11 more sleeps!! Question about traveller's cheques

[marlenefromcanada]

HI to everyone.. I have learned so much from this board. THank you to everyone for all your tips and all the time that everyone puts in on all the posts describing restaurants, menus, hotels, etc. I went from an overwhelmed and confused first-timer to someone who might even know what's going on now!!

We only have 11 more sleeps to go!!

This will be the first time for all of us - Me - 39, Hubby - 40, Daughter 13 and Son 11.. and we can't believe that we are in the final countdown.

My question is are traveller's cheques still accepted alright at most places. We will be staying at the Doubletree Guest Suites in Downtown Disney, but should we bring cash for restaurants and such. Our neighbour works at a currency exchange and can get us the employee discount, and I am trying to avoid the terrible exchange rate on our credit card.

Thanks,
Marlene

 

[yxe dad]

I stopped using travellers cheques a few years ago when I went to Europe because most places, including banks where I travelled took a 20% service charge for using them? I don't think it's normal for there to be a service charge in the US or Canada but I just prefer to carry cash, use my debit card or my credit card. How much does your credit card company charge you? I find with my CC it's close enough to the bank exchange rate that I don't mind paying the 1/2% to get those airmiles/points.

Shayne

 

[Colfireman]

Hi there, we are going down in less than a week. We purchased Travelers cheques as they were a bit better rate than cash. Everyone down there will take it as payment (i am told). Both my Am Ex and Visa charge an extra 2.5% on those transactions.

 

[tiggerrr]

We've been to WDW several times in the last few years and have taken travellers cheques every time (including having just bought for our trip this January). Here is our experience.

Disney, Universal and Seaworld have taken TC everywhere. We've never tried at the small kiosks, but the stores, counter service restaurants have all been great. We've never had any problem at the major stores (Walmart). After that it has been dicey. Gas stations in particular, we've had pushback, but credit cards are easy enought. Some of the stores away from Disney also resist.

So, our plan is we carry the TC and some cash. We cash all of our TC at WDW somewhere, usually as we are running low on cash. We use credit cards at most places offsite (being very careful not to let it out of sight EVER), and cash for the really small stuff.

 

[snickerboo]

WDW takes traveller's checks everywhere! If you want cash in hand, just buy something small and pay with a larger TC. I took travellers checks this time because I was worried what the dollar would be by the time we went. They seemed to take them everywhere I asked (stores, Red Lobster, WDW, etc).

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

My parents winter in Florida and all they take is traveller's cheques. The key is to get them in large amounts. Then, when you break the cheque by making a purchase, you'll be given cash back as change. So, if you encounter a place that doesn't accept them, it's no problem.

 

[marlenefromcanada]

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply. We decided to bring mostly traveller's cheques with some cash as well. I purchased our park hopper tickets from CAA already so we won't have to worry about that expense.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Does anyone know if there is an extra charge to purchase traveller's cheques? I haven't purchased them in years and can't remember. We plan to get a bunch in large sums.

 

[FayeW]

We just got back on Sunday and used Travellers cheques. We didn't have any trouble using them anywhere, however, we did see a sign at the Golden Corral in Lake Buena Vista that said they are no longer accepting ANY travellers cheques. We weren't using one that day, so it was fine. We had eaten at a different Golden Corral earlier in the week and used one there, but the manager told us that most GCs were not accepting travellers cheques because there had been more than $10K in travellers cheques fraud in his store alone last year. I guess we just looked like an honest family!

So, as long as you don't want to break a TC at the Golden Corral on Apopka Vineland, you should be fine!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

We just got back on Sunday and used Travellers cheques. We didn't have any trouble using them anywhere, however, we did see a sign at the Golden Corral in Lake Buena Vista that said they are no longer accepting ANY travellers cheques. We weren't using one that day, so it was fine. We had eaten at a different Golden Corral earlier in the week and used one there, but the manager told us that most GCs were not accepting travellers cheques because there had been more than $10K in travellers cheques fraud in his store alone last year. I guess we just looked like an honest family!

So, as long as you don't want to break a TC at the Golden Corral on Apopka Vineland, you should be fine!

Good to know about the Golden Corral. We plan to eat at the one in Zephyrhills when we are down there.