US Cash or travelers cheques? What to bring? How do you divide it up?

[mickeywho?]

We're getting into the details of our trip planning and I can't decide what to bring. What have you found is the best way for budgeting or saving on fees etc?

 

[marylou]

We usually bring a combo of US cash and travellers checks. I hate the thought of not having enough but it drives me nuts to think of losing it. I leave extra credit cards at home (and anything else I don't need), so I don't get tempted to overspend. Everywhere will cash travellers cheques for you even the ice cream carts. Check with your bank re fees, CAA i think you can get free travellers checks. Lots of folks have a US credit card that they use I have a US savings account that I stash money in routinely.

 

[hockey mom]

I am bad and bring all cash. We don't use our credit cards on vacation and I should use Travellers cheques but I am to lazy to go get them

 

[Janice B]

We take travellers cheques. Since we drive, we only take enough cash for gas and meals down. We then cash enough travellers cheques at the resort before we leave again for just gas and meals.

 

[mickeywho?]

Do the resorts charge a fee for cashing the travellers cheques?

 

[Janice B]

No they dont. They do have a $200 cash limit per day. However there is no limit for merchandise or food.

 

[mickeywho?]

Thanks JaniceB
I think we'll use your advice to help budget - travellers cheques tucked away and cashed to cover costs to travel back. That way I know what I can spend and be sure to have a healthy amount to travel home.
Now fingers crossed the exchange rate keeps getting healthier and gas prices start to go down!

 

[CharlesTD]

We bring TC's for the simple fact that if they are ever lost or stolen they replace them right away at no cost to you. You lose cash or it gets stolen there is no replacement for you. We do bring some cash but very little it is more for gas on the drive to and from Disney.

 

[Rubbertops]

Does anyone use a debit card? Will that not be the safest?

 

[daver]

Hi Gang;

I have heard there are problems using American Express Travellers cheques at WDW?
Any truth to this?

 

[mbb]

Does anyone use a debit card? Will that not be the safest?

Debit machines at a merchant/business aren't the same as ours, and you can't use them..but the ATM's at a bank machine are ok.

Something to do with the "accessing which account"...I know I've read lots about why you can't use them at a store - I just don't remember why!LOL!

 

[CharlesTD]

Hi Gang;

I have heard there are problems using American Express Travellers cheques at WDW?
Any truth to this?

We have never had any problems using them at WDW.

 

[CharlesTD]

Debit machines at a merchant/business aren't the same as ours, and you can't use them..but the ATM's at a bank machine are ok.

Something to do with the "accessing which account"...I know I've read lots about why you can't use them at a store - I just don't remember why!LOL!

Td is set up and working in Florida I have used mine at the Nike outlet and al DTD and otehr areas but you get hit with a different exchange rate.

 

[dandee00]

We're using travellers checks for our upcoming trip. Since we are driving, it was the safest thing to do.
Does anyone know if you can buy Traveler's Checks (TC"S) at the AAA office in Disney? I realize you have to belong to CAA/AAA.
Would it be better/cheaper to purchase TC's at AAA then to use a debit card or credit card for every purchase you make?

 

[cslittle999]

We billed everything to the room and used TC's to pay the balance off the night before we checked out. We purchased our TC's at CAA before we left. We purchased the dual signature TC's so that both DW and I could use them.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We also use CAA TC's and have never had a problem cashing. In fact, we hesitate to put anything on our credit cards as both our VISA and MC have a 'service charge' hidden in the exchange rate calculation.

We didn't even realize it until we came back from one trip in which a purchase was charged and immediately reversed to our card. The transaction cost us $30 because the service charge was charged on each transaction. Called VISA and they directed us to the 'fine print'. Thankfully, they were understanding and reversed it for us that one time ! Now we either pay our account periodically with cash during the stay or give them the cash at the beginning 'on account'.