help! how do you pay?

[ibelieveinmagic]

we are leaving in 10 days, usually use travelers checks, just found out AAA no longer issues them how does every one pay during their trip, we like to have cash in our pocket and keep track of our money we found travelers checks did that for us but they are going the way of the dinosour? any suggestions?

 

[CammelleandBre]

How about a pre-paid debit card. Most banks have them now if you didn't want to use your regular debit card.

 

[ctc917]

You can still get traveler's checks at your bank thats what we do. I like having traveler's checks too and thats where I get ours now.

ctc917

 

[LJSquishy]

We prefer to keep cash on hand for tips only, and use a credit card for everything else in case we need to dispute any charges.

 

[Pembo]

I got Disney gift cards and used my Visa.

 

[ibelieveinmagic]

thanks everyone, Pembo,where did you get your disney gift cards? can you use them everywhere? is there a link to info about them? Can you use them as payment for park tickets at shades of green?thanks for your replies!!

 

[pigletto]

We've done it a few ways. Gift cards, cash in the safe, or credit cards. I prefer to put different amounts on gift cards (kids spending money, tips etc) than carry huge amounts of cash. And credit cards aren't bad but I find it got hard to track because I'd have different holds on there for rental car and hotels (we stay at Universal too). Plus things weren't posting the day they were charged and because we're Canadian there were exchange fees to consider. Our car rental hold fell off part way through the trip but was added back when we returned the car.
Bottom line, it became difficult for me to have an exact tally of what we were spending and it made me anxious. So this time I will go back to gift cards and cash for spending money and tips and only the items that have to go on the card will.

 

[ToodlesRN]

We do cash, gift cards and debit on bigger purchases. I put about $300 day in my wallet and the good thing is if we need more cash we bank with chase which Disney has chase ATMs so no fees.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I give the front desk my Disney CC card, then charge everything to our KTTW card. Every evening or every other evening, I get a print out - we don't find it hard to keep up with purchases for 24 or 48 hours, more or less and we know at the end of the day(s). Right before we leave, I go online and transfer money to my Chase Disney rewards card to cover our bill. Anything extra goes on the CC, along with all our Universal Parks charges (we've gotta go to Hogsmeade at least once!) and our charges going and coming), then I pay it off out of our vacation savings account as soon as I'm sure everything is on the card.

I'd rather pay with a CC when I have to use cash money (i.e. not reward dollars) because it has the most protections for travel - you can dispute charges, you have rental car insurance etc. - and I get points for my next trip.

 

[angwill]

AAA sells the prepaid visa now instead of the travelers cheques. It takes forever to fill the darn thing out and get cash for them and the visa is quicker and easier.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Almost no one uses travelers checks any more and many places don't accept them. Why not use your debit card and/or credit cards?

 

[ibob52]

VISA Gift Cards ... Loadable up to $500.00

sold at various locations (Grocery Store, etc)

 

[MrsDoubtfire]

VISA Gift Cards ... Loadable up to $500.00

sold at various locations (Grocery Store, etc)

WE bring a certain amount of cash and also use our debit card - however this seems like a MUCH better idea. One year during our vacation my bank cancelled my debit card due to a security breach of some type. Thankfully DH had his (which was not breached) else we would have been hurting for funds. Does anyone know if there are fees to load money onto these Visa gift cards?

 

[SandrA9810]

Banks still issue traveller's check and they're still very common at disney.

AmEx prepaid card has their advertisments that state the prepaid cards offer the same protection as a regular credit card from them.