Cash or credit on Anegada

My husband and I are making a trip to Tortola, Anegada, and Cooper Island in just under 2 weeks. We honeymooned at Cooper Island (Beach Club) in October 2014, so we're excited to return. Anegada is new for us. Is it true that you should bring a lot of cash and don't expect to use credit cards? It will be difficult to plan for meals and drinks. We're renting one of the Loblolly Cottages (not Big Bamboo) and a jeep. We're flying to/from Beef Island.

We have always used credit cards on anegada. Have never had any issues.

The first few times we went down we used mostly credit cards. Never had any issues and was always excepted. The only reason we quit using them was the foreign transaction fees. We now just bring a card for just in case, and do cash only.

Use a Capitol One card with no foreign transaction fees or membership..dumped all my other cards for it..great customer service and rewards programme too..

I think I just thought that most businesses didn't have a credit card machine on Anegada?

Nearly all of them have CC machines..a good card and a couple of hundred $$ and you'll be covered..if service is not included , or I decide to add a little, I always leave that in cash to make sure the server gets it..

The only place I can think of that may not have a CC machine is Flash of Beauty. It's possible there is one there, but I've not seen it.

We have a Chase Sapphire Preferred for the same reasons that Manpot listed above. We were on Anegada for a week in Nov and I think the only place we had to use cash was for the tip at Big Bamboo as they did not run tips on CC's.

We bring cash and ask about the preference for cash vs. credit. The answer is always "Cash please!" Some places have charged us 6% for using credit in the past. We plan on $100 per person per day, half in cash.

Cheers, RickG

AMEX Platinum, NO foreign transaction fees, 1st checked back FREE for all in your travel party (up to 6 travelers saves $25 each 1st checked bag)each way, and Zone 1 boarding.

Rick--Do places on Anegada accept AMEX? It's been my experience that many or most places in the ilons don't accept AMEX...

When we were down last week, ALL the internet access was down. Several of the places had a "plan B". they took our CC card number and our phone number if there were any issues.

I understand the "trust" ramifications on both sides.

Amex merchant fees are off the chart. Even in the U.S. Amex fees are double Visa/MC, more then that in the islands. I've heard up to 5%.

AND AMEX has increased all THEIR fees to their card holders also. I cancelled one AMEX card I had had for over 20 years because of their outrageous fees. I kept my business card, but thought long and hard about it.

Same story for us in February. No ones POS machines could connect with the network so we left several places with our card number and a promise to process the sale when the connection was fixed.

Unfortunately we did have our card skimmed during the trip, and had to cancel it when we got home, but Visa does NOT believe it was any of the merchants on Anegada. Second time that has happened. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> my advice is to bring cash. As someone else said, the small merchants like it much better!

We still have an old slide the card over a carbon copy template and yes we have used it when the phone lines were down.

Credit cards are accepted most places on Anegada. The only places that do not accept them are Flash of Beauty, the gasoline station, and any of the small grocery shops. Big Bamboo will accept credit cards, but will not allow tips to be on a credit card - cash only for tips.

No place on Anegada accepts American Express.

Gasoline is a serious issue here right now. The gasoline station has not had fuel for two weeks, and there seems to be no idea when they might. They have apparently lost their ability to purchase gasoline from Tortola due to non-payment for past deliveries.

We are now getting fuel from a barge that comes once a week (Thursday or Friday night), and brings a fuel truck over. You have to go to the dock while the barge is there. The truck cannot deliver fuel direct to a vehicle. You have to have your own container(s) to accept fuel from the truck and then transfer it to your vehicle yourself. The charge has been $5/gallon - cash only.

I only have one card left that has any raised numbers on it- the chip&pin cards only have the numbers printed!

I know, we have to write the number down on those cards. We have yet to get a chip and pin processor from our processing company.

I don't consider the $195 I pay outrageous due to the benefits I mentioned. But whatever... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

The last membership bill I got from AMEX was close to $400..for a card I cant use here..no thanks..check out Cap One..

WOW you must have been a big time member to have paid double!!

Platinum card that I used for work travel..useful for Europe and rental cars etc..useless in the Caribbean.

WOW you must have no idea how AMEX fees work. It has nothing to do with whether you are a "big time" or small time member (whatever that means). An AMEX Business Platinum card is $450 no matter who you are.

We're in the process of moving our business cards from AmEx Platinum to Gold. The Gold is much less expensive and gets the same rewards points. We don't use the Platinum concierge features.

For home, we use Capital One Venture Visa and prefer it over AmEx.

Cheers, RickG

WOW I really don't care. Just a comment.

OK, guys, this thread is going totally off the wheels..

Bringing it back around ... On Anegada right now. Used a cc at cow wreck and will use it at wonky dog tonight. Cash at big bamboo today only because it was a small amount ($7 thanks to drinking mans guide)

Agreed, no more from me on this.

Thank you all for your advice. I think we'll do part cash and part credit cards. I'm much less stressed now (I had visions of running out of cash). Just about a week now until vacation - so excited.