Converting money

If you need cash, use a bank ATM in Scotland.

Depending on your itinerary, you may not need much. Most places accept credit and debit cards. On our 2+ weeks in Scotland in 2023 we spent less than £20 in cash.

I agree. You probably won't need any, but if you must just hit a local bank ATM. On our last trip a couple of years ago I never spent any of my cash at all - it was all credit cards.

You cannot "convert" USD to another currency. You can use USD to purc=hase another currency, at a large mark-up. Withdraw from your bank account from a bank-operated ATM, and decline letting them do the withdrawal amount in the USD they want to convert it to if offered.

If you need a large amount of cash to pay for a lodging, you might have to do that at your bank/CU before you travel. ATMs and debit cards have daily limits on the amount that can be withdrawn. For normal spending, you'll need very little cash.
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips

If you need a large amount of cash to pay for a lodging

….stay somewhere else.

For other things you won’t need much cash. Just celebrated my 5th anniversary since I last held a coin or bank note in the UK or Ireland.

NOT the question you are asking but do you do ApplePay or GooglePay at home? If not I recommend you start as almost everyone in Scotland will take contactless payments and bills to your accounts in GBP which is to your advantage.

Before a trip you can order currency through many banks and some AAA offices. Check with your bank. Some malls also have booths where you can exchange currency.

As stated, a bank ATM upon arrival will provide the best rate. With most establishments using contactless payment very little physical currency will be needed.

as mentioned by others, and particularly our Cornish mate, cash is needed rarely.

I carry 2 notes in my wallet just in case, and change them when the notes go out of circulation. Simply do not use them. Even my wife's hairdresser is card only, any tips added on the card now.

Don't go buying a wad of money thinking you will need it.

Avoid the ATMs or currency exchanges at the airport as their rates are the worst. You won't need cash except for a very few B&Bs and some boat trips.

I am just back from the islands. While most of the businesses accepted cards. there were a few with 'we prefer cash' signs.

It is always best to have some cash incase the systems go down. If you need it get it from an ATM from a major bank.

I use my credit card via Apple Pay for almost every purchase. The only time I wished I would have had cash was when I was in the U.K. and visited some of the very small historic churches that did not have the automatic payment machines like the larger churches. I felt bad that I was not able to leave cash then, and when I go back, I will probably get about £50, which I'm sure will last me for my entire trip.

£50 to £100 is probably a good level to have, either per person or £100 to £150 for a couple.

There were a lot of places I saw in Mull this last week which had signs up of either 'Cash Only' or 'Cash preferred'. The latter is due to the costs of paying by card the business faces. It is also a useful amount to have in reserve if there is a glitch in the electronic systemn which means you can still get food and drink, pay for petrol etc. The Swedish government is recommending people keep 1000 SEK on hand in cash for that reason, which is a few days spending and roughly £100.

Plus having some coins for parking and tips is always useful.

It is also a decent amount to have for a nice meal out or something special on the last night to use up the cash.

Cash Only' or 'Cash preferred'. The latter is due to the costs of paying by card the business faces.

Dealing with cash is more expensive to businesses than being cash only. That is why fewer and fewer businesses are cash only. The ones that are left are heading to the exit.

As other's have already said, get a few pounds from a Scottish ATM. And repeating what other have said, there will be very, very few places were you MUST pay in cash.

Don't take out a huge amount or else you will need to think about how to spend it so you don't go home with British pounds.

Thanks everyone. My bank is a credit union but the debit card is a visa. Might I encounter any problems?

There are certainly places that are cash only, but most businesses that deal with tourists have card facilities - even if they have the 'CASH PREFERED' signs up.

As for cards, both Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. If it was American Express then you might have a problem as a lot of places do not accept them.

Robin, while Visa debit cards are accepted, check with your credit union to let them know you'll be using it in Scotland.

Here's a thread from yesterday where 2 posters had problems using credit union issued debit cards.

How many cards to carry

Will I have any trouble using my credit union debit card on Scotland ATM’s? It is a Visa

We've got a lot of notifications in Cumbria that there are a lot of fake Scottish banknotes currently circulating, so just be a bit wary.

You shouldn’t have any trouble using your credit union debit card at Scotland ATMs, but things happen.

While you probably won’t need any cash, it’s always nice to have a little. Unlike what some people say, there are still a very few shops or eateries that only accept cash or have a minimum to use a card and expect to be in business for some time.

You might encounter ‘honesty boxes’ in places like Skye. Homemade sweet treats or craft items. Some take PayPal, others require cash. Some very small cafes also prefer cash. Also the second hand book stall at our local community centre is cash only. Not all cash transactions are representative of businesses trying to dodge tax! I say this as a former tax inspector.

Robin, look at my post immediately above your last post. There is a link to another post of some folks having problems with debit cards issued by credit unions.

Please read that post. And contact your credit union so they can let you know if there is an issue.

We've got a lot of notifications in Cumbria that there are a lot of fake Scottish banknotes currently circulating, so just be a bit wary.

Are these notes genuine? Yes, I printed them this morning! (old joke)

Seriously it is something people need to keep in mind. All the countries that have adopted polymer notes have said the same. They are much more difficult to forge, but not impossible. And because people don't see cash as often now they are less used to the tells of a forgery, and some forgeries are very well done.

One of the reasons we have not got £50 and £100 in general circulation despite inflation.

That said, the old Lord Ilay/castles RBS notes, felt dodgy even when you got them directly from the bank!

I saw this morning that the US is about to get new $100 bills, the first time in history with the signature of a sitting president (whodaguessed-huh?)

Apparently, the new notes aren’t green but orange.