american express travellers cheque card

[kizzy212]

at my local travel agents they are offering $1.81 exchange rate however you need to have it on americian express travellers cheque card, can someone tell me wether these are worth it or should i opt for cash like i have done the last 4 visits. i dont want to be stuck in orland where nobody accepts them..

 

[squitty]

We used ours in December and never had any problems using it. We used it at places like WDW, Super Targets, WalMart and Universal Studios....We didnt use it to withdraw cash from ATM's as there is a $2.50 charge for that.

HTH's

 

[marv]

I have got 1 of these for our holiday, i have been told there is no problem with useing over there.
What travel agent did you see that offer? i got mine from First Choice i got an extra $50 for freewhen i open the card.

Marv

 

[kristieuk]

You can use the card anywhere that accepts American Express - which is pretty much everywhere. I would still take some cash though, for smaller purchases and tolls etc.

We used one our last trip and it was really convenient. I would recommend keeping a rough note of what you have spent on it, as otherwise you have to call them to find out.

Is the offer you are quoting with Thomas Cook? I know they are giving $250 free with the purchase of a $2000 card, and $100 with a $1000 card. Depending on the rate on the day, this gives an equivalent exchange rate of something like £1.89.

Good luck!

 

[kizzy212]

i saw it at thomson in merry hill shopping centre here in west mids, i keep seeing them but never ask about them, but when i saw the exchange rate of $1.81 i keep thinking there has to be a catch. why cant you get cash at that rate. i spoke to partner and he is worried about them not been accepted everywhere, of course we will have some cash.. i think it is better cause you dont have all that cash hanging around in hotel safe etc. we always take around $4000 so i think it may be a good idea.

we spend most of our time on interational drive and disney,universal, bussh gardens, sea world and meal on night, and we are taking our first trip to wall mart this year as we have the car in our hoilday package.

do they offer any insurance etc, say if we lose the card. ( in the worse case)
i say that would be the worse but we was in the middle of frances last time. and ended up staying 5 extra days, not that i was complaining even though the shops was shut.

any feed back greatly welcomed

 

[marv]

BENEFITS OF THE CARD
Refundable in 24 hours.
If your Travellers Cheque Card goes missing, your available funds at the time of loss or theft will be refunded, virtually anywhere you are within 24 hours.
Accepted at millions of places worldwide.
The Travellers Cheque Card is accepted at millions of shops, restaurants and ATMs worldwide where American Express Cards are accepted. Click here to access the ATM finder*.
Reloadable.
You can add more funds to your Card at anytime from anywhere, up to £3,000 (or equivalent) in any 14 day period. So keep your Card, reload it and use each time you travel.
Prepaid.
The Travellers Cheque Card is prepaid which means that before you go on holiday to Euro or USD destinations, you can lock in to an exchange rate before you travel. That way, you can avoid hidden foreign exchange charges that you would normally receive on credit or debit cards.
Funds never expire.
The funds on the Travellers Cheque Card never expire which means that left over funds can be kept on the Card and used for future travel.**
Passport and Credit Card Replacement Assistance.
Lost or stolen passports or major credit cards don't have to be a major crisis. We'll help you replace them with this no sign-up, free-of-charge service.
Worldwide Customer Service.
We're here for you anytime, anywhere with assistance, account maintenance and charge inquiries.
Marv

 

[kristieuk]

Yes, as Marv says, it is insured in the same way as traveller's cheques are. Also, when you apply for the card, you give them credit card details, so if they weren't able to get a replacement card to you within 24 hours, they can credit your credit card with the remaining amount you had left on the Amex card. It is definitely much safer than cash!

If you have a Thomas Cook near you, you and your dh could each get a $2000 card - and you would then have $500 free (it's added to the card by Amex about 5 days later). That's an equivalent rate of 1.90. You can't beat that!

 

[Miffy2003]

we always take around $4000 so i think it may be a good idea.

Hi Kizzy,

People feel differently about this I'm sure but I would feel much more comfortable taking this sort of money in Traveller's Cheques or the card you describe. I would be quite worried about taking this much money in cash personally.

I think the card looks like a great deal

 

[marv]

Definitley agree with Miffy I will take about $4000 on the card then another $1000 in travellars cheque's as i dont want to be charge $2.50 for withdrawing cash.



Marv

 

[kizzy212]

thank you all,

i have just shown my partner the thread and you have presueded us both to go and look at the offers about,

i am sure the card from thomson was offering something free so will check again tomorrow. what was the rate on the thomas cook one

if thomson offer $250 free and $1.81 shall i get this....?

or the thomas cook rate you both have explained..

 

[burt]

Let us know how you get on Kizzy, we dont go until April but if the deal is a good one we might be tempted to get one of these cards. When are you going Kizzy? we live in kingswinford so not far from you if you shop at merry hill!!!

 

[jtlover]

I cant find anything on the website about this offer - do you think it is in the shops only?

 

[heatherbelle]

yes it is, I asked the same question on an earlier post.

 

[marv]

www.americanexpress.com

Try this



Marv

 

[kizzy212]

hi burt, i live in quarry bank so not far.

i saw it in the shop today. i dont visit till sept, but went to travel agents to pay remainder of hols. i now have 8 months to save spending. looks like raiding partners savings for this deal...

 

[kizzy212]

cant get that post marv.......

page not displayed

 

[marv]

Ive edited it workd ok this end try again see if it workd now


Marv

 

[kristieuk]

Kizzy, I may be wrong about this, but I think that the rate is set by American Express. When we got ours at Thomas Cook, the rate was different to the one you would get if you were buying cash from Thomas Cook.

Today, the Amex card rate is 1.69. https://www.travelmoneyonline.americanexpress.com/B2C/Default.aspx?r=GB&f=A6X9a1t0j7B1a2o0r0u9&c=normal&s=EFB53617CD8040918F2A2E1ED88D1398&p=Rates&js=1

I think this would also be the rate you would get if you bought the card from Thomas Cook - but you could always call them to check.

Remember that you have to do your own calculation to work out the effective rate if you get $250 free - you will be getting $2250 for £1183 - making the effective rate 1.90.

 

[kizzy212]

thanks marv i got it
just taking a look

going to watch LOST soon will give feed back tomorrow morning when i get back from travel agents

thanks again for all your help and advice
love kirsty

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
I just checked the Amex card link from the Thomas Cook site it shows a rate of $1.67 but Amex's own site is showing $1.69 so it looks like the offer rate maybe a little lower but still good as it nets to $1.8787 with the free dollars. I noticed abvove that some people take about $4000 with them so it would make sense to get a $2000 card each so you both benefit from the free $'s.

Mick.