tips

[WeLoveABD]

Ok, I hate to drag this topic up again...but just when I thought the payment of tips was finally narrowed to US dollars or local currency, I see this in the Peru FAQ re tips: "Adventure Guides accept local currency, U.S. dollars, and travelers' checks"

We started using travelers' checks for tips in our first few ABD trips--easy to carry, safe etc--but then we heard that was trouble for the guides so we ended up carrying a bunch of cash to give to them at the end. Maybe things have changed again? Anyone on a recent trip hear anything about whether the guides do or don't mind travelers' checks?? thanks!

 

[BriarRosie]

I have noticed that traveler's checks have dwindled in popularity when ATMs popped up everywhere. I haven't used traveler's checks for anything since the early 1990's.

I plan to tip in cash.

 

[distech0]

Is travelers an international bank or something? What is different about their checks than a normal check?

 

[DisneyKevin]

I recently asked ABD about which currency should be used for tipping and the response was "any currency you are comfortable with will be fine".

 

[sayhello]

Is travelers an international bank or something? What is different about their checks than a normal check?

Travelers checks are a special type of check, that I believe are issued by a few different banks (the ones I've seen most are issued by American Express). They are a fixed value that you pre-pay. The thing about travelers checks is that if you lose them or they are stolen, you can get them replaced (if you keep the numbers). They used to be pretty universally accepted, but that's not so true any more. A lot of small businesses won't accept them. Usually most hotels, etc, will accept them, and you can cash them on most cruise ships. I think the guides were having troubles getting them cashed when they weren't home, because a lot of banks won't cash them unless you have an account with them.

I gave the Guides on my Med cruise ABD add-on traveler's checks because I knew they could cash them on the cruise ship. My other ABD's have been in the USA, so that's never been an issue. I'm not sure what I'm going to do for Knights & Lights.

Sayhello

 

[Tozzie]

I just checked the pre departure booklet and the Story Booklet that you get at the start of your trip from my recent Ireland trip and both state Adventure Guides accept US dollars or local currency. I still think some of the guides might have problems cashing travelers checks especially if they aren't from the country you are going to. On my recent adventure both guides were from the USA so they wouldn't have a bank in Ireland and were going to be there for the rest of the season.

I can see the issue for families though carrying all that cash, I am a solo traveler so it isn't a problem for me to carry the cash and stash it in the hotel safe but for WELOVEABD as a family of (4?) I can see where carrying the amount of cash needed would be a problem.

 

[WeLoveABD]

I just checked the pre departure booklet and the Story Booklet that you get at the start of your trip from my recent Ireland trip and both state Adventure Guides accept US dollars or local currency. I still think some of the guides might have problems cashing travelers checks especially if they aren't from the country you are going to. On my recent adventure both guides were from the USA so they wouldn't have a bank in Ireland and were going to be there for the rest of the season.

I can see the issue for families though carrying all that cash, I am a solo traveler so it isn't a problem for me to carry the cash and stash it in the hotel safe but for WELOVEABD as a family of (4?) I can see where carrying the amount of cash needed would be a problem.

Exactly right Tozzie! For 4, it adds up and I hate lugging the cash around or relying on having an ATM nearby and working to draw out cash for tips. I stopped doing Traveler's Checks because of the issues noted by SayHello and others re the ability of the guides to cash them (the last people I want to inconvenience are our great guides!!)--but seeing "traveler's checks" actually listed in the FAQ section for the Peru trip made me revisit this.

What ever happened to the guide who would pop into the Disboard every once in a while? THIS would be a great topic for him or her to address for us!