is for California destination not international. You have already given me several good ideas to follow up with. I never new about the Visa Prepaid Cards so I will check that out through AAA and some of the local banks. </p>
<p>If I am understanding it, after it is loaded with $$, he can use it like a “charge or credit card” to make a purchase where Visa is accepted. Or, get some cash at an ATM machine - I guess there will be a few $ surcharge to use the ATM machine or is there some ways to avoid or at least minimize the charges for accessing cash via the ATM machine?</p>
<p>Different VisaBuxx cards (based on bank association) have different surcharges/fees to use ATM, put $$ on card, limits on how much to put onto card at one time.
One example is National City VisaBuxx card which allows only $250 put on card at one time.. with fee of $2.50 if you don’t have a bank account at National City. ATM fees can be $1.00 for inquiry and $1.50 for cash withdrawal. So compare cards and make sure you inform yourself and user about the additional fees. When VisaBuxx card is used it is really used as if it was a ‘credit card’ in automated machines at cashiers.</p>
<p>Little tip: Make sure your child takes more than one “form” of money…ie cash AND something else. </p>
<p>There are still some hole-in-the-wall places throughout Cali that don’t take credit cards at all, and that way if they lose the cash or whatever type of check/card they’re carrying, they still have some money.</p>
<p>I always took cash and a credit card (I’ve had a credit card on my parents’ accounts since I was 13).</p>
<p>Isn’t this child just going to camp? My kids have been going to camp oos, via airplane, for ten years and I’ve always just given them about $20 cash and deposited money in their camp account. After camp, we get either a bill or a refund. It’s not like she’s going to be wandering the streets alone is it?</p>
<p>I certainly don’t think he or any of the other participants would be wandering the streets alone and there is no provision for any type of deposit account as you describe. No accounting or credit services like the camp you have experienced either or I wouldn’t have made the OP. I will probably send some cash and get one of the prepaid visa cards that others have described above.</p>