travelers checks

[kstro135]

On the constellation can you cash in travelers checks on the ship?

[Bozo]

No problem you can cash them in at the ships bank just check the hours they are open.

[greydog]

On the constellation can you cash in travelers checks on the ship?

 

I've cashed moderate amounts of TCs at casino in the past on X ships.

[elsje]

I've cashed moderate amounts of TCs at casino in the past on X ships.

 

Greydog~ are you taking euro's and/or euro TC's with you? Just curious. I was planning on just getting Euro's at an ATM machine in the Azores and use my CC for hotels and excursions. The exchange rate in the US is high and with a CC you get the interbank exchange.

 

Just curious what most of you cruisers do:rolleyes:

 

See you at the T-pool with your X stocks:D ~ Els

[greydog]

Greydog~ are you taking euro's and/or euro TC's with you? Just curious. I was planning on just getting Euro's at an ATM machine in the Azores and use my CC for hotels and excursions. The exchange rate in the US is high and with a CC you get the interbank exchange.

:D ~ Els

 

Hi:

Clark howard is consumer advisor stationed from Atlanta. He recommends using CC as much as possible but checking first among your card companies to find the lowest fee, best FX rate among them. I believe ATMs against your card for Euros, even with fee, would be no worse than a hotel FX rate. HOWEVER, be advised that many CCs charge the highest interest rate on cash advances and that when you make card payments the amount paid goes FIRST against purchases balance and only against cash borrowed after all the purchases balance has been paid. You may be paying 17% on purchases but 23% on cash advances. So if you carry a purchases balance, your payments will never retire those high rate cash advances. WOW, vacation costs that never die!!!! :eek: Nonetheless, keep a stiff upper lip and keep soldiering on.:D

 

Here's a Rick Steves travel guru write-up onpaying while traveling.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

[dkjretired]

places are not taking travelers checks anymore. They seem to be going the way of the telegram (gone) with all the electronic alternatives. Frankly, the best bet is to take money when needed from the casino cage. There are a number of advantages on Celebrity when doing so. First, no charge, Second, the money taken out goes onto your shipboard charge as a purchase. If you back up your shipboard charge with a credit card with incentives (miles,etc), everything you take out gains those incentives. Third, you only carry what you need.

[elsje]

Hi:

Clark howard is consumer advisor stationed from Atlanta. He recommends using CC as much as possible but checking first among your card companies to find the lowest fee, best FX rate among them. I believe ATMs against your card for Euros, even with fee, would be no worse than a hotel FX rate. HOWEVER, be advised that many CCs charge the highest interest rate on cash advances and that when you make card payments the amount paid goes FIRST against purchases balance and only against cash borrowed after all the purchases balance has been paid. You may be paying 17% on purchases but 23% on cash advances. So if you carry a purchases balance, your payments will never retire those high rate cash advances. WOW, vacation costs that never die!!!! :eek: Nonetheless, keep a stiff upper lip and keep soldiering on.:D

 

Here's a Rick Steves travel guru write-up onpaying while traveling.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/moneytip.htm

 

Hey Greydog~two posts from me in one day (see roll-call). Oh boy I know about those cash advances and how they apply payments first towards the lower (purchase rates). I will take a few euro travelers checks and cash them on board. I also will use the casino to draw cash on my sail and sign account and use CC for when in Europe for hotels and excursions.

 

See you on board in 4 weeks :rolleyes: ~ Els

[odleka]

You can use your debit card to get Euro's in Europe. On our last TA, we used our credit card for hotels and purchases and the local ATM to get Euros for merchants who wanted cash or for treats at small cafes. We were never charged more than a dollar or two on any ATM transaction. That is much cheaper than paying a currency exchange or bank a %fee for getting local currency. We bring a few travelers checks for emergencies. We end up using them on the ship to get cash advances for tipping the staff.

[elsje]

You can use your debit card to get Euro's in Europe. On our last TA, we used our credit card for hotels and purchases and the local ATM to get Euros for merchants who wanted cash or for treats at small cafes. We were never charged more than a dollar or two on any ATM transaction. That is much cheaper than paying a currency exchange or bank a %fee for getting local currency. We bring a few travelers checks for emergencies. We end up using them on the ship to get cash advances for tipping the staff.

 

Hi Kathy ~ I emailed my bank, Wells Fargo, and they told me they will charge me a $5.00 transaction fee to use my ATM card at a foreign ATM machine plus a 3% foreign exchange fee. Taken that into account for me it would not make any difference to buy some euro's here or on the ship.

 

I remember not being charged a year or so ago when I would go back to my native Holland, but many of the banks in the US are now charging fees for foreign transactions. I only need a few euro's for the little things like coffee and stuff like that. The rest, hotels and excursions, I can charge to my credit card (with another a bank) at a 2% fee but I will get the interbank rate. I do not like to carry lots of cash.

 

I used to work for a bank in Holland many, many years ago and when customers bought travelers check they would be given the interbank change. Here in the US I pay the same rate for cash currency as I will for travelers checks. Since the euro came to parts of Europe it has gotten much more expensive for Americans to travel to Europe because of the exchange rate. However Europeans love to come here because it is cheaper for them.;)

 

Thanks for your suggestions ~ Els

[duckman715]

We found using ATMs for cash in Italy to be far cheaper & at a better exchange rate than banks or currency exchange places. Also, they seemed to be everywhere - airports, street corners etc. Sorry to hear that Wells Fargo charges those fees. My bank only charged a $1.50 transaction fee for using an ATM which was not theirs. I believe we could get up to $200 in Euros at a time but not sure. Just advise your bank in advance that you will be traveling to Europe. Travelers checks turned out to more hassle than benefit. Fewer places take them. Always useable on the ship though.

You will be able to re-exchange Euros for dollars anytime on board ship. They only exchange the paper money though. The one & two Euro coins are not exchangeable. They do make excellent golf ball markers, however.