Does anyone still use Traveler's Checks?

[Mousemom]

Went to our bank the other day to get some Traveler's Checks for our upcoming trip. The employee that helped me has been there a long time but had no idea of how to issue them. The employees had to go in to the vault, find the checks and then blow the dust off. I have a debit card and credit card but still like to have a few Travelers Checks on hand. Wondering if anyone else ever uses them or am I the only one?

 

[RuddClan]

I went to buy some this week and they tried very hard to get me to take a prepaid mastercard instead. I told them I was old fashioned and took the travellers checks

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We used them in '08 and '09. The first time I bought them the bank didn't charge a fee. The next time they had started charging a % of the total purchase, so that was the end of travelers checks for me.

AAA doesn't even offer travelers checks anymore.

Now we travel with a credit card we plan to use, and a back-up one in case of emergency.

 

[ratlenhum]

Nope gave up on them. They're a hassle IMO.

I attach my debit/credit card to my KTTW. We carry some cash but charge everything back to the room. Each night I track what we spent so come check out, I know if there is enough in there to cover it, or if I have to do some online banking and transfer money over.

 

[ZoZo]

I still use them, and they work really well for me! (I work at a credit union, and we provide American Express Travelers Checks for our members.)

Here's why: I usually travel with friends, and share a room with someone. It doesn't work to charge things to the room, since it would be hard to keep track of whose expenses are whose. It's simpler to get travelers checks in large denominations ($50s) and use them as needed to pay for meals, souvenirs, etc. I usually just carry what I need for the day, and keep the rest in the hotel safe. Also helps me keep track of what I'm spending.

Another reason is that if you lose travelers checks, you can call AMX and get replacements. Since I pulling out my credit card all day long, I'd worry about losing it (which is a huge hassle!). I use my credit card just to pay for my portion of the room, and pretty much use travelers checks for everything else.

I never use a debit card when traveling because if you lose it, someone can wipe out your whole bank account if they find your debit card! I use my debit card all the time at home, but worry too much about it when I travel.

As far as using prepaid cards (like prepaid Visas or Mastercards), I have had experiences when the card didn't work for some reason. Then what would you do??

Hey, it may be old-fashioned, but travelers checks work for me!

 

[stmize]

I use them every year. My hubby had some friend that had the prepaid mastercards on a bike trip and the bank wouldn't authorize purchases plus you have to keep up with exactly how much is left on them or they won't work. I also carry cash but I have my debit card for emergencies as I usually do not have much in there when traveling cause I have it with me

 

[disneymom/teacher]

I always travel with traveler's checks. I belong to a credit union and there is no charge. I feel very comfortable using them. I bring my credit card with me but try to not use it.

 

[cglaura]

I still use them also. My bank will let you have 2 free per month, so I depending on how many I need I just start a few months ahead and stock up.

I usually get one $500, that I put on my KTTWC for room charging. Then how ever many in $100 I think I'll need and I just cash them at the front desk as needed.

I keep a copy of the numbers with someone at home as well as in safe in case of replacement.

I do take a credit card for travel emergencies (weather delay accommodations, hospital o.o.p., etc. )

 

[southern_redhead]

I haven't thought of Traveler's Checks in years. My parents used to get them when we went on vacation (and it sounds good to me!) I don't like the idea of using your debit card as, like someone else said, if it was lost or mischarged you could find yourself overdrafted in a hurry. My solution *was* going to be the GreenDot Visa (since we don't use *real* CC's) but that still means losing a CHUNK of money if the card is found and used by someone and the added stress of what happens if the card is declined. I used to use prepaid visa gift cards online and a time or two ran into a brand new, fully loaded card being turned down for a small purchase. That would be HIGHLY frustrating at Disney!

So tell me how the TC's work? Can you use them in the parks or must you cash them somewhere beforehand (where?) Could I bring one large one (as someone mentioned) and put it on the KTTW and then daily add others to make up for what we had charged off previously? That would seem ideal.

 

[ancestry]

I stopped carrying them when a lot places stopped accepting them. Last time I had them (years ago) I couldn't find anyone who would accept them or who would cash them.

 

[disneymom/teacher]

I have used them all over WDW, for meals, souvieneers, rentals, I've never had any trouble there. One time about 6 years ago I was leaving the country and had my Travelor's checks and had a problem at a gas station in Cherry Hill, NJ The foriegn worker man kept saying that he couldn't take American Express, I said it is just like cash. In the end I think I just gave him a 10 instead of filling up my car before I left on my trip. I always come home with a few left and have always been able to use them.

 

[RuddClan]

In all my trips I have found Golden Corral don't accept them but that is about it. When using them, the shop/resturant should ask to see photo id and most do. Try to get $50 & $100 ones, then they give you the change in standard currency

 

[firsttimer2010]

We went to Wells Fargo today to try and get travelers checks. Wells Fargo no longer has them. We were told there have been too many fraud concerns.

 

[skiingfast]

So tell me how the TC's work? Can you use them in the parks or must you cash them somewhere beforehand (where?) Could I bring one large one (as someone mentioned) and put it on the KTTW and then daily add others to make up for what we had charged off previously? That would seem ideal.

A TC is purchased in an amount you want to the nearest $5 plus any fees. Say you want $250 of checks. They are in dominations so you might get 4 $50 cheques and 2 $20 cheques and 1 $10 cheques. They have two signature lines. You sign one when you purchase it and sign again when you use it. the merchant verifies that you can use it by matching the signature.

At this point it is like cash. Almost everywhere takes them but the number is on the decline and usually if it is refuse it's because the chashier doesn't know what to do with it. So say your bill is $9.50, you hand over a $10 cheque and get $11.50 in change local currency, because you can buy them in $ of Pounds or Yaun ect....

Absolutly the only advantage is that if you loose them, you have a copy of the cheques with you and go to the Amex office and they replace the unsused ones.

Amex closed most of these offices. I would liken Traveler Cheques to type writers. Worked great for my grand parents.


When I was at a bank we issued these about once every 3 or 4 months. The tellers almost always needed help doing it because with serveral tellers they could go over year without doing it. I only saw one case where this was nessescary. A couple going to a small town in equatoral Africa, they had checked that there was a Amex office there. They couldn't use card because there were not phones in many businesses. They didn't want to be robbed of cash so they wanted the safety of being able to replace them.

The other 20 times I helped a teller issue them the customer was fairly ignorant because I would offer other suggestions but they were wrongly insistent.

 

[CJS123]

Interesting replies. Have been wondering the same thing. Was in Africa in 2007 and found it was much easier to find an ATM than it was to cash traveler's cheques. Going to Alaska next month and wondered if there was any reason to take some along, but think it I'll keep things simple and just get a little cash when needed.

 

[homedad]

travelers checks????? wow thats a blast from the past.

 

[skiingfast]

Interesting replies. Have been wondering the same thing. Was in Africa in 2007 and found it was much easier to find an ATM than it was to cash traveler's cheques. Going to Alaska next month and wondered if there was any reason to take some along, but think it I'll keep things simple and just get a little cash when needed.

You will have no trouble finding an ATM in tourist locations in AK.

 

[CJS123]

travelers checks????? wow thats a blast from the past.

Yes, it is.

 

[2Tiggies]

Well if you are old fashioned then so am I. It is so easy to use them onsite anyway. I only take a card with me if shopping off site. EVerywhere in Disney takes TCs and I do feel better with them than I do with cash.

Just remember to have some other money with you though. If you lose a TC it can be replaced but it will take time so you want to be sure you have some cash/a card with you so you don't have to bring the vacation to a halt while waiting for replacements to be issued.

 

[MikeinBoston]

On my most recent trip that was my primary source and a credit/debit card as a backup. I was afraid of loosing my cash and with the American Express Travelers Checks, I could have them replaced if lost. Its worth the small fee which worked out to $5 for $500 worth of checks. Everywhere gave cash back, so if I bought a soda for $3 with a $50 check, I'd get $47 in actual cash back to use. Worked perfect.