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Traveller Cheques #119317
01/30/2017 06:27 PM
01/30/2017 06:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 185
Sun Prairie, WI
dmjewel Offline OP
Traveler
dmjewel  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 185
Sun Prairie, WI
We are looking forward to our upcoming trip in July. I am trying to do some planning now and the question of how to pay for items has come up. In the past I have carried traveler's cheques but our last trip was in 2009. I do not like the idea of carrying a large amount of cash. What do others on this board do and recommend? Thank you in advance for your help and assistance.

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Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119318
01/30/2017 06:36 PM
01/30/2017 06:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 399
Detroit
bluejacket Offline
Traveler
bluejacket  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 399
Detroit
On a recent trip, we carried cash ($800) and used credit cards. Also, got some euros from the atm. My wife does a lot of international travel for work and uses one of those hidden money belts, although on a recent trip security made her take it off for inspection. Last time I used a traveller cheque was 1993.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: bluejacket] #119319
01/30/2017 08:07 PM
01/30/2017 08:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 9
C
ChristineBDB Offline
Traveler
ChristineBDB  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 9
We use cash and credit cards. Also we just went to an ATM at RBC bank (great Canadian bank) and took out some US dollars. Worked great if you don't want to bring too much cash.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: ChristineBDB] #119320
01/30/2017 08:09 PM
01/30/2017 08:09 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,059
Maine, USA
Chuck_Morton Offline
Traveler
Chuck_Morton  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,059
Maine, USA
Credit cards work quite well.... There are ATMs available so you can take cash out as you need it.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119321
01/30/2017 08:59 PM
01/30/2017 08:59 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
Traveler
GaKaye  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
We use our Capitol One Venture Card for everything wherever it's accepted, which is most places on the island. It charges no currency transaction fee or foreign transaction fee. For those places that don't accept cards, we carry cash. Travelers Cheques are (sadly) a thing of the past. Since the island internet systems are sometimes unreliable, we always make sure to have enough cash with us to cover our anticipated expenses for the day, just in case

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: GaKaye] #119322
01/30/2017 09:24 PM
01/30/2017 09:24 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Online content
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
All the cards I use have now done away with the foreign transaction fees where they used to have charges. I used to pay all in cash where now I use the cards where accepted. I still pay in cash for some excursions if they tack on a 5% fee to use a CC.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119323
01/30/2017 09:34 PM
01/30/2017 09:34 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,155
Cobourg Ontario Canada
J
jeepers Offline
Traveler
jeepers  Offline
Traveler
J
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,155
Cobourg Ontario Canada
We used cash everywhere. You can get it from the ATM's there. Lots of places $=€ if you were paying cash.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119324
01/30/2017 10:55 PM
01/30/2017 10:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,370
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tom Offline
Traveler
Tom  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,370
Hershey, Pennsylvania
We, like you used to use traveler's checks but fewer places offer them and few accept them. Double check with your credit card provider but it's true that most have gotten away from % fee for foreign use. ATM's are generally better than they used to be but there are still fees from cc and or the ATM bank. Several recent comparisons enable you to get the best value credit cards. Suggest you google internet for that information. You are probably aware that AMEX is not accepted as much as VISA and MC.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: Tom] #119325
01/30/2017 11:30 PM
01/30/2017 11:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,766
Med/ Caribbean
sailbynight Offline
Traveler
sailbynight  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,766
Med/ Caribbean
Pretty hard to find travelers checks these days, and merchants are not required to accept them.

You can get travelex or other pre paid cards at the airport for use overseas.

As noted, ATMs are pretty simple to use

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119326
01/30/2017 11:54 PM
01/30/2017 11:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
M
marybeth Offline
Traveler
marybeth  Offline
Traveler
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
We still use traveller checks - cashing them mainly at the casinos. We bring about $800 cash with us for 2 weeks, use credit cards (no fee), and the travelers checks. I don't trust the ATMs - we had an ungodly mess one year after using one. I know tons of folks use the island ATMs without any issues but I'm scarred for life. We also hit the casinos and there's no way I'm carrying that amount of cash we use gambling while traveling. It is way more difficult to use the checks when out & about - something to do with one of the island banks no longer accepting them (if I'm remembering correctly), which is why we primarily use them at the casinos.


MB
Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119327
01/31/2017 08:34 AM
01/31/2017 08:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
boucharda Online content
Traveler
boucharda  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,082
Massachusetts
We bring around $200 with us. After that it's ATM cash (fee reimbursed by Schwab) or a no foreign fee CC.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: boucharda] #119328
01/31/2017 10:18 AM
01/31/2017 10:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 185
Sun Prairie, WI
dmjewel Offline OP
Traveler
dmjewel  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 185
Sun Prairie, WI
Thank you all for the replies. The information you provided is very helpful. Like Mary Beth, when we used to go and take travelers checks we would cash them at the casinos. Sure wish July would hurry up and get here. We miss our Island.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: dmjewel] #119329
01/31/2017 10:47 AM
01/31/2017 10:47 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
Traveler
pat  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
dmj,

I'm very late to this conversation, but we were die-hard TC users and while I can still get the AE TCs easily and free of charge , I've finally given up the game and have gone over to the method of using just cash and CCs while on the island. But the truth is, as late as November 2015 I only had one place tell me they no longer accepted TCs and they accredited the policy change to their own banks policies. Fact or fiction? I don't know......

Our most recent visit was a short one but we split a thousand in cash (a couple of hundreds to decrease bulk but mostly fifties and twenties....) between us and used credit cards whenever and wherever it was possible to do so. We have the CapOne card and enjoy getting our reward checks in the mail. It worked like a charm and we were able to put most of the cash back into our vacation account on our return.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I would hesitate to use ATMs on the island although they are free with our at home bank covering the foreign fees and I would NEVER even consider using my bank debit card. But that's just me. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: marybeth] #119330
01/31/2017 10:59 AM
01/31/2017 10:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 357
SeaStar Offline
Traveler
SeaStar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 357
Marybeth,
Do you mind sharing what happened with using your ATM?
Is it something we could learn from?
Thanks.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: boucharda] #119331
01/31/2017 12:31 PM
01/31/2017 12:31 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 140
milo911md Offline
Traveler
milo911md  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 140
Quote
boucharda said:
We bring around $200 with us. After that it's ATM cash (fee reimbursed by Schwab) or a no foreign fee CC.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
That is exactly what we do.
Love Schwab ATM.
I missed their old CC though. 2% cash back automatically deposited monthly in your checking account, No annual or foreign transaction fee.

Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: SeaStar] #119332
01/31/2017 10:28 PM
01/31/2017 10:28 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
M
marybeth Offline
Traveler
marybeth  Offline
Traveler
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 882
Arizona
It was about 10 years ago, maybe a bit more. I got money from the ATM by the Peli Deli. When I got home (no readily available Internet at that time to check frequently) my account had been hacked. My bank at home made good on it after a lot of back & forth, and the SXM bank - don't ask me which one cuz I forget - was NO help at all. So my take away was to never use an ATM on the island again. I use them all over Europe & know the same thing could happen anywhere, but it was a nightmare trying to get anyone to send a simple form back to my bank.


MB
Re: Traveller Cheques [Re: marybeth] #119333
01/31/2017 10:34 PM
01/31/2017 10:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 357
SeaStar Offline
Traveler
SeaStar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 357
Thanks for sharing.
We all learn so much here, both the good and the bad.


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