travellers checks or debit card?

[ibelieveinmagic]

Hi we are leaving in 11 days, we have always used TC, but my credit union does not carry them anymore, i have never used a Debit card and just not sure what to do? pros for tc, you can keep an easy account of how much you have left, get cash when you need it they are insured for loss, what are the pros for a debit card? Any responser would be apprecaited!!

 

[unlimiteddisney]

Do you have AAA ? They might have Travelers Checks. I know they used too.

 

[phred52]

Well, I'm a lot like you. Used travelers checks forever. But I did get a debit card for travel in Europe in 2008, after the trip in 2006 when I came home with every single travelers check that I started with!!


I found that 'State Farm Bank' would open a savings account with debit card which is what I used. I just loaded that account with our spending $ and kept a running total. Why State Farm Bank?? It had ZERO transaction fees and actually absorbed the machine's transaction fee. I found them on the internet and went from there.

This also kept my 'vacation' money separate from our household money. Easy to keep track of it. I say figure out what it will cost you to use your debit card through your bank then decide if it is worth it to get an account without transaction fees.

Have a great trip~!~!

 

[ibelieveinmagic]

hi, yes we do, and they are free from them, but i,m wondering if we should make the switch to atm and debit cards, how do other people do it when they go there and the pros and cons of both??

 

[ibelieveinmagic]

thanks phred 52!!

 

[Ava]

I've never used traveller's checks, just seems like a big pain. I have used my debit card to get cash from ATMs all over the US & Europe and never had a problem. You also get a better exchange rate when using a debit card than when cashing traveller's checks.

 

[Tinkerbell58]

Our local AAA stopped offering travelers checks years ago. When I go to WDW, I put the majority of the money I need on a Disney Gift Card and take some cash.

 

[caribear]

I would advise a Disney Gift Card. If you take a Visa gift card or any other gift card you would need to keep track of all your receipts....add them up....and always know what is left on the card. The registers at Disney will only show the balance on a Disney Gift Card.

For example........If you do use a Visa, Amex or other bank reloadable card be aware that if you go to use your card....and let's say there is only $20 left, but your purchase is $21.50....the Disney registers will decline your card. You would need to tell the cast member to put $20 on the card...and the rest in cash.

This happens all of the time and the guests get really frustrated.....especially if they have misplaced receipts yet know there is money left on the gift card. You would need to call the 800# on your card to get your balance before proceeding.

My best advice....bring cash and then convert to a Disney Gift Card....or just use cash.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

I use my Disney Rewards Visa so I am earning money for my next trip!

 

[hffmnheidi]

If you use a debit card from a local bank(not a national bank) you have to let them know your vacation dates and where you will be, so they don't decline your charges as fraudulent. It has happened to quite a few people I work with and when I went to Minnesota last month, I made sure to check with my bank and sure enough, I had to tell them to note the account with where I was going and to approve the charges.

 

[Swimalie]

hi, yes we do, and they are free from them, but i,m wondering if we should make the switch to atm and debit cards, how do other people do it when they go there and the pros and cons of both??

I would either try a credit card or, as someone else said, a Disney gift card. Debit cards carry more liability if stollen. Not worth it on a trip when you are away from home.

 

[jgates]

If your debit card carries the MC or Visa logo, you should have no more liability than with a CC - check with your bank or CU for sure so you know. However, depending on your state laws if you have to dispute something it might take longer to get credit back - you won't notice that on a CC but you would on a DC when you don't have access to your cash. I think our state is pretty strict on that - have to give them provisional credit back within just a couple of days.

Anyway - my only suggestion with the DC (I use mine all the time but primarily use CC for rewards) is to NOT use it to make hotel reservations or when you check in. Hotels will normally authorize a daily amount to your card well in excess of the daily rate. (Not normally at a Holiday Inn Express, but at resorts etc). In Vegas the hotels I have stayed at authorize from $200 to $400 per day. At Disney POFQ authorized I believe $700 per day (they told me the amount) so we could charge in the parks. (I'm sure I could have asked for less). I didn't dare ask at the Beach Club!!! In Chicago one of the downtown hotels pre-authed $3000 for my aunts stay. They had a low-limit card & it maxed them. You CAN still pay with it at check-out, but that way you don't have any 'holds' on your cash. With a CC most people will never notice that 'hold' amount, but if you are using a DC it could tap you dry.

Ask for DC's with two different numbers (you & spouse). I think most places do this, but some may issue the same number to both of you. You want 2 different numbers so that if one is lost or stolen you still have access to your money. Know the number to call or the website to report it lost or stolen if necessary (obviously this goes for CC's too!!!). I usually give my son a list of card numbers when I go somewhere in case I need to cancel.

I normally only used TCs when I went to LV for cashing at the cage, but I still miss them!!!

 

[carebee21]

I would do a combination of disney gift cards and your debit card. Don't rely solely on your debit card, just in case something happens. We went to Hawaii a couple of years ago and someone stole my visa debit card number. I had to cancel the card, and was then without my card the whole trip. (DH had his, but still, that meant he had to be there whenever I wanted to buy anything.) Lesson learned and I will always have a backup, just in case

 

[tinkmom2]

On our first few trips I used to get Travelers checks but after that started to use our Chase Visa Debit card. I always call the bank the week before and let them know if I will be going out of the country and where I will be. The purchases are guarnteed by Visa. Some places do put a hold on funds on your card which can decrease your spending limit. It will be our 5th trip down to WDW next October withougt a problem yet.