Travellers cheques yes or no-help

[sam portadown]

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Hi There
have noticed people saying travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Orlando. When we went in 2009 we had no problems anywhere-the shops in the malls and in WDW. Is this still the case?. i do not like the idea of using a card as i like to keep a close eye on our spending.(a set lot for me,hubby,taxis ect). has anyone used them at the malls in the last few months.thanks

 

[wayneg]

Only 2 places I have heard of any issues with Travellers cheques. 1 was Walmart but not heard of any problem recently. Other was/is Golden Corral, don't think they accept them anymore. Everywhere else just like using cash.
Personally I still prefer credit card, no fees and easier than cash or TC's but they are still accepted widely enough for now.

 

[Twilight Terror]

We usually take a mixture of cash and travellers cheques. We had no problems whatsoever this year using them. We even paid for our shopping in Wal*Mart with them this time around. I had warned my mum there might be a problem, but they were more than happy to take them.

The only thing we have ever found to be an issue in the past is the size of the cheque. Most of the smaller places, especially offsite, will not take the $100 ones, so we always ask the guys doing our TCs to make them all $20 or $50s. The Disney resorts are fine with taking the $100s though - we even asked this May just to clarify for our trip in September! So worst case scenario, you can charge everything to your room, and use the $100 ones to pay at the end!

 

[2Tiggies]

I am a TC fan, purely because it is just something I have always done and has become something of a familiarity/comfort zone. I have never had a problem with them and have even used them for flight upgrade payments at check in at MCO, Duty free, anywhere at WDW, Premium Outlet mall .... But I do accept that there are other ways to do things that are just as easy and have a FairFX card now.

I also do take cash, but never more than my insurance covers me for in cash value, which is much less than the monetary value you are covered for. My cash limit is fairly good at £500 insured, so I don't necesarily need $750 in cash since, as Wayne mentioned, you really just use them as cash.

I have always been asked for photo ID when cashing one at Disney, although many report never being asked for it.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I have always been asked for photo ID when cashing one at Disney, although many report never being asked for it.

Photo ID for TCs seems to be very hit and miss. We were asked at place we didn't expect to be, and not asked at others. I think we were asked at Wal*Mart, and again at the WDW resort desk, but not at some of the small vendor stands within the parks! Just carry it around with you so you never get caught out!

And 2Tiggies, we are the same as you - cash and TCs, just because of the ease. Much easy to get your TCs replaced while abroad than a CC, I would imagine!

 

[2Tiggies]

Much easy to get your TCs replaced while abroad than a CC, I would imagine!

Supposedly it is, but I have heard otherwise as well. For me it is a relatively safe means of having money with me. They are pretty useless to anyone else as they have to be counter signed and even if someone did get away with using one and not being checked for it, they are traceable and the onus is on the retailer/merchant to check otherwise they are liable in the event of fraudulent use. If they had to be replaced .... well let's just say that is why I take credit cards with me as well so that I don't have to put my holiday on hold while waiting for replacement cheques to be issues. This is one of those questions where there are so many right answers and what works for one may not be the best option for the next person. It is more about personal preference and needs than better or worse options.

 

[Twilight Terror]

That so true 2Tiggies, but at least your TCs would eventually be replaced. Your CC would be replaced, but it would be delivered to the wrong country - ie home!

We always have a CC, because you need it for the hotel. But it doesn't go anywhere! TCs/cash for outside Disney; charge it to the room at Disney! Nothing is going to be the perfect solution for everybody. Anyway, things would be boring for the cashiers if the payment method was always the same!

 

[steve_rob]

I know the benefit of travellers cheques versus credit cards are the ability to have them replaced quickly, but credit cards do have their benefits too.

I lost my credit card in the States once and when I rang my CC company to cancel it, they arranged for a couple of hundred dollars to be wired to the nearest Western Union office, so that I could continue to enjoy my holiday without worrying about running out of money. And to their credit, they didn't sting me with a massive fee for this either - I think I was charged the same rate as if I had just withdrawn cash from an ATM using the card.

Now this was a couple of years ago and policies may have changed since (plus it could be that the bloke on the other end of the phone felt sorry for me - we got talking while he was setting up the transfer and it turned out he lived in my hometown!), but I'd like to think this was standard practice.

 

[2Tiggies]

Steve Rob, that is a good point about the credit cards. Check with your bank as they have some kind of protection provided you report loss or theft within 24 hours of discovering this. I have an additional card insurance policy where they will cancel all my cards with one phone call and send cash to you immediately should you require this. However I discovered after the fact that I already had this with my bank on most of the cards anyway. My only benefit would be if I could register my FairFX on the cover, but I don't know if you can do it for a prepaid card. Might look into it though - good idea you have given me.