Miami: Money & Costs

• Currency

  Name

  US Dollar

  Symbol

  US$

  American banknotes (bills) often confuse visitors: they're all the same size and the same colour. Be especially careful not to hand over too much cash, and always check your change carefully. Be careful not to accept incomplete or severely torn notes, as they can be refused; small rips are usually not a problem. Bills come in denominations of 1, 2 (rare), 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars.

  Coins come in 1 (penny), 5 (nickel), 10 (dime), 25 (quarter) cent and 50 cent denominations; there is also a dollar coin.

• Changing Your Money

  Major credit and debit cards, including the Visa Cash Passport Card, are widely accepted. You can also access your bank account using US ATMs which are ubiquitous. Travellers cheques are easily converted to cash at any bank. You'll probably need to take your passport along to prove your identity.

• Money Tips

  If you camp or stay in hostels, catch buses and cook your own food, you could feasibly explore the country on around US$50 a day. Staying in motels and eating at modest cafes will mean you'll hit the US$100 mark, and enjoying the convenience of a rental car will push your daily budget up to US$150 .

• Sample Price Guide

  litre of petrol

  US$ 0.72

  small bottle of beer

  US$ 1.50

  souvenir t-shirt

  US$ 8.00

  loaf of bread

  US$ 1.50

  movie ticket

  US$ 9.00

  standing room at Miami Heat basketball

  US$ 50.00

  Salsa Club cover charge

  US$ 10.00

  cup of coffee

  US$ 1.20

  ex-rental DVD

  US$ 5.00

  Average Room Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  US$40-100	US$100-200	US$200-300	US$300+
  Average Meal Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  US$3-10	US$10-20	US$20-45	US$45+

• Tipping

  Tipping is a US institution that can, initially, be a little confusing for foreign visitors. Waitstaff at restaurants, bartenders, taxi drivers, bellhops, hotel cleaning staff and others are paid a mere stipend. Customers are expected to compensate these people directly: tips are actually part of their salary. So tipping is not really an option; the service has to be absolutely appalling before you decide not to tip. In a bar or restaurant, a tip is customarily 15% of the bill (for a standard tip, double the tax and add a bit); a tip for outstanding service in a restaurant is 20%. You needn't tip at fast-food restaurants or self-serve cafeterias. Hotel cleaning staff should be tipped (daily, as they rotate shifts) about US$2.00 a day, unless they don't deserve it. Add about 10% to taxi fares even if you think your driver should be locked up. Hotel porters who carry bags a long way expect US$3.00 to US$5.00 , or add it up at US$1.00 per bag. Valet parking is worth about US$2.00 , to be tipped when your car is returned to you.

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