American monetary system is based on a decimal system.

One Dollar is equivalent of 100 Cents. The dollar paper bills have the value of $ 1, $ 5, $ 10, $ 20, $ 50, $ 100 and up. All of them are of identical size and the same gray-green color (that is why the name Greenback is associated to dollar). It is thus important to verify correctly the bill you are about to spend. In one side, the bills present the effigy of an American president, and at the other it represents an official building.

Change
Money changers are available on most international airports, banks and private money changers. Under the general regulation, hotels do not offer this service.

Even though some banks now start prolonging their open hours, still, a big majority still open only from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Credit Cards
Credit cards is a very important thing for a tourist in the United States, much more than anywhere else. Your credit card will be asked upon hotel reservations or when renting a vehicle. You will use your credit card for every kind of shopping.

Voyage Checks
Other than credit cards, or as a compliment, the best way to bring your holiday budget money is to use the voyage checks in dollars, such as the ones provided by American Express, generally well accepted, and quickly refunded in case you lose them or if someone steals them from you.