Credit cards, Travelers Checks or cash

[Nottoold]

What's the best way to handle your money? Which credit card is most readily accepted?

 

 

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[cruisead]

Travelers checks are going the way of the dinosaur. We take some cash, for small purchases and everything else on a credit card. Any major credit card is accepted, but some vendors will give a better deal if you don't use Am Ex because their merchant charges are so high.

[Nottoold]

Good advise, thank you.

 

 

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[RLBlack]

Some credit cards charge a foreign exchange fees- we make sure we have one that does not charge the fees- they add up in a really big hurry.

[Scrapnana]

Skip the Traveller's Checks - it is often difficult to find anyone who will cash them (even some cruise lines won't take them). I use a debit card and credit card both of which have no foreign transaction fee. The debit card is to get local cash at an ATM and the credit card is for my onboard account and any large purchases. Be sure to let the company who issues the card know where you will be and when before you leave home (or the card might not be honored).

Edited October 7, 2014 by Scrapnana

[Ashland]

Not exactly the best advice about Traveler's Checks..as this can vary...and I'm not talking about using them to pay for anything..just strickly a safe way to carry large amounts of cash when you travel...and cash them as needed.

 

We usually take TC's with us...easy to cash on board (RCI) and we also had great success cashing them in China (Bank of China) during our land trip..my local bank charges no fee for them...and I feel a lot safer having them rather than only relying on ATM's...in addition I use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees like my Capital One in certain locations and for certain purchases.

 

I also got TC's in Euros to pay for a private tour (RomeInLimo) in Rome.

 

Don't rule TC's out entirely...they just might be a good option.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Since our cruises are usually 21 days and we have several before and after cruises, we do take Traveler's Checks as we do not wish to carry a large sum of money. We can cash them in hotels and on the ship.

For small purchases we use cash and for large purchases we use a credit card.

[BlueRiband]

Traveler's checks are becoming more and more difficult to cash. Some cruise lines won't take them at all - won't cash them, can't use them for your on board account, casino won't take them.

 

American Express closed ALL their storefront offices last year and one has to find a participating bank that will take them. Good luck on a weekend or outside banking hours.

 

In this age of world wide ATMs there is scarcely any reason to carry large amounts of cash. If for some reason you do want TCs, check with your hotel and cruise line first. Their acceptance policy may have changed.

[calliopecruiser]

Not exactly the best advice about Traveler's Checks..as this can vary...and I'm not talking about using them to pay for anything..just strickly a safe way to carry large amounts of cash when you travel...and cash them as needed.

 

ATMs are a much better and cheaper way to avoid carrying large amounts of cash when you travel, IMO. Easy to find and a good foreign exchange rate too. I don't know why you feel they're safer than an ATM, which are virtually on corner in big cities and on every couple of blocks in small towns.

[6rugrats]

Use ATMs to get cash and then use a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees. Visa is the most widely accepted card I've seen. I haven't taken TCs for years; it's really hard to find anyone who will even accept them anymore.

[rjack22]

There is another alternative. Buy casino credits before your cruise. When onboard these can be cashed out in the casino for real cash. There is no fee to do this and you don't have to carry large amounts of money on you. You can cash them as you need them. They come in various amounts, i.e. $50, $100, etc.

[sail7seas]

Use ATMs to get cash and then use a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees. Visa is the most widely accepted card I've seen. I haven't taken TCs for years; it's really hard to find anyone who will even accept them anymore.

 

DH and I did extensive world travel (a great many visits to Europe included) and never used ATM. We never had a problem cashing TC on the ships and the fine hotels where we stayed. We always used credit cards and got cash from TC's when we wanted some in our pocket for tips, taxis, small purchases.

 

OP......... You don't say where you are traveling but many places in Europe will not accept AmEx or Discover. You may wish to depend upon Visa and M/C to be safe.

 

[Shak]

Royal Caribbean still cashes Travelers Checks and my bank still offers them for free.

 

Shak

[ChucktownSteve]

I'm cruising in Europe soon. I heard that one of the best exchange rates is using an ATM. So I opened a free checking account and got their debit card. I call this my travel checking so that I limit how much anyone can steal and not access my main accounts. I can use the debit card fee free for two $500 international ATM transactions, which will be enough for me.

 

I just used my Capital One credit card to prepay a Spain tour yesterday. When the charge came through overnight, it was .005 cents more than the big money exchange rate. :-) No additional fees.

 

To have some Euro on hand when I land, I used AAA to buy euro cash. They were "no fee" but their charge was about .07 cents above the big money rate per euro. So I consider that a fee!

 

Last time I went to Europe they mostly wanted Visa then MasterCard. Didn't want Discover or American Express. I used Visa travelers checks then, no problem.

[Ashland]

ATMs are a much better and cheaper way to avoid carrying large amounts of cash when you travel, IMO. Easy to find and a good foreign exchange rate too. I don't know why you feel they're safer than an ATM, which are virtually on corner in big cities and on every couple of blocks in small towns.

"Safer" is my opinion....Perhaps you've never had or expect to have any problems either finding an ATM...one that works...and a card that will always work regardless...You might not feel this way if any of these happen to you someday...having all my money available to me in one form isn't taking into consideration that things do happen. ;)

 

Each traveler has a wide variety of options that is a personal decision and should be based on where they are actually visiting and how much cash and in what form they are willing to carry it.

 

Perhaps you think they (TC's) are outdated...but using them in certain situations can work out well.

 

Again...I never said or advised to try and use them for payment...this is a problem. The only time I did was when I was given that option by a private tour company as an alternative to paying cash or using a credit card which would have resulted in an additional fee..using TC's in Euros worked well. I only needed to sign them over to our private guide/driver.

[Nottoold]

Great Advise!! Thank you!! How do you make deposits to casino credit?

[Nottoold]

There is another alternative. Buy casino credits before your cruise. When onboard these can be cashed out in the casino for real cash. There is no fee to do this and you don't have to carry large amounts of money on you. You can cash them as you need them. They come in various amounts, i.e. $50, $100, etc.

 

 

Think that is a great idea. I'm going to be on Jewel of the Seas. How do you buy them before the cruise?

 

 

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[jammen]

Good question, I use both cash and CC & debit card, no travelers checks.

[092306]

We use cash and and credit cards. Haven't used Travelers Checks in many years. We use cash in ports and a credit card on the ship. We've used a credit card for larger purchases in ports here and there. We never use a debit card.

Edited October 8, 2014 by 092306

[sail7seas]

We never used a debit card when we travel.

[rjack22]

Well with Princess you can purchase them online. I don't know about other lines.

[CPT Trips]

Out of necessity, we use a debit card only for ATMs and limit the balance in that account. Are the banks out there that issue an ATM card that is not a debit card?

[Nottoold]

There is another alternative. Buy casino credits before your cruise. When onboard these can be cashed out in the casino for real cash. There is no fee to do this and you don't have to carry large amounts of money on you. You can cash them as you need them. They come in various amounts, i.e. $50, $100, etc.

 

 

It's difficult to buy them on RCCL as I found out today. I liked your idea,so I called them and no one there knew how to do it. They suggested Travelers Checks rather than use their ATM's, which are costly. So, guess TC's aren't a bad idea. Just thought I'd pass this info along.

 

 

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[calliopecruiser]

Out of necessity, we use a debit card only for ATMs and limit the balance in that account. Are the banks out there that issue an ATM card that is not a debit card?

 

Your bank can probably put that limit on your card for you......my bank arranged for me to have 2 cards - one for ATMs and one for debit and web banking.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Out of necessity, we use a debit card only for ATMs and limit the balance in that account. Are the banks out there that issue an ATM card that is not a debit card?

 

 

Of course there are. Most banks have ATM cards w/o any credit card attached.

 

 

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