What would be the best way for a kid to have money for traveling?

Question

My son is going on an educational trip to Alaska.

He is 12 years old. How long would that card take to come, he leaves June 20?

Answer 1

How old is he?

Get him travelers check with his name on it.

You might be able to get a pre-paid credit card from your bank with his name on it.

Answer 2

A debit card like Visa Buxx. This way you can track what he spends and where, and you can add money to it directly from your computer any time needed. He can use it like a credit card, a debit card or a bank ATM card. It's very easy to use and he can only spend what you give him.

Travelers checks are so old school, many places don't want to cash them (although they will) and you don't have any flexibility with them. What happened if he doesn't take enough, or loses them and the check register? Even if he just loses the checks, it takes a day to replace them. There is a reason travelers checks will be the way of the dinosaur very soon.

Answer 3

If you have time, add him to your checking account or open a joint account that you can make deposits to as needed. Credit cards charge a bundle for cash advances, so I wouldn't go that way. If you know exactly where he's going to stay and what he wants to see, you could purchase rooms and tickets in advance online. Then there are always gift cards to McDonalds, Kmart and Walmart for food and incidentals.

It might also be good for him to carry a copy of your health insurance card for medical emergencies and a signed permission slip to permit treatment.

Answer 4

Find out from the trip supervisors, how much money is normal, give him this much in cash, and tell him this has to last the whole trip and not to spend it unless it is real important, because there will be something he likes better the next day.
Then let him learn his own lessons.

Answer 5

American express travelers checks because they are insured, yet can be used just like cash.

Answer 6

Give it to him so he can learn the value of it..