Travelers Checks..To do or not to do...does anyone still do this?

[amejiajr8]

Call me old school but I've usually have traveled with Traveler Checks...last year was the first time I did not but I was traveling to ports I was familiar with and had a low budget for port spending. This year doing new ports St.Martin, San Juan and Labadee. Might do a mix some cash some checks as back up.

[bcarney]

I use my credit card (which has no foreign transaction fees), or old fashioned cash.

[jticarruthers]

CC with no transaction fees and a bunch of smaller bills for tipping/taxi type situations works for me in the Caribbean at least.

 

Doing Europe this summer and will probably go a little heavier on cash just in case but nothing crazy.

[firegal2539]

I would use my credit card because of the security of knowing the credit card company backs me. Small bills for tipping as jticarruthers said.

[WHStoneman]

I don't believe AMEX sells "travelers checks" any longer....they offer prepaid debit cards.   Nice idea.

 

 As for me, I take $100 in fives and $50 in ones.   That leaves me with any combination of tipping money that I might need.   Credit and debit cards are so convenient to use and I feel safe with any purchase I might choose to make.  Even vendors at the markets are taking Square now.  

 

 

[FloatMe]

I thought about this only because I did not want to carry cash for the casino with me, however fees for travelers checks rival that of getting cash on board or from a credit card. Ended on the plus side on the last cruise and oddly I wasn't nearly as concerned carrying the winnings home w/me.. :)

[amejiajr8]

Maybe that was the other reason I didn't get any list time. I did use my cc as well. Thanks again

[Todd]

If you can find travelers checks. which many companies no longer offer, it is still not worth the effort. Travelers checks are really a dead time, you will have a harder time getting them cashed than you think and no added protection. Stay will credit cards, ATM and Cash.  You always have the ATM machine on the ship, yes it has a small charge (about $6.50) but it is less than the cost of Travelers Checks.

[DocLC]

I agree with others; Travelers' Checks are well post their prime.  I just use a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees and find that it is much easier to deal with.

[monorailmedic]

I'd suspect, as mentioned, that even if you find travelers cheques, you'll have trouble finding someone that knows what to do with them.  I'm 33 and even living in South Florida (lots of tourists) I don't think I've seen one in 15 years or so.

 

Now, remember that for international cc use, you'll not only want to tell the issuer that you're traveling (where and when) but also try and only use a card or cards that don't have international transaction fees.  Check your card-member agreement, but off the top of my head, the below cards don't charge international transaction fees:

 

AmEx Gold

AmEx Platinum

Chase Sapphire Preferred
Most CapitalOne cards

Most travel related co-branded cards (airline MasterCards and such)