Cash or travellers cheques?

[Pinklepurr361]

OK, just finalising the last few details for our upcoming trip.

We're not sure how to take our spending money. AMEX travellers cheques or cash? We are staying in a villa and there is a secure safe on the property, so the original plan was to take cash (approx £1000) and store most of it in the safe and take out some for spending each day. However, this is a large amount to be travelling with and it does concern me!

We don't want to use the visa debit card with our bank account as we get charged each time we use it abroad and that could work out expensive. Likewise with our credit card.

I haven't used travellers cheques for years, but would these be a better option? Where could they be exchanged? I don't want to have to waste time searching for a bureau de change.

I don't think we'll have time to organise one of the fee free credit/debit cards as we are going in 4 weeks.

Thanks

PP

 

[Jakey Rowling]

OK, just finalising the last few details for our upcoming trip.

We're not sure how to take our spending money. AMEX travellers cheques or cash? We are staying in a villa and there is a secure safe on the property, so the original plan was to take cash (approx £1000) and store most of it in the safe and take out some for spending each day. However, this is a large amount to be travelling with and it does concern me!

We don't want to use the visa debit card with our bank account as we get charged each time we use it abroad and that could work out expensive. Likewise with our credit card.

I haven't used travellers cheques for years, but would these be a better option? Where could they be exchanged? I don't want to have to waste time searching for a bureau de change.

I don't think we'll have time to organise one of the fee free credit/debit cards as we are going in 4 weeks.

Thanks

PP

If you can't get a nationwide CC in the time then TC are the best option.
You use them like cash, they are accepted everywhere except Golden Corral last I heard.
Majority of places still do not require ID (I know it sound stupid but it's true) but more places are requiring ID now.

A photo driving license is good, as is a black/white photocopy of your passport, laminate it if you can to protect it.

Get $50 or $100 cheques as you can buy small stuff and get the change just like notes.

TC are just a safer option with 4 weeks to go.
You wont go near a bureau de change.

 

[daipp]

We only ever took Travellers Cheques once and I agree that they are VERY easy to use in all places.

David

 

[paulh]

as a few will fewon these boards (like banging your head against a wall) try getting a nationwide CC or a post office CC. thes offer no tforien transaction charge,you get the full interbank rate. today you would have got $1.95 to £
We also have a nationwide flexacount so were able to get cash from atms using our debit card for the same rate
would take some cash some TC`s as well as our cards
With the rate this year so good we got TCs left and we got cash in aug for this year the rate we got TC`s was a t the $2-£1 offer and cash from atm was at $2.03 to £1.
efectively we have locked our holiday money in at $2.00 to £1 for this years trip in aug got rougthly £1,200 worth
i know some will say i will lose intrest ect but i see the rat falling further this year. but i`am no warran buffet
as we have been going for plenty of years anthing over $1.60 is good value
Paulh

 

[paulh]

as you have only a few weeks to go would say get most in tc`s and a bit in cash best and safest option.as JK says cary photo id with you as with larger tc`s they ask for it
Paulh

 

[Callum]

Go with Travellers' Cheques. As already said, almost everywhere will accept them as cash. In 17 years we have never had to use a Bureau de Change. A small amount of $cash to start your holiday with would be a good idea.

A family we know visited last October and used the villa safe to store their cash. Their villa, together with 2 or 3 others on the same development were broken into and the safes emptied. TCs can be replaced, if you follow the guidelines, but stolen cash is strictly limited on many travel insurance policies.

 

[Shooby doo]

Another for TC's,the only time we had a problem was when Fedex gave me $500 TC's-the only place that would take them was the Disney Marketplace & it took ages! Don't forget most Holiday Insurance polocies only cover you for £250 in cash in case of loss.
SD

 

[Pinklepurr361]

Thanks everyone, travellers cheques it is then!