dabber

I have been on several websites regarding credit and debit card use and it seems that the best option is the debit card,i.e. a card that is linked to a bank account in that it attracts a lower transaction fee.I now think that I will bring a combination of cash and both credit/debit cards.
Will anybody be on hand to advise how to use an ATM as I believe they
operate differently from UK machines and I dont want to risk loosing a card!!
I have used a debit card in ATMs in Spain and Portugal with no problem.
How will I know which ATM to use,my debit card has a Cirrus symbol on the back,do cabs accept cards or are they cash only.

melcat71

I would never do downtown Dallas for 5 days and I live here. There's a lot of construction going on downtown to the buildings. It's not very nice to see. Perhaps you might like to watch cable tv. I would take the TRE to Fort Worth. It's much better than Dallas and no homeless people!

MrsJenn

You shouldn't have any trouble using the ATM. They have very clear instructions, so you will be fine. Most of them don't actually take your card totally into the machine any more. They use more of a "swipe" or "insert and remove quickly" system, where your fingers never let go of the card, so you won't lose it. If you are worried, try using the ATM in your hotel first(I'm assuming it will have one). That way you can talk to the concierge if there are any issues. I'm not sure if all cabs take credit cards, there are probably some that do, just check with the driver first.
Hope you have a great time in Dallas! I live in downtown Dallas, and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself. Let me know if you have any other questions.

TxTravelPro

melcat71, I think you are deliberately baiting this thread with that comment to 'start something'.
I hope people reading to do not fall for it.

dgg

Dabber, the ATM machines will be labeled with a Cirrus symbol if it accepts Cirrus cards. Cirrus is quite common here so I don't think that will be a problem. I used my US debit card in the UK last year without any problem. I assume you will have the same ease here. Sometimes an ATM will "eat" your card if you fail to enter the correct PIN after 3 attempts, but I'm sure you know your PIN number.

A regular taxi will take cash only. You may find some who take credit cards, but cash is the preferred form of payment so I would assume that every time you get in a taxi you will need to pay with cash. Your hotel will be able to advise on approximate fares to your various destinations or ask the driver before you get into the cab. Nothing against US cab drivers, but don't expect a London cabdriver who will entertain you with their friendly knowledge of the city. Many are recent immigrants and some (American born or otherwise) are downright unfriendly. I haven't taken a taxi in Dallas, but have found this to be the case in most US cities. If they're not jovial or are uninformed, don't be offended. The Adolphus will have a cab stand and doorman to help you. Definitely make use of the concierge for any questions you may have.

One other thing that's different here in the States is the tipping system. I know it can be shocking to many Europeans and Canadians. Unless you are a large party, which you and your wife will not qualify, the gratuity will not be included in your restaurant bill. Unlike most of Europe, waiters and waitresses are paid far below minimum wage and their gratuities make up the majority of their compensation. The custom is 15% for "normal" service. Many of us tip 20% as our standard for good service. You only go less than 15% for very poor service. This does not apply to self-service counters. Often you'll see a tip jar at sandwich counters and coffee shops and people will throw in their change, but this is not necessary.

Taxi drivers also expect to be tipped at around 15%. Usaully we do not tip less than $1.00 regardless of the fare. When the doorman at the Adolphus hails a taxi for you and opens the door, he will be waiting for a tip. $1.00 or so will suffice. There is no need to tip him or her when you return to your hotel. The bellman, when he takes you and your luggage to your room, will be waiting for around $1.00 per bag (usually only the large bags). When I travel with my family of six and we have teddy bears and a lot of loose items, we tip more. For you and your wife, I think a couple of dollars will do. If you are just asking the concierge for directions or simple advice, it is not necessary to tip. If they obtain theater/atheletic event tickets for you, they wil expect a tip commensurate with the difficulty/desireablity of obtaining the tickets. At the airport, if you check your bag curbside at the airport, the custom is $1.00 per bag. We're always generous with those fellows as we don't want to get them miffed at us and our bag misses the flight! You do not tip if you check in at the ticketing/check-in counter. Tipping goes a long way in the States. If you tip well early on in your visit, you will find the staff at your hotel very helpful. Sorry, it's just the American Way!

dgg

I didn't proofread my last reply, but I want to clarify something. Forgive me for being overly simplistic, but you do not need to tip the doorman for simply opening the door of the hotel. You only tip them when they hail a taxi and hold open the taxi car door. I know you observe some of these customs in the UK, but I just wanted to clarify what to expect here.

bkluvsNola

Whew! I hope this thread is over.

dabber, I hope you enjoy the JFK stuff/Dealey plaza, etc...

Dallas is a business city. It's a great place to live, work, and most importantly for Dallasites, make money. It will introduce you to the extreme version of American consumerism, where people live on maxed out credit cards, shopping at high end shopping outlets and dining at a vast array of highly duplicated chain restaurants.

People in Dallas are self-conscious and looks are important, so you don't get that lazy attitude like Houston. They do work out in Dallas, only because they want to look good, whereas in Austin they work out because they like to, and they don't work out period in Houston.

People move to Dallas because it's a place to further their career. It's a place where their kids can go to good schools and get a good education, a place with afforable housing, and easy transportation to most cities.

It's also a place entirely devoid of culture in the sense that you think. Eating out or going to the movie is about as "cultural" as a Dallasites get.

Now, that being said, that is why I think you really will enjoy Dallas. You will get a glimpse of pure Americana behind the scenes. Dallas is what most American cities are like now, and you'll get to experience that.

I also think the evangelical Christian church will be quite an experience for you. When you go, please remember that most of the people go to such a church in Dallas and believe every word the pastor says. I think it'll explain to you why America has so many policies that are quite different to what exists in the UK and the rest of Europe.

mikemo

bkN,
Pretty funny: I agree with your first statement (1st sen 3rd p).
Otherwise Dallas and many others would not exist (and I would not have been able to retire at age 58).
However, having lived in D nearly 25 years (early July '80 - late Apr '05), I would never consider the DISD/RISD as great schools.
FD: my children were in the non sec privates from day one 'til graduation.
Expensive then, but probably unaffordable now.
I have never paid any CC interest (in my entire life).
Paid off my mortgage in 1991 (same house all those years).
Saw fewer than a dozen movies in theaters while there; but attended lots of live theater, dance, etc., and favored restaurants like Lola; Bistro Louise in Ft Worth and the many local Thai; Mexicano, Indian, etc.
I have been to a couple of local services in RC churches and a few more in Jewish synagogues, but have never seen (nor have any desire to see) the inside of an "evangelical christian church".
I may have missed it, but you should definitely check www.guidelive.com
updated and published every Friday - quite reliable, imhpo.
Buen viaje.
M

missypie

Okay, I'll take the bait. If there are no homeless people in Ft. Worth, what did they do with all those folks who used to hang out at the Water Gardens?

Ft. Worth does, however, have a vibrant downtown.

TxTravelPro

Didn't they try to remove them via the drain...

missypie

I admit that I haven't been to the Water Gardens for years. (For those of you not in the area, several members of a visiting Chicago family drowned in one of the fountains a few years back.) Have the Water Gardens re-opened? I used to consider them a tourist "must see."

pepper131

Guess melcat hasn't been on bad side of Magnolia St...nothing but homeless. And of course the Water Gardens...it kinda creeped me out a bit, but I guess they are there to clean up a bit.

Mikemo...pvt school is unobtainable for most of us these days...it's in-line with college tuition. May we meet someday in SMdA.

mikemo

p, 131,
Claro mi amiga, all those years paying tuition certainly changed my life, but I would do it again given the end products, lol.
My dad made only one request: do for your children what I did for you.
M

dabber

dgg
I dont think that tipping will come as too much of a shock as we travel on holiday in Europe at least twice a year and tipping is expected there as well!!
We also leave a tip in the UK if we go out for a meal and get good service,there are tipping jars on McDonalds and KFC counters in the UK too.
Only 4 weeks to go now,hope the weather is warming up a bit,it is freezing here at the moment!!

mikemo

For tipping in the US, I have always used 10% for wine and 20% for food service if all are acceptable.
Typically averages 17-18%.
A bit more for outstanding service.
M

HonestAbe

bkluvsnola nailed it. I won't repeat what he / she said.

Dallas has alot going for it, but if it has a fatal flaw, it is the extravagant consumerism and lack of thrift of its population.

Dallas residents have the lowest average credit score of any major American metro. Proof: see attached.

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...2.asp?GT1=6358

stat_man

There's a big difference between a TYPICAL score and an AVERAGE score. Averages are usually pulled up or down because of extreme values for a small subgroup.

If you'll look more closely at the list, you'll see that cities with high rates of growth have lower averages than cities with slower, or no, growth.

If Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Phoenix have lower average credit scores, it is because the numeric increases of their populations are so high.

They have more young adults, they have more poor immigrants from Mexico and Central America, They have more immigrants from the rest of the USA, and people who are moving between cities and between jobs tend to score lower.

If you want to insult the people of Dallas, you'll have to find another way to do it.

stat_man

One thing that is true is that cities in the southern half of the USA are wealthier and more prosperous than the northern half. Their people have newer and larger houses, drive better cars, eat more often in restaurants, pay less taxes, have newer and better public facilities.

The southern half, below the 37th parallel, has the far stronger economy, more economic opportunity, more wealth creation, more scientific and cultural innovation, than the rest.

This has caused a great surge of migration of Americans from north to south. And Dallas, as the largest city in the southern region (next to Los Angeles), has represented the spirit of America in the last 50 years.

If you want to visit the REAL America, real for this period of history, Dallas is the place. Or maybe Atlanta, or Houston, or Phoenix.

HonestAbe

"One thing that is true is that cities in the southern half of the USA are wealthier and more prosperous than the northern half."

- No, according to your own Census Bureau, of the 15 highest income cities, 9 were in places like Massachessets, Minnesota, Alaska, and Northern California. Arlington, TX, made the list at #10, but nothing else in GA, AZ, or TX was on that list.

"Their people have newer and larger houses, drive better cars, eat more often in restaurants, pay less taxes, have newer and better public facilities."

-- Precisely why the are in dead last place on the credit score scale. They borrow in order to have an ostensibly wealthy lifestyle. In the words of the Texas cowboy in "Millionaire Next Door" - Big Hat, No Cattle.

stat_man

The higher wages of northern and coastal cities are more than canceled out by higher cost of living, which means that a $170,000 Atlanta or Dallas house would cost $600,000 in Boston or San Francisco.

Even if a lower "average" credit score were real and not a statistical illusion, it would be completely explained by the southern half's greater share of younger people with undeveloped credit history, a greater share of low-wage immigrants from Mexico and Central America, and newcomers' lowering of credit scores due to the fact of moving from one city to another. Once you correct for these extraneous factors, your credit score difference goes away.

The difference in real wealth between the northern and southern halves of America has been going on for decades, and will continue into the indefinite future. Investment capital migrates from north to south because southern costs are cheaper, because workers and customers are migrating south, because the southern half has newer ideas... thus the southern half has a better economy, with a greater share of goods and services for each person.