I'm going to England and other different countries. Do most places accept travelers check? Are they easy to use or should I just use cash? Credit card companies charge too much extras when cards are used abroad...
2006-08-29 12:36:51 · 11 answers · asked by beebee32002 2 in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Packing & Preparation
Very. You can do currency exchange while you're over there as you need it but there's a charge. If anything happened with the travelers' checks if you've got the numbers, at least you're covered. Not so with cash.
2006-08-29 12:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by vanamont7 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have done traveler's checks, cash, credit and debit. Debit cards (Visa or MasterCard check card) are definitely the way to go. Traveler's checks are a pain in the behind, and I have always ended up cashing them at banks anyway (so you get charged to buy them then charged again to cash them). If you carry around bundles of cash and they are stolen you are stuck. Those stupid visa check card commercials are pretty accurate--they are convenient and if stolen it is not the end of the world. I have never had a problem with extra fees being charged for using the atms (or for credit card purchases) in Europe, although I'm sure it happens in some places. My friend used a credit card at a restaurant in Italy and someone there stole the number and charged him $1500. It was pretty easy to convince the credit card company that he did not spend that much at a restaurant for dinner. All in all it is pretty secure.
2006-08-29 19:47:48 · answer #2 · answered by M L 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i rarely ever use traveller's checks anymore when I travel and pretty much use my Visa Checkcard. yes, there is a fee to use the ATM (usually like $5USD) but you also get the best exchange rates and with the dollar is cruddy as it has been that can make a difference. You should not be getting charges for items you buy in shops or meals at restaurants. If you have USD travelers checks you will need to go to a bank or to an exchange place to get funds... they will fluctuate from place to place for the exchange rate and some will charge you commissions. Hotels will sometimes also change money but they tend to have really awful rates in my experience.
best thing to do is carry a small amount of cash on you in pounds/Euros for when you arrive to get a taxi, something quick to eat and then pull out some cash from ATMs in like $100 to 200 denominations. that way the $5 is not that big a deal and you are able to get the good exchange rate.
Most large cities will readily accept your credit card as well... as for those fees... check with your card issuer... they should not be charging you fees to use it for purchases.
2006-08-29 19:52:54 · answer #3 · answered by zeechou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We go to England regularly and do not use Traveler's cheques. They are a pain to exchange and there is a charge to do so in most currency exchange offices. Same problem in Spain and Portugal, as not even all the banks accept to deal with them, specially in small towns or villages !
Pay by credit card, they normally have a fair exchange rate, and I don't know what you are talking about when you speak of any extra charges !
2006-09-01 18:41:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Travellers Cheques are widely accepted but you will either get charged commission or the rate will be significantly below what you get when taking money out on credit card.
At the end of the day you end up paying whatever way you do it so I'd go for the convenience of using plastic and taking out money I need in larger chunks to minimise the fees.
2006-08-29 20:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by Tonky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to France and one of my fellow travelers had an extremely difficult time in getting her traveler's checks cashed. I would recommend just not even messing with them.
I would recommend that you exchange money through your bank before you go on your trip. For example, I go through Bank of America and their rate is pretty good. And it's great that you don't have to worry about exchanging money once you get to your European destination.
Do you have an ATM card to withdraw money from an account? You could order enough currency for one day through your bank so you have some when you arrive, and then hit up an ATM machine in your neighborhood. Usually that works best for me.
Operate with a day's worth of spending money in your billfold/wallet and put the rest (along with your passport, credit/ATM/debit cards, etc) in your moneybelt/neck pouch. If you need more money, slip into a bathroom and make a "withdrawal" from your moneybelt.
2006-08-30 14:56:37 · answer #6 · answered by worldglobetrottergirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They Are Just Like Us,They Like Good Ole Green Backs.....Don't Forget Ur Plastic Money,They Love It Too..
2006-08-29 19:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
never used one, took three credit cards and a debit card. I took money out once a week, worked well
2006-08-30 01:50:24 · answer #8 · answered by brinlarrr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was just in europe about two weeks ago...cash is definitely the best option, the most readily accepted, and the easiest to exchange.
2006-08-29 19:43:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bring cash and wear a travel vest.Keep your $ in the indide pocket.Travelers checks cost to cash and many people do not want them.
2006-08-29 19:39:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋