what type of "gift" card for cross USA trip?
 

Close friends (a couple, 6 month old baby, dog & cat) moving to Virginia from Washington. --pulling U Haul.
What type of gift card would be most helpful?
Thought about "gas card" but then you have tofinmd those stations.
Maybe "cash' would be better, although seems little tacky to me.
Suggestions..

Visa gift card would work everywhere, gas, food, lodging, etc.. and would probably be appreciated

Starbucks or dunkin if coffee drinkers. I would say Stewarts or WaWa or buckees but they are regional. When we travel with animals it is always fast food until we get to our hotel and then one will go out for take out. If you know what they eat that is National that would be good or a couple of options. My husband will eat McDonalds but I won't so we take a packed cooler for a day trip. You could do a snack bag for them. Some healthy stuff and some junk food.

Visa or Mastercard prepaid debit card ("gift card") is useful for anything. Why limit them to gas or coffee?

Agree with all those suggesting prepaid debit cards.

another vote for a prepaid debit card.

I think prepaid debit cards can be a little tricky at gas stops due to pre-authorizations/low balance limits. I'd give a card with cash and a bag of trail mix or some other road trip snack.

Visa/MC gift card.

Nice idea.

I think cash in this instance would be nice. You could include it in a little care package with snacks and wipes. Gift cards can be a pain to use at the pumps.

We haven't had great luck with the Visa gift cards. Some smaller restaurants here won't take them (not sure why) and then have run into the low funds issue mentioned above. We typically upload them to our Amazon account and spend them that way.

Interesting about the Visa gift cards. I didn't realize that. I've received them a few times as gifts and never had an issue. But you can never go wrong with cash (unless you are mailing them the gift).

I like the cash with a care package idea. Cash is the most versatile, but I understand that it feels cold and impersonal. Pairing it with a little care package is a great idea though - road snacks and a package of wet wipes would be perfect in a care package. Maybe add one of those eye masks with lavender or something else soothing so that whoever isn't driving can have a little aromatherapy nap :)

Cash in small bills for unmanned toll booths! Or a transponder.

Moved to United States forum

Many toll roads don't require transponders or cash (I know in PA they just photo your license plate and send you a bill). And in some ploaces, the fee is so low, it's just coins (I've had that in NH, I think).

ANyway, you just want a regular card I agree, like Visa.

I would not give anything controversial like a Starbucks card. First, I detest Starbucks and would not want to ever use it. More importantly, Starbucks are not that easily accessible on major highway road trips. Ditto Dunkin Donuts, I do not know if I've ever eaten in one of those but they aren't along major highways, either.

I did not know starbucks or dunkin were controversial. We have one or both at many of our exits on 95.
I went on a long cross country trip one time and a lady I worked with baked me a tin of cookies. It was so sweet of her and 40 years later remember.
The wipes are a great thought.

An alternative is a gift card to a local merchant at their destination...

If I use my Visa card area gas pump locally, the machine asks for my zip code. I wonder if the gift card ones would ask that or just be rejected.

They may not have a lot of extra room in the car but a small cooler with freezer packs to revive in the motel refrig freezer along with travel snacks and money might be welcome.

Amazon card.

Cash is not "tacky". Cash is king. Do something fun with it if it will make you feel better, like putting it in a travel wallet or funny card or something.

Like mentioned above a huge pile of $1 bills could save the day. Handier than an Amazon gift card when your car breaks down in the boonies :-)