Best methods of handing money for an american visiting Ireland & England?

Will my Visa & Mastercard credit cards work in most places? How about a Mastercard Debit card? Are the American Express Traveler's Checks good to use otherwise? What about those American Express Traveler's Check-Cards?

Will I need to prove my amount or source of funds at any time (I've never been abroad)? How do I do this? The whole trip is for less than a week.

Should I try to have some cash on me anyway? What's the best way to get the cash converted? While I'm still in the US or while I'm in Ireland or England?

I've looked on websites (please send good ones if you know of any), but I would like to hear personal experience as well.

Thank you!!!!!!

VISA and Mastercard are widely accepted. Be aware that in the UK now you need to know your PIN number for your cards and enter them in the terminal when you make a transaction.

You shouldn't have to prove the funds you have. Nobody has a right to know that!

Take cash with you as well as there will be many small transactions you make that are easily done in cash only. (bus fares, newspaper, etc etc). I would find a cheap place in the states to convert your cash. There are plenty in the UK as well but I normally convert cash before I leave as its one less thing to worry about when you arrive somewhere and then need to spend money!

Also be aware what your card charges are. I have used my VISA card abroad before and get charged a percentage rate on top of the transaction. Travellers Cheques can be converted into cash or used as they are in many places but paying by cheque is not very common in the UK anymore. You are better off with cash or card..

visa and mastercard will work in most places. if you have a mastercard debit card you can use it to withdraw cash from a cash machine in the UK.

I travel a fair bit and never take money with me, just use my swtich/visa debit or visa card to withdraw money from cash machines in the country when i get there.

take your check card and your basic plastics, exchange money at the airport for petty cash and you are set....they got ATM's but be ready for a fee of up to $8.00 in total each time you take money out....so plan the amount wise....try not to carry too much cash at once....have fun

Use American Express Traveler's checks and cash them as you need them. Noone else will be able to use them, and if you lose them or they get stolen, you can get new ones, as long as you keep the receipts.
Have fun!

Chill bro! We Brits are human too y'no.I can assure you that we are not a third world country and even have fancy things called computers and stuff (which we invented at oxbridge). All the major credit cards like Yanky express, visa, master etc will all work here. Your main issue is to check exchange rates and then you can decide whether it is financially better to change any cash over here or before you come. Everything else is plain sailing. We speak the same language....or, maybe not, so there should be no problems there if you need to communicate.I hope you don't need an umbrella.

Keep it simple by using your major credit cards where
accepted. Convert some money at the airport for tips, taxi, and smaller shops that don't accepted cards. Any bank will convert your currency or travelers checks as needed. Wonderful Countries, enjoy your trip.