Managing travel funds

[Claire&TheBoys]

I was hoping to get some input on how other people travel. When we go to Disney, we charge back to our room and it goes on my Disney Visa, which is paid off when we get back. It's so easy and I like not having to make a lot of individual charges to a credit card or our debit card.

We're going to Washington, DC, next month and I'm trying to decide how to manage our day-to-day funds. At home, we use our debit cards for everything, but I'm leery of carrying them in a big city. I also don't want to carry a lot of cash. The last time I went to DC, I used travelers' checks, so that tells you it's been awhile! I have a credit card with a fairly low limit (intentionally) that I could use, or are there other options?

So, what do you do when you travel? Use a credit card and pay it off when you get home? Use cash? Use a prepaid Visa/MC? Use a debit card?

Thanks!

 

[DLgal]

We use our Disney Visa for everything! Nothing better than getting rewards points for all our purchases. We pay it in full every month. I would recommend using a credit card when you are away from home, for security purposes.

 

[Alesia]

I just use a credit card and pay it off when I get home. Honestly, I never really thought much about it - that's just what I do on a daily basis anyway. Why complicate things?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Whichever card you choose to use be sure to alert the issuer that you'll be traveling. If not then you won't have ANY card to use!

But back to the original question, most people use credit cards for every day purchases. Not because they don't have the money but to earn rewards. Some credit cards offer up to 6% back. There's nothing wrong with having high credit card limits so long as you pay the balance off every month. And using a credit card is VERY safe. Safer than cash or debit.

I'd take a little bit of cash for street vendors and other miscellaneous purchases but not too much. I wouldn't be concerned about traveling to a "big city" with cash/credit cards/debit cards any more than any other city.

 

[hskaggs11]

Same as the others, I use my Disney Visa for EVERYTHING. We even use it to pay for the phone bill, Sirius bill, garbage, and electric as our co-op doesn't charge for using a credit card. Any and everything we can, we use the Disney Visa. We pay the bill off in full every 2 weeks from our checking. The only thing I ever use my checking for is places that don't take Visa Credit, like Sams Club and some discount grocers that only take debit cards.

Credit cards are just safer when you travel. Someone else pointed out to alert your CC company that you are traveling, that is a great idea. My mom's card was blocked when we went to Disneyland a few years back, because she used it at the airport in LA at the same time my dad (who wasn't on the trip) used it at Wal-Mart back home.

Be sure to use a cross body strap on your purse, (harder to steal)keep it zipped up, and always have the number of your credit card companies written down in a pocket of your suitcase. Incase your purse is stolen, you have the #'s to call somewhere opposite of your purse.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I take small amounts of cash everywhere, and charge what I can to the Visa.

 

[verleniahall]

we use our debit card mainly - we get points from our bank - we have a few small limit credit cards we use as well.

 

[pryncess527]

We used Paid in Full credit cards for virtually all spending, whether at home or on vacation. Love those reward dollars . . .

 

[scrapquitler]

I was hoping to get some input on how other people travel. When we go to Disney, we charge back to our room and it goes on my Disney Visa, which is paid off when we get back. It's so easy and I like not having to make a lot of individual charges to a credit card or our debit card.

We're going to Washington, DC, next month and I'm trying to decide how to manage our day-to-day funds. At home, we use our debit cards for everything, but I'm leery of carrying them in a big city. I also don't want to carry a lot of cash. The last time I went to DC, I used travelers' checks, so that tells you it's been awhile! I have a credit card with a fairly low limit (intentionally) that I could use, or are there other options?

So, what do you do when you travel? Use a credit card and pay it off when you get home? Use cash? Use a prepaid Visa/MC? Use a debit card?

Thanks!

We use a credit card and pay it off when the bill comes after the trip. DH and I each carry a DIFFERENT credit card, so that if something happens and the card gets compromised, we aren't left high and dry with no other options. We also each carry a small amount of cash (like $80-$100) for places that a credit card isn't accepted or practical. We don't do debit cards at all. I'd rather let the credit card company carry the risk rather than my personal account.

At WDW, we put a credit card on our account linked to our MB and do room charges, then pay the bill once the credit card company sends it to us.