?'s about travelers checks vs visa gift card

[coachv]

I have always taken travelers checks with me on vacation. I like the security of it. A CM at a local DS said she used a Visa gift card on her last trip to DW. You pay a set amout on the card and use the card like a credit card until the money is gone. Has anyone used this before at DW? What happens if you lose the card? Do all places at the World take Visa? Does this sound like a good idea? Leaving in a week and I am trying to decide the best way to go. I like the idea of not carrying around a bunch of travlers checks. Give me your best on what you think on this one. 6 days and counting.

 

[cpl100]

Our local malls (Simon Malls) sells these in place of gift certificates for the mall. They say Simon Mall but bear the Visa logo and can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. They seem like they would be very convenient but these particular cards have a significant drawback. You must know at all times what your balance is on it as that is required to be inputted during the transaction. Otherwise, the card is declined. And I do mean to the exact penny. You can call to find out your balance. The first call is free; after that it is $.50 per call. I just finished using one and would think long and hard about getting another one if it used the same system.

 

[kris24]

I should be able to tell you anything you would like to know and probably more about a visa gift card. I work for a place that sells them. In my opinion I would stick with travelers checks. Its just to new of a system( there are still bugs in it) to put all your vacation money on a card that sometimes doesnt always work.
But if you do decide to go with the card here are a few things you should know about it. You do need to know your balance just in case your purchase is over the amount on your card. For example your total is $25 and there is only $20 on the card you have to pay the $5 first and then use the card.
If it is lost or stolen it can be replaced but you have to have the card # and it takes up to 30 days for it to be replaced. One other thing if you return something it can take up to 7 business days for the credit to show up on your card. I hope this helps and like i said above this is just my opinion. Have a wonderful vacation
Kristan

 

[Carole]

I ordered one from AAA - never again! There was a transaction fee which I was aware of but..... I paid for it with a credit card (we had collected money at work for someone). First, the credit card considered it a cash transaction and charged me $12 for the transaction. Second, since they considered it cash, interest was immediately charged. I always pay off all credit cards so this was a shock. I did get the $12 removed after making a phone call to the credit card company.

We have a Simon mall near us - maybe next time I will try one of their cards.

 

[powellrj]

we use Key Bank and they sell these card, but since there is a transaction fee to get the card, we will use traveler checks. Key Bank and AAA never charge us for the travelers so thats what we are using.

 

[coachv]

I am or was considering using a combination of travelers checks and the gift card. The mall charges $1 to put the money on the card. It just sounded easier to keep up with than travelers checks. I may try to use one with some money on it this trip and try it out but I will take a majority of money in travelers checks. My family and I went to NYC and Washington, D.C. last summer and I thought I would use an AMEX card with 0% interest to charge everything and pay it back when I got home. BIG MISTAKE!! Very few places in D.C. took AMEX and NYC is a cash town for most things. I am more careful now about how I plan things. Thanks for all the info.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by Carole
I ordered one from AAA - never again! There was a transaction fee which I was aware of but..... I paid for it with a credit card (we had collected money at work for someone). First, the credit card considered it a cash transaction and charged me $12 for the transaction. Second, since they considered it cash, interest was immediately charged. I always pay off all credit cards so this was a shock. I did get the $12 removed after making a phone call to the credit card company.

We have a Simon mall near us - maybe next time I will try one of their cards.

The fees you incurred were charged by your credit card company not the issuer of the gift card.

Also AAA offers a Visa Gift Card. You can bring CASH to the local office and purchase the card. The only fee involved is the $4.95 to issue the initial card. Instead of calling everyday to check your balance just carry an envelope around and put each day's receipts in the envelope. A simple calculator is all you will need to know how much is left. I find using Traveller's Cheques to be cumbersome especially for large purchases and I don't like getting lots of change back everytime I buy something with a TC.

If you are disciplined enough I would just use an "emergency credit" card as my vacation credit card and then just pay it off in full with your vacation funds when you get back home. If the card is lost or stolen it is easily replaced and can be cancelled. This way you incur no fees and you have the convenience of the card.

 

[Carole]

prncess674,

Yes, you are correct it was my credit card company adding the charges. I do not live close to a AAA office so my only quick alternative was my credit card.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by coachv
Very few places in D.C. took AMEX and NYC is a cash town for most things.

where was AMEX not accepted? I charged myself all over NYC .Every restaurant, play, museum I went to in NYC took American Express. Was it specifically denied? Many places do not have the AMEX symbol in the window but almost everyone takes it. NYC is the financial capital of the world and I definitly wouldn't call it a "cash" town. Walking around with large amounts of cash is a big no-no, unless you want to be pick pocketed. Even the taxi from the airport took my AMEX.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

If you are disciplined enough I would just use an "emergency credit" card as my vacation credit card and then just pay it off in full with your vacation funds when you get back home. If the card is lost or stolen it is easily replaced and can be cancelled. This way you incur no fees and you have the convenience of the card.

Yes, but would that work if you lost it and it takes 30 days to replace and all your vacation funds are at HOME? or did you mean take your funds with you, yet use the card, and pay it off when you get home? Someone else said it can take up to 30 days to get another card- and even if you could get it faster- would they send it to you where you were on vacation?
I'd be so scared to use this and lose it and be screwed while on vacation. Okay maybe not- I'd just use my debit card if that happened I guess. LOL

 

[jimmybop]

I just wanted to add that Visa (as well as AMX, MC, Discover, Dinners Club card, JCB, and the Disney Credit Card) is accepted every wheres at disney world (except at the small food/gift carts where all they have is a cash box)