On our third visit to our villa in Davenport, Orlando, my parents were to come with us.

Every thing was booked, so off to the airport we went, staying over night in a hotel the night before. On arrival at the check in desk my wife, daughter and myself checked in OK. But my parents could not check in as they had British subjects on their passports as they had moved to the UK from the Irish republic 60 years earlier. We did resolve the problem, my parents went and got their Irish passports renewed, but lost a week of their holiday, so be warned, check all of the following:

US VISA AND PASSPORT

Under the US Visa Waiver Programme, many British Citizens holding a UK Passport do not require a US visa providing: -

· Duration of stay is not more than 90 days and the traveller holds a valid ticket for their onward or return journey.

· Passport is valid for at least 90 days from the date of entry into the US

· Travel is for business, tourism or transit only.

· Traveller is not a journalist on assignment or an individual seeking gainful employment.

· Traveller has never been arrested (even if the arrest did not lead to a conviction) and has not been convicted of a crime.

· Traveller has not been refused entry into or deported from the US and has not previously violated the terms of admission under the Visa Waiver Programme.

· Traveller is in possession of a machine-readable passport. All children and infants must also have their own machine-readable passports.

· Traveller completes and presents an I-94 W form to the US Customs and Border Protection at the first point of entry into the US (these forms are available at check in or on the aircraft) and otherwise be eligible for a visa.

British Subjects (i.e. not British Citizens) are not eligible to travel visa- free under the Visa Waiver Programme and require a visa to enter the United States.
If you do not meet the above requirements, and need to apply for a visa, you may contact the US Embassy on 09055 444 546,for an appointment as far ahead as possible. You may also visit their website www.usembassy.org.uk.

On £2,000, you will get an extra 2,000 x 5.85 cents, which is $117. Well worth having in my view: nearly enough for two park tickets, or a slap up meal for 4!
 
Corporate FX will give you a competive rate if you want cash delivered to your door, or travellers cheques etc, but always the rate will be as good as or better than other sources. They can also transfer your dollars to your US bank account by BACS, (takes 3-4 days) which at present is free, but is likely soon to be charged at £10 or so by their bank, Lloyds, or CHAPS (24 hours) for a current fee of £20.
 
One of the very best things about them is that they never talk down to you when you phone them and display your ignorance of the system! They are very friendly and matter of fact about what they can offer, and will tell you what they think the $ rate will do in the short term, although obviously there are no guarantees!
 
If you are changing a large sum and want to achieve a particular, higher, rate, then they can ‘log’ your rate and will only make the exchange (automatically) if the rate goes up to that level on the currency markets anywhere around the world. You can also ‘forward buy’ to protect the rate over a given period, and only pay a deposit at the time of 10% of the total contract value, which will be deducted from the outstanding balance which is due the day before the value date. Of course this costs more because you are effectively borrowing the money for that period. However, I did do it when buying the original purchase money, and luckily it paid off!