Traveler's Cheques Disappearing!

[heatherandfred]

Does AAA still do traveler's cheques? You could look into that.

[heatherandfred]

What kind of world are we coming to? No more traveler's cheques?

[uppitycats]

The banks where I live haven't had travellers checks in years. I last used them about 15 years ago and even then found them inconvenient. Lots of places that wouldn't take them, and standing in line at the purser's desk to get them changed before heading out, wasn't the way I wanted to be spending time on vacation. I use a CapitalOne card, or cash.

[imsulin]

You should get a Capitol One Visa or Master Credit card. Capitol One does not charge any fees for converting your charges into US Dollars . We use our Capitol One visa all the time when traveling outside the US .We still take american Express Travelers Checques for back up .We just don't pay for them with our bank.We get them at Wachovia & hopefully we can still get them free at Wells Fargo ,after Wells fully takes over .

 

I still get free AMEX Travellers' Checks at Wachovia, and I also use my Capital One Visa card when I travel outside the US as well. I've used TC for many, many years. Sad to hear about the future demise.

[KCChiefMedic]

Would all this explain why I can't find Bob Marley on 8-track?

[DocF]

You laugh, but we finally ditched our office typewriter about a year ago when I couldn't find anyone to fix our IBM Selectric. The upside is that we finally talked the IT folks into installing Adobe Acrobat on our machines.

 

I can fix most Selectric II issues. Now do not send them to me, I detest those things and their rotten tab racks. Ribbons are still made by a couple of companies, but finding a dealer is almost impossible.

 

Office technology has changed since I entered the field about 45 years ago.

 

I have not used travelers checks in about 30 years. plastic is just easier and actually is safer under the rules we have now. I carry a few hundred dollars cash on cruises. If I need to have a large amount of cash and I am in unfriendly areas, socks are a good place to stow excess, but then I have very high arches.

 

As information we have three major banks and four local banks and only the Wachovia still handles travelers checks.

 

Doc

[nbsjcruiser]

First time in 30 years of traveling that I can't get traveler's cheques. My bank doesn't offer them anymore (Bank of America) and the few banks that do require that you have an account with them. Some want to offer the Travel Money card, but it is frought with fees. I always got my traveler's cheques for free, so the hefty 3-5 percent plus atm fees plus interest stinks! I called my VISA guy, and he admitted that he goes "old school" with a money belt. Guess my cash goes in the "vault" with "the girls!" I'm glad they have a safe in the cabin. CCL says they still cash traveler's cheques at the information desk, but few merchants will even accept them anymore! I hate to put everything on my VISA card. In port, I prefer to use cash and avoid the extra 3 percent fee for international transactions. (Don't worry--that won't apply onboard, at least through my card, because the office they bill from is in the US.) Is anyone else running into this? I leave for N.O. on Sunday.

 

Crap - that's all we use is traveler's cheques when we go away on a cruise. We like to arrive at the cruise ship with only cash/traveler's cheques so we know we're not coming home to a credit card payment.

[yogi2929]

Crap - that's all we use is traveler's cheques when we go away on a cruise. We like to arrive at the cruise ship with only cash/traveler's cheques so we know we're not coming home to a credit card payment.

 

For the cruise couldn't you buy funship dollars and have them applied as OBC. Get cash out from the casino.

[me-n-kev]

I got mine in January from my credit union, no fee. I like using them - a little bit for cruising (to avoid the ATM fees). Where I mainly use them is in vegas. The travellers checks are my gambling money-preset spending limit this way w/o taking tons of cash with me.

[JLC@SD]

Welcome to the 90's!

 

 

:D:D....great response.....:D:D

[angiemom]

I used to faithfully use travelers checks on trips but over the years it got to be more and more of a hassle. Fewer and fewer places were accepting them and sometimes it was hard to covert them into cash when needed. I don't use traveler's checks any more but I think they are still available at our local triple A.

[kyrisong1]

Yikes you guys, there are a LOT of snarky replies to this poor poster.......welcome to the 90s, and the ribbon??? Wow

Why such mean responses to someone stating a very benign statement?

OP, I think the solution Yogi offered is a good one, funship dollars could work. Using the S&S in the casino for cash. And of course the "vault" for what you are carrying on.

We try not to carry too much cash because we always travel a day or two ahead, and you don't always have the luxury of a safe in the room.

I too must be old school, because we get the travelers checks from our bank before travel, we take half our money and TC's and half in cash.

Cheers and good luck in finding a good solution for you.

[anamanxs]

I got some at Christmas at Wachovia. Still have some left, going to use on the cruies in May. I hate that, I always put my Christmas Club into Travel Checks so if I don't spend it all I have some mad money for my cruise! Guess i bette use them while thet are still accepting them!

[amyh1028]

I work for AAA Missouri....we do NOT sell Traveler's Checks...and have not since 2007. We do offer a pre paid visa. My bank also stopped carrying T/C's in 2008 I think. A lot of merchants do not want to accept them. There can be a lot of fraud involved for the merchant.

[harrodsfan]

Would all this explain why I can't find Bob Marley on 8-track?

 

I had travelers checks stolen. you need to keep the serial numbers in a separate place which fortunately I did. But you also need to write down when you use one. A big pain. Started using ATM in 1993 and haven't used travelors checks again. Only place I had a problem was in Burma. But that is another story.

[Minoushka]

I still had some from WAY back but I had loads of trouble cashing them .You need photo Id on ship to cash them .At JC pPENNEy it took half an hour to have the register accept them ,I was VERY worried so no more TC for me ...a money belt and in the safe

CC are Ok for big purchases but not for everyday withdrawals so I do bring cash .Most Hotels have safes when in FLL or Miami ..better not to carry too much

I believe for Canadians cash withdrawals entail fees every time and exchange rates ...really adds up ...We do nt have Capital CC just yet

[reno3]

Will the purser desk on the ship still cash them:confused:

[kyrisong1]

Will the purser desk on the ship still cash them:confused:

yes they do, also didn't have a bit of trouble anywhere in Mexico on our Mex Riv cruise. Or in San Diego pre cruise.

Cheers, Carole

[reno3]

yes they do, also didn't have a bit of trouble anywhere in Mexico on our Mex Riv cruise. Or in San Diego pre cruise.

Cheers, Carole

Thanks, I just called my local AAA and they still have them. No fee if you are a member:D

[MTemple212]

First time in 30 years of traveling that I can't get traveler's cheques. My bank doesn't offer them anymore (Bank of America) and the few banks that do require that you have an account with them. Some want to offer the Travel Money card, but it is frought with fees. I always got my traveler's cheques for free, so the hefty 3-5 percent plus atm fees plus interest stinks! I called my VISA guy, and he admitted that he goes "old school" with a money belt. Guess my cash goes in the "vault" with "the girls!" I'm glad they have a safe in the cabin. CCL says they still cash traveler's cheques at the information desk, but few merchants will even accept them anymore! I hate to put everything on my VISA card. In port, I prefer to use cash and avoid the extra 3 percent fee for international transactions. (Don't worry--that won't apply onboard, at least through my card, because the office they bill from is in the US.) Is anyone else running into this? I leave for N.O. on Sunday.

 

Seriously check into getting the Charles Schwab visa check card and also the Schwab Bank Visa Credit card. No fee's at all and no foreign transaction fees!! I just got my cards before going on a transatlantic cruise last november. Best thing I ever did as I wasn't charged any conversion or transactions fees for purchases in foreign countries. I even used my Schwab Bank Check card and used it to get some cash from the atm onboard the ship. It charged me $6 for that transaction but Schwab reimburses your account for that amount!!

 

Oh, forgot to mention on the visa credit card, you earn 2% which goes into a brokerage account you set up when you sign up for the card. And there is no obligation to invest in anything. The 2% they credit back to me each statement period I have a transfer set up to when it goes right back into my savings acct.

[MTemple212]

Crap - that's all we use is traveler's cheques when we go away on a cruise. We like to arrive at the cruise ship with only cash/traveler's cheques so we know we're not coming home to a credit card payment.

 

I don't get your reasoning?? Just pay the credit card bill when you get home....Let your cash earn interest in an acct sitting there for a month or possible longer!

[reno3]

I think it is all in what you are comfortabe with:)

I also still have a typewriter at work. Some things I can not do on my computer:)

[kkmonga]

Got a little flamed for being "old school" about using cards instead of traveler's cheques--but consider this.... I used to get the cheques FREE at my bank. Out of pocket cost $0, and cashed them onboard. Now looking at $6 ATM fee (per transaction) plus 3% fee from my bank. Even if I pulled $1000 in one transaction, I'd pay $36 to get my cash. If the ATM onboard wasn't working, I'd be at the mercy of the ATM fees in port (I've heard of some as high as $20), plus international transaction fees. I'll stick with "the vault" and spend my money on something I really want! I'd rather give the cabin steward an extra twenty than a machine doling out my own money!

[MargaritaPlease]

Now looking at $6 ATM fee (per transaction) plus 3% fee from my bank. Even if I pulled $1000 in one transaction, I'd pay $36 to get my cash. If the ATM onboard wasn't working, I'd be at the mercy of the ATM fees in port (I've heard of some as high as $20), plus international transaction fees.

 

I don't think you're listening to what the people recommending credit cards are saying. If you choose your credit card properly, there is no annual fee, no transaction fee, no foreign exchange fee, and $0 liability in case of loss/theft. Plus you get 2% back in "rewards" so your $1,000 kinda sorta only costs you $980. But go with what works for you!

[zqvol]

First time in 30 years of traveling that I can't get traveler's cheques. My bank doesn't offer them anymore (Bank of America) and the few banks that do require that you have an account with them. Some want to offer the Travel Money card, but it is frought with fees. I always got my traveler's cheques for free, so the hefty 3-5 percent plus atm fees plus interest stinks! I called my VISA guy, and he admitted that he goes "old school" with a money belt. Guess my cash goes in the "vault" with "the girls!" I'm glad they have a safe in the cabin. CCL says they still cash traveler's cheques at the information desk, but few merchants will even accept them anymore! I hate to put everything on my VISA card. In port, I prefer to use cash and avoid the extra 3 percent fee for international transactions. (Don't worry--that won't apply onboard, at least through my card, because the office they bill from is in the US.) Is anyone else running into this? I leave for N.O. on Sunday.

 

If you are a AAA member they still sell travelers checks.