Help a first timer out! Where to get visa gift card???

[HeyItsDeb]

I've called my bank, (B of A) and 2 of my credit unions and none of them have Visa gift cards that I can use on vacation. Only B of A has an American Express card and I heard they are difficult to use.

Does anyone know where I can purchase a Visa gift card? Do they charge for one? Help!!! I leave 6/3!!!

 

[jedi_librarian]

I don't remember if there were Visa cards, but CVS pharmacy has Mastercard giftcards. I dunno if that helps you.

 

[HeyItsDeb]

I don't know if we have any CVS pharmacies here in Oregon! I'll look though! Thanks! If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know!

 

[mickeymousemom]

I searched Visa gift cards...sent me to Visa.com. They will provide you with a list of Merchants(banks, credit unions,etc) who will sell you the card. You can get them either online or at a participating merchant. You might find someone near you....good luck.

 

[zurgswife]

Just a little nosey but why do you have to have specifically visa gift cards for your vacation?

 

[mdhkitten]

I'm not sure if this helps you or not, but I recently stayed at Pop, and I was told that they can now place cash on your room key so that you can charge just like if they put a credit card on your key. This way you wouldn't have to worry about a credit card at all (that is if you're staying on the property).

 

[mdhkitten]

I am a nerd and did a little research and found out that Visa has a thing called "Travelmoney" which is a card that you put money on that works like a regular Visa card. Here is a link. I looked up your city and state for you (hope you don't mind!), and the results are in the link below. It appears that most of your local Safeways, and your local AAA office has them. Hope this helps!

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/travelmoney/ResultsDisplayAction.do

 

[djm99]

The above poster is correct. AAA does have a Visa Card. I gave one to Friends as a Wedding Present. They bought whatever they wanted. Just to let you know that the card does have fees on it and they will charge you to get the card. If you are a AAA member its free, but if you're not its like $5. If you are going to Florida, may I suggest Travelers Cheques. EVERY place takes Travelers Cheques in Florida (all department, grocery, gift shops, food places, etc.) - even those little carts in WDW take them. Now if you are going to California - don't get Travelers Cheques, most places out of Anaheim don't take them. I had to cash mine in last summer when after we left Anaheim no one would take them. Not even places like Denny's. Too much fraud in LA - I guess. Thank goodness I bank at Bank of America. It was a branch down the street from our hotel.

 

[HeyItsDeb]

I did find out that I could get one at US Bank for $4.99 which is close to me, but I didn't know I could get one for free from AAA!!!! I don't want to take much cash with me or traveler's checks which are a pain to make out for everything. So a suggestion I got here on the boards was to take a Visa gift card which means it'll have a preset amt on it so if I lose it, someone else won't have my credit card # it'll still be replaced w/i 24 hrs if I do lose it!!! I LOVED the idea!!! Think I'll look at the link you sent for the "travel card". Thank you VERY much!!!