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General question about to bring or not to bring traveller checks....

I have read somewhere on this site that in Paris it is very difficult to cash traveller checks. Is this true?

My mom and I will be going on a 15 day transatlantic cruise visiting Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. Then 1 week stays in Barcelona, then Paris and Dublin, Ireland. Should we not take traveller checks? Should we just bring an American Express travel card?

Any thoughts or suggestions on what we should bring for money is most appreciated?

Posted by
1305 posts

Kathy, debit and credit cards are definitely the way to go, as everyone has said. And all of your locales use the Euro, so that will make things easy for you. But be sure to notify your banks that you will be using the cards in Europe or a freeze might be put on them. And have a wonderful time!

Posted by
9363 posts

American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. I'd suggest a Visa credit card (for larger purchases) and an ATM card, or a prepaid debit card issued by Visa or Mastercard. Withdrawing money from an ATM is going to be cheaper than getting a cash advance on a credit card. And I agree that travelers checks are a bad idea.

Posted by
11507 posts

You have read correctly, travellers checks are difficult to use( not impossible) and most small cafes and shops won't even take them anymore. If you want to take a small sum an an emergency source of cash, or to pay off your cruise incidentals then go for it , but for day to day spending what you need is a Visa and an ATM card( with the money in a chequing account, not savings).
Atms are everywhere, easy to use, and it is better to only have 3 or 4 days money on your person rather then the whole wack. Your mom and you should bring seperate cards just in case one has a problem assessing their money or loses card.

I haven't taken travellers checks since I went to Europe in 1985, to be fair I didn't return to Europe till 1992, and then I was amazed at how freeing the ATM card was!!

Have fun.

Posted by
37 posts

I'm so glad that I asked this question. Now I definitely will not be bringing traveler checks or the American express travel card.

I will probably be bringing my visa debit card which I use regularly anyway to be used on the cruise ship, and I am thinking of getting a Capital One prepaid visa debit card which would be similar to an American express travel card to use in Europe.

Posted by
9099 posts

If you already have a regular debit card, you don't need a travel card; its redundant. All you need is your debit card, credit card, and a couple hundred dollars in cash (stored in a money belt) in case of emergency. Just keep a days spending money in your wallet, store everything else in a money belt or hotel room safe.

Posted by
4555 posts

Aboard cruise ships, they generally want a credit card to handle your shipboard expenses...I'm not sure if youre Visa debit card will fulfil that need. As well, check with Capital One to see what exchange rate and fees they might charge you for a prepaid debit card. If you're willing to put the money on a prepaid card ahead of time, why not just leave it in your account, and access it with a regular debit card?

Posted by
37 posts

The reason that I don't want to use my current Visa debit card(which I have used as a credit card also)all over Europe is because God forbid if it got stolen, or someone kept a copy of the number and started using it frauduently, I would be worried because that happens to be an account which I pay all of my home expenses(mortgage etc), and I certainly don't want it cleaned out.

If I had a separate visa debit card to use all over Europe and just fill it with money for food,souveniers, etc., then my current visa debit card that I use daily would be safer from having something happen to it.

I'm just trying to be careful, and think about the best way to protect my checking account here at home from getting cleaned out.

Posted by
4555 posts

PIN numbers are supposed to guard against that happening...if they don't have the PIN number, they won't be able to access your account, altho they may be able to run up your Visa....but a call to Visa will halt that. However, if you lose your pre-loaded card, then you'll have a tough time getting it replaced. My wife and I usually travel with separate credit cards and debit cards on different accounts, and leave two sizeable cheques with a responsible party at home (usually our kids !?) and if one card is lost, then the cheque on that acount is deposited into the other account so we're never short of cash. You might want to arrange something like that with your mother so you have backup.

Posted by
9099 posts

It is possible to use a Visa debit card to make purchases without entering your pin number. But as long as you inform your bank that your card has been stolen, you won't be responsible for any purchases made from the time it was stolen until the bank blocks the card. Assuming you inform them in a timely manner of course.

Posted by
14811 posts

One suggestion....when you go to use an ATM in Europe, look at the slot where you put in your card. Physically touch it to see if it is loose at all. Thieves use a device that slides into the card acceptor that can read your card and the PIN you input. I read about one bank I have used in London that discovered it in the middle of the day. If the slot is permanent then the machine is safe to use. I always carry a back up card--in case of loss or the machine eating my card--and the phone number of my bank back home.(Their regular phone number as a toll free one might not work from Europe). I also try to use ATM's while the bank is open should I have a problem.

Posted by
4555 posts

Michael...does that apply to Credit card purchases, or debit card purchases...or both? I find it passing strange that American banks would let people make debit card purchases without a PIN...seems to defeat the purpose, doesn't it?

Posted by
9099 posts

I'm talking about using debit cards to make purchases without a pin. I agree it is bizarre system open to lots of fraud; but it's one of their selling points "use it wherever credit cards are accepted". Visa and MC are starting to tighten up the rules a bit, in order to use a debit card at a gas station or supermarket you must enter a pin. But at lots of other merchants you just use a debit just like a regular credit card; sign the receipt and that's it. In Europe if the merchant has the magnetic strip hardware you can use your debit card for purchases just like a regular credit card.

Posted by
4555 posts

Wow...I guess I should consider ourselves lucky. Our banks insist on a PIN when using a debit card for either purchases or ATM withdrawals.

Posted by
16 posts

Hi Kathy: I spent 6 months in Europe last year and most places charge a large fee to cash travellers checks. I only take one credit card and my debit card. The debit card fee is only $3 for international withdrawls. You can find
ATMs on every corner.You should take some local currency aswell.
Duane.

Posted by
41 posts

What Frank described happened to me - or I assume that is the case. About 6 months after I returned from Italy - $1,200 was taken out of my account in 4 transactions over 24 hours. My bank notified me and of course I got all my money back, but it was a major hassle. This time I have opened a new account at the same bank where I will store my travel money and plan to close it as soon as I return.

I have also heard that in the narrow alley ways - people camp in windows opposite the ATM and they use telephoto lenses to take a picture of your card and then watch you enter your pin - I suppose that could have happened to me as well since that is what the ATMs were like in Venice.

Checking for a loose slot and always covering your keypad when you enter your pin is your best protection.

Posted by
11507 posts

For the Canadians, I have a debit card with a no fee foriegn withdrawel fee. I actually have two , a TD and a Royal.
Most banks have such accounts. The TD account is has no annual fee it the balance is over a certain amount( and I make sure it stays that way) and the Royal Bank is also no fee because of some business banking we do with them.
In NEITHER case was the teller aware of these no charge for foreign withdrawal accounts, at the Royal I had to point it out in the brochure they had which outlined different accounts, and at the TD the teller had to call over his supervisor when I insisted that I was told my account was such an acount.
Anyways, sorry for the long go on, just want to let people know to really push to see what services your bank can offer you.

Posted by
61 posts

Travel debit cards, such as those available from AAA, are not connected to your bank account. If there is a problem with theft or fraud, your account is not affected, even temporarily. I have used one on my last three trips, taking standard precautions when using it as well. I will continue to do that. I can't afford to have my bank account tied up that way, even for a short period of time. The travel card is a VISA, so standard policies apply, such as how much you are liable for if it is lost or stolen, quick replacement of the card in that case, etc.

Posted by
582 posts

I'm glad you decided not to bring traveler Checks. I made the same mistake twice and brought TC. When you cash them at a bank, there is a big fee just for cashing them! I had to pay 10 Euros to cash them! I know it's the same in many parts of Europe.
Maybe bring just a few as a back up. In case of an Emergency.
Have fun on your trip!!!

Posted by
805 posts

I advise bringing a small amount of traveler's checks because you always want to have some funds if problems arise. For example, several years ago, none of the ATMs or credit cards worked one day for whatever reason and without our traveler's checks we might have been out of luck.

Posted by
37 posts

Isailtheseas,

We will be sailing the NCL gem...leaving April 19th from NYC.

This is our first cruise, and first trip to Europe, so it is exciting and a little scary.

I guess we should bring a little bit of traveler checks for the emergency situation if ATM's fail to work. That is amazing that ATM's can just be shut down with no reason.

Posted by
9099 posts

Even for emergencies purposes I still don't think travelers checks are a good idea. What if the emergency happens on the weekend/holiday when all the banks are closed? Or what if you are in an isolated area where they are no banks? You will have no way to cash those checks. For me a couple hundred dollars hidden in a money belt is worth the risk.

Posted by
37 posts

isailtheseas,

I have been on the cruisecritic.com site, and it has been helpful,like this site.

I guess I will take my debit card, a credit card, and have the traveler checks cashed on board,so I can then get euros, and keep the emergency euros in my secret pouch that I bought that hangs around my neck.

Posted by
23178 posts

Kathy, we have been on six European cruises, four different lines, and I have never seen a favorable exchange rate on the ship.. IMO, the biggest error that most travelers make and especially first time travelers is that they have no idea what the exchange rate is. The day before you leave check the interbank rate in your local paper or the web. The rate will change daily but it should not vary more than one or two pennies. Also you can check it daily on the web through the ship's internet access. So if you see an exchange rate of $1.55 for the Euro and the rate was $1.45 when you left, you will know that you are paying a fee of about 7%.

The same is for the AAA prepaid cards, and similar preloaded cards. I looked at the AAA card last year and the fees were around 12% nearly all buried in the exchange rate. I cannot thing of any situation were TCs would provide an advantage. If you need emergency cash, take $200 US and bury on your body -- that is what we do.

Posted by
67 posts

It was recommended we buy Traveler's Checks before we went to China and we did indeed use them, but we had about $200 left when we got home. It was nearly impossible to spend them here in my own hometown in my own country! They really gave me the runaround. I happened to be out somewhere without cash & didn't want to use a credit card, so I wanted to use the T.C.s for a purchase rather than make a special trip to the bank to change them - after the clerk checked with someone and that someone checked with someone else etc. etc. etc., they let me use them.

Posted by
14811 posts

Kathy,

There have been some excellent responses so far on the pros and cons of travelers checks. Ask yourself this question.....which way will mean I sleep better at night. If having travelers checks will make you feel more comfortable and more secure, then get them. If you think that debit cards, credit cards and a little bit of cash will suffice, then do that.

Don't worry so much about getting the best exchange rate. You won't. They change daily. You can do things to get better exchange rates but never the best exchange rate. If taking a prepaid card means you enjoy the trip more than worrying something might happen to your checking account if your bank debit card is stolen, then do that. (This is someone else, not you, but I mention it.)

What's important is you do what makes you happy so you can enjoy your trip.

The only suggestion I'm sure everyone here will make to you is to keep your cards, money, checks, whatever, in a money belt.

Posted by
2349 posts

The reason your local merchants don't want the TC's is that it is impossible to tell if they are counterfeit or not. Years ago you knew what the AMEX checks looked like, but now you don't. Why take something that could be fraudulent when the debit or credit card will let you know right away?

Also, the US should go to PIN required transactions for all debits and credits like Europe does. This goes againsty VISA's ease of use commercials, but we'd have much less fraud. It's in VISA's interest to get more people using more credit, but that's a whole other thread!

Posted by
28 posts

Well, I just returned from Europe and someone in my group had traveler's checks. One day we had to go to six banks before we could find one that would cash them. They may provide peace of mind, but also can be a pain in my opinion.

Posted by
2 posts

Travelers checks - In a recent AAA newsletter there was a notice travelers checks would no longer be sold at their offices. This was the Alabama issue. (Appears these checks are not being requested very often.)
Doris - Hoover, AL