Cash, travelers checks or visa

[sunshinesusie]

Is it better to carry cash, travelers checks or just a visa card?:confused:

[arlodog]

We always carry a limited amount of cash (around $300 or so)-- just to make sure you have enough small bills for tips and cab fare on the islands and small souveniers that we want. We also take travelers checks to make sure we can hit the casino :p and pay for independent excursions. Ships expenses go on the visa. Have a great time! This is for a family of 4--don't know how many are in your group and what you want to do. We usually have about a $1200-$1500 ships tab for 7 days after buying many bar drinks, soda cards for the kids, photos and bingo ect. The tab does depend on if we are doing any ships excursions too. Our lowest ships tab was around $400 for a 5 day cruise, but we were on a really tight budget for that trip and watched closely what we spent--still had a great time, just couldn't afford that much that trip. Trust me, they will take your money in any form you want to give it...the only exception is some of the islands where cashing travelers checks at the independent stores and road side stands is impossible.

[DesertDogs]

Is it better to carry cash, travelers checks or just a visa card?:confused:

 

All of the above!! :) We take some cash, some travelers checks and a credit card. You will most likely use the credit card for your onboard expenses. And we use cash (small currency) for tips.

[paul929207]

I carry some cash (small bills) and my ATM card.

[LHT28]

We take some cash , debit cards and VISA

[Putterdude]

We take some cash , debit cards and VISA

 

This is what we do. We haven't purchased travelers checks in years, some merchants don't like to cash them, some banks charge a fee to cash them, I am not saying that they don't have a place....but I haven't found one for a long time.

[chipmaster]

Is it better to carry cash, travelers checks or just a visa card?:confused:

 

Very situational and what works for others might not work for you.

 

I would recommend take Visa/MC with plenty of credit limit and a couple hundred bucks.

 

We tend to look to charge everything as it puts all expenses in one place. Plus we can earn lots of points for future freebies.

 

Cash, we always carry a few hundred bucks for things like cabs, small eating places that don't take cash, and trinket shops that often don't take cash. We always have our ATM card also, and with fees of a few bucks makes it easy to get a extra few hundred daily if you run short.

 

For our upcoming Europe we'll be needing a many thousands of Euros and the plan is bring about 1/2 and get the other 1/2 from ATM in port.

 

Travels checks are becoming more and more of a hassle, and I think if you are looking to cash anything over 50 dollars and are not in heavy touristy areas you may be out of luck. In Europe banks and the pursor 's desk are the only places I read that travels checks are cashed then you get stiffed for fees too. I was surprised during our last overseas trip travels check had higher fees then cash almost everywhere. So NO checks for us.

[cb at sea]

We never use Travelers checks--cash is just as easy to carry. Keep your "extra" cash in the safe in your cabin. Take a different credit card ashore and leave the one linking your account in the safe.

[Handsome58]

I do straight cash......but that is me. I tie my sign and sale to CC..........then head to the desk...and put CASH on it..........then I do everything with cash....keep all CASH in room safe and lock it with an expired CC..........I have kept one expired CC that I have used on the past 4 cruises as my safe key. Then by paying CASH when I get off ship I leave a great, relaxing vacation with no DEBT!!!!!!!!!! For a 7 day cruise I budget about $1200 cash for me and about $1000 cash for my wife.....and she may use her CC but that is on her............

[Krazy Kruizers]

We always carry cash knowing that we will have to pay for taxis, tips, and food before we get to the ship.

 

Always take travelers check and credit cards.

[sunshinesusie]

I got confused from handsome 58, he said he used a expired credit card to lock his safe. What does this mean?

[swimmergirl84]

I got confused from handsome 58, he said he used a expired credit card to lock his safe. What does this mean?

 

You have to use a CC to lock/unlock your safe (at least on Carnival)...so since it doesn't charge it, I guess you can use an expired one! Not a half bad idea!

 

Anyway last cruise we linked our sail & sign to cash/traveler's checks. This time DBF is putting cash/TCs on his S&S and I'm linking my CC to mine. I think I will probably skip traveler's checks and just take some cash (a low amount, maybe 100-150 for just me), my debit card, and my CC. DBF doesn't even own a CC lol so he always goes with cash...which is fine, no debt to pay off in the end! I just don't want to put my debit card on my S&S in case I happen to go over what's in the bank, though I plan not to spend more anyway so I can pay off the CC as soon as I get home!

[lady_cruiser]

Actually we carry all of that. A Visa for our on-board charges. traveler's checks on on-shore shopping and cash for extra tips for the porters, tour guides, etc.

[agabbymama]

I agree with lady_cruiser,

but do it a little differently. I use the credit card to guarantee the onboard account, but then use travelers checks to pay the account in full at the end of the cruise, that way I'm not carrying a huge amount of cash to worry about. The cash I take is for tips and misc maybe only $200. I also have gotten about 900 EUR that will go with me. And plan to use credit card for as many purchases as possible, but there won't be many with exchange rate of $1.55 to 1 EUR. I have already booked all the tours through Viator or Princess in US $. Will have minimal bus/train/entrance fees that aren't already paid for. Food pre-cruise and post-cruise in Italy could be a sizable amount, but we'll see how that goes once we get there. We may be eating bread and salami from the grocery store.

 

I'm going to the Med, but I did the same in the Caribbean, Alaska, and Canada/New England. Don't stress over the money. Just take all three. I never use my debit card tied to my bank account.

[travelfirst]

If taking travellers cheques to Europe and plan to cash them onboard do you take them in Euros or American?

[BILLP1]

Cash about $300 plus a debit card as well as one credit card.

[NYCFOD]

Definitely some cash, small bills preferably, to tip room service people and to pay for stuff in port. Traveler's checks are good if you can get them commission free because you can use them to pay off your ship board account, or cash them to play in the casino, or use for larger purchases. Credit cards are the usual way to settle the ship board account and are widely accepted in most ports of call, the down side is you get the bill when your vacation is over.

[Betsy's Mom]

Euro travelers checks are very hard, if not impossible to cash except at European banks. If you are sailing on a ship which operates on the $ take $ travelers checks so you can cash them on board with no fee.

B.

[satxdiver]

It all depends on where you are going to sail. In the Caribbean, they will take and usually solicit USA dollars. So there is no need to bring anything other than dollars and use them. Credit cards are exchanged at the current rate when they reach a USA bank plus a 2-3% or more service charge for currency exchange. This usually is not to your benefit. Use cash.

 

In other parts of the world for example Europe, they do not want or even accept USA dollars. You will need to exchange your USA dollars into Euros or whatever the currency in that nation. Cash is the absolute worst thing you can use to exchange to anther nation's currency. Because cash (USA dollars) must be physically handled and exchanged, the highest fee will be used.

 

Travel's checks get a better exchange rate but still not all that great. Travelers checks are too easily counterfeited and therefore most merchants will not accept them. You will have to go to a local bank or money exchange.

 

The best way to exchange your USA dollars into the local currency is to use an ATM in that nation. This requires a debit card of course. You will get the best exchange rate.

 

If you use a credit card, the exchange rate will be determined at the time the foreign bank presents it for payment at a USA bank plus the 2-3% or more fee. Foreign banks will hold exchanges until they are more favorable to the bank within a reasonable time limit and of course less favorable to you.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

It depends on the ports your cruise will be visiting. If you are going to Europe, I would get Euros here in the USA for taxis, and any purchases that you need to make during the first two days of your cruise, that is, do not get too much as to invite theft or misplacement. ATMs are widely available throughout Europe and you will be very surprised to see how easy they are to use.

 

I would have two ATM cards, one to use regularly and one for backup. And Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Europe.

 

Travelers checks really are not necessary now that ATMs are everywhere.

 

And hopefully I will not set off a riot with the following...it has been my recent experience that cruise lines do not cash personal checks. They point you in the direction of the casino, where for a hefty fee you can get US dollars based on your credit card.

 

Hope that this helps,

 

Fred

[abcten]

We haven't used travelers checks in at least a decade.

[oceanseagle12]

What about travel cards, like those available at AAA? Or the reloadable visa/mastercards that function like a credit card?

 

These both seem like safe, easy alternatives. Has anyone used either of these?

[jspirit]

What about travel cards, like those available at AAA? Or the reloadable visa/mastercards that function like a credit card?

 

These both seem like safe, easy alternatives. Has anyone used either of these?

That is the exact same question that I have! Iwas just about to post it!

I learned about it this morning when I called our local CAA office and they do not even deal with TC in foreign currencies anymore. They suggested getting this Visa money card and loading it up with cash before we leave.

Has anybody had any experience with these? Yay or Nay?

[satxdiver]

I have not used the preloaded credit cards outside of the USA but have used them here. They work much like a debit card in that the money is moved from the card to the merchant immediately. The money put on the card will be USA dollars of course and the merchant will want their currency so there will be a cost for the exchange per usual. I would not hesitate to use this card with certain caveats. If you lose the card either by accident or theft, then you have lost money.

 

I prefer credit and debit (ATM) cards. With my debit card, the money is in my account and can be withdrawn at any time. Financial institutions limit the amount that can be dispensed on a debit card in a 24 hour period limiting my liability. I can call the financial institution and have the card canceled at any time if I were to lose it. The PIN has to be entered to make it work and if it is incorrectly entered too many times, the financial institution will automatically disable it until you contact them.

 

The credit card is nice since I can challenge any purchase within usually a 60 day period. If I lose it, I can call the card issuer and have it canceled. Most card issuers particularly Citicard (and others) maintain an active fraud theft group that monitor card use. I have been called by them when they have detected fraudulent use of my credit card. If they suspect fraud, they will require the merchant to check for a positive photo ID which overseas means passport before accepting the charge.

 

If you use either the debit or credit card, you must keep track of what you have spent so there are no surprises later.

[oceanseagle12]

If you lose the card either by accident or theft, then you have lost money.

 

That's not accurate. Actually, AAA states that you may contact them, and they will re-issue a card. The fee is $5.95.

 

 

The credit card is nice since I can challenge any purchase within usually a 60 day period.

 

Again, no difference. Since their cards carry the VISA name, they have the same protection, and use the same dispute process. There are also other benefits that they offer, and Im thinking this might be the way I go for my cruise.

 

Carry some cash for tips, etc, and use a credit card to setup sign and sail. Then use the AAA travel card at the end of the cruise to settle it. This would be the same as those who use cash to do this, but I wouldnt have to worry about carrying it around during the cruise!

 

Any other thoughts on this?