travellers cheques

[Canadave]

Has anyone heard about issues with cashing travellers cheques in the States? The bank just told my employee to take cash instead of tc's because a lot of places no longer take tc's. Apparently there has been a lot of counterfeit tc's so stores and gas stations are refusing to accept them. I've always taken tc's to WDW and seldom had problems.
She already has the money in US currency, so putting the money on her visa is costly.

 

[Gigi22]

I always take traveller's cheques to the US, but I don't try to cash them at stores (except at WDW) or gas stations. I usually cash them at hotels and on cruise lines--and I have never had a problem with cashing them at either.

There was a discussion on another thread about using traveller's cheques, and I believe a lot of people use credit cards and ask for cash back to get US cash when travelling. There has also been some discussion about pre-paid credit cards, and as I recall, there are mixed opinions about them.

There is a sticky about using US cash and credit cards at the top of this forum.

I sympathize, you would think that the travel industry would make it simpler for Canadians to use (and carry) US money when travelling in the US, wouldn't you?

 

[A&Bmama]

I was told the same thing at my bank when buying USD for a trip to New Hampshire this summer. I checked ahead of time and 2 out of 3 of my hotels had no problem taking the Travellers cheques for payment. I did take cash for our day to day spending money so that I didn't have to deal with the TCs then.

On my next Disney trip most of our spending money will be in the form of TCs since you can cash them at the front desk at Disney hotels. I'll also use the TCs as payment for my room charges when we check out.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

i've taken them to disney twice in the last year and had no issues. but i only used them on site or in the parks.

 

[Gigi22]

I've noticed that the financial institutions that advise against using traveller's cheques (or tell you that there are problems with them) are the same places that either don't sell them, or charge significant fees--and presumably don't sell many t.c.s as a result. Coincidence? I think not!

 

[SplashMom]

We've used them at Disney but had a bit more trouble when using them at the mall. They were accepted finally but the employees didn't seem to know what to do. We were held up for a bit at several stores. I wouldn't bother again--credit is easier.

 

[rodeo65]

Like Gigi22, we take them but cash enough at the hotel check out each morning for the day ahead. At Disney we do the same - cash them at the resort desk or use the KTTW card and pay with TCs at check out.

 

[Applemomma]

When I was working retail a lot of businesses were discouraging traveler's cheques because it was one of the fastest growing forms of fraud so it's really going to be hit and miss where you can use them. Like others have said I'd call ahead to where you need to use the largest amounts.

What about just putting the cash on one of those prepaid visa/mastercards? Not sure if anyone has suggested this yet....too sleepy to go back and read the other posts

 

[glendalais]

It's a bit of a tricky situation. Fewer and fewer people are using Travellers Cheques each year, and the possiblities for fraud are quite large.

In Central Florida, the three major Resorts (WDW, UO and SeaWorld Orlando) all accept Travellers Cheques. However, outside of that, it's very spotty. In the non-tourist areas, with the exception of large stores such as Walmart, most merchants simply won't take them - they're not required to by law as is the case with cash, and most just don't want to deal with the hassle.

Even in the Tourist Districts (I-Drive and the like), expect confusion as some merchants won't take them, others might, and others might require you to produce copius amounts of documentation to prove who you are (Passport, Driver's Licence and Health Card) before they consider accepting them.

The best bet if you want to use them, as mentioned is to cash them on a daily basis. Most Banks and Hotel Front Desks should be able to do so. If not, any Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort or SeaWorld Orlando Adventure Park Guest Services/Guest Relations location will be more than happy to do so for you.

 

[Canadave]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I passed on your suggestions to my employee.
She has just left and eventually she decided to do half cash, half travellers cheques. She is a very nervous person to start with, and when the bank actually tells her to take cash, she was even more in distress. But I think she is happy with the compromise.
Thanks again

 

[peigirl]

The only time we had trouble cashing them was on our drive back in 2007. We stopped in Edgewood, Maryland for the night. The hotel would not cash them so I had to use MC. The next morning, I went to 3 different gas stations and finally the 3rd one said they would cash $50 if I used most of it on gas and bought stuff in the convenience store. I had wanted to cash it to have toll money. I had to get my dds to lend me the money that they had lol.

Later that day in Conneticuit, we had trouble paying for our meal at McDonalds. When we reached New Hampshire, to gas up, the gas attendant said no problem.

The people in the areas that would not cash them said that they had alot of trouble with fraud.

Paula

 

[Charleyann]

I no use a BMO prepaid mastercard. It is a travel card you load and reload. Acts like a credit cardand you can get cash off it .....

You also get airmiles for each $20 you spend. If you have a BMO checking account you can transfer funds between accounts.

You can even book airplanes , hotels and cars with it !

Prefect solution. You control the amount !!!!

Charleyann