Question for people living on the East Coast of US

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one place along that route that i enjoyed visiting is Kill Devil Hills in NC which is where the Wright Brothers took their first flight. The Beaches on the Outer Banks are really nice too.
 
one place along that route that i enjoyed visiting is Kill Devil Hills in NC which is where the Wright Brothers took their first flight. The Beaches on the Outer Banks are really nice too.
That sounds interesting. I might check that out.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions RE: hotels and credit cards. I’ll certianly look at all the possibilities.

I have to say though, I personally have a thing about credit cards. I would rather pay everything in advance than be putting stuff on credit cards. I just feel like it’s money that is not actually there.
A lot of people in Ireland and Europe do have them, but I think many people here do without them as you can use Visa debit in most places.
 
Not to pressure you into getting a credit card, but you could always get a credit card, use it for this trip, pay it off, and then cancel your account. So long as you keep a tally of what you are spending on the trip so that you know you are spending within your means, you would still be fine.

I agree with the others that using a credit card would be much less of a hassle logistically. But if you’re willing to do the extra work required to use a debit card instead, then that’s fine, too. 🙂 Lots of people get in lots of trouble with credit cards, so I can see not wanting to go down that road, particularly if you’ve never had one before.

I don’t live on the east coast, so I can’t give you many tips on that front. But I hope you enjoy your time here! Miami to New York has to be at least a 20 hour drive, I would think.
 
A lot of people in Ireland and Europe do have them, but I think many people here do without them as you can use Visa debit in most places.
Debit cards don’t get any respect in the US. The people who use them are treated as a second class form of payment because it’s assumed that the only reason one would have a debit card is because their credit isn’t good enough to have a credit card. Debit cards offer no protection in the US, but credit cards do. Protections against unauthorized purchases etc. So, be sure to look at what protections your debit card offers against fraudulent charges, and if any of those protections will carry over to US soil.
 
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Thanks for that Joe.

I haven’t ruled a credit card out. But I might see if my Aunt would let me use hers or something. I just am one of those people who likes to pay up front and I’m very cautious of credit arrangements. I don’t mind putting the extra work into organising without a debit card.
 
Debit cards don’t get any respect in the US. The people who use them are treated as a second class form of payment because it’s assumed that the only reason one would have a debit card is because their credit isn’t good enough to have a credit card.
It’s amazing how different US and Irish/UK culture is for countries that are supposedly alike culturally.
It’s nearly the opposite here. A lot of people have cards, but many people are wary of them and it’s really no problem to go without one. I’ve never had one and my preference would be to never get one.
 
I don’t live on the east coast, so I can’t give you many tips on that front.
A drive up the east coast isn’t like a drive up the west coast. The west coast is very scenic, the east coast not so much. But there are some very nice places to stop…the cities I would recommend are Savanna, GA; Charlotte, SC; and Washington DC. It would also be worth it to take the Cedar Island Ferry from the mainland to the outer banks (OBX) and drive the outer banks up to Kitty Hawk where you can take a bridge back to the mainland. You should be able to find an AirB&B on the OBX - I’ve always wanted to stay on Cape Hatterss (my bucket list).
 
But I might see if my Aunt would let me use hers or something
This would probably not work. Many places will ask for an ID to match the name on the credit card. It’s just a way for establishments to protect themselves from fraud.
 
My mom forced me to get a credit card when I turned 18. I had an aunt that ran into trouble later in life being unable to get a loan for a car or house because she had no credit history. And she couldn’t get a credit card anymore because she was older and had no credit history. But when you turn 18, everyone and their brother is sending you a credit card application. 😜

I was responsible enough, though, that my parents knew I wasn’t going to go on a spending spree with it. I knew not to spend money I didn’t have.
 
I never charge anything on my credit card unless I have the cash on hand to pay it all off.

A credit card gives me better protection than carrying cash, checks or debit cards. I also get cash back from using it.
 
he east coast not so much.
You really need to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway sometime, and you may just change your mind.

On the subject of credit cards I don’t use them, and get along just fine.
 
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I’ve driven some of it. It’s nice, but I wouldn’t consider it part of the east coast.
 
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