Travellers checks

[mamade11]

I don't know if it helps anyone - but I just signed up with Citibank 360 checking. (the old ING) Free checking, a ton of free atm's everywhere - and International there are
no fees or bank charges at all when on vacation!! I almost signed up with B of A (which I don't like) I had thought they were free - but now they also charge 3%. ouch

[Maryann]

I can still get American Express traveler's checks from Triple A. A lot of people say they are antiquated, but it's the easiest way for me to roll. If the hotels I stayed at didn't accept them, I wouldn't use them, but it sure beats standing in line at the cash machine or finding that the cash machine is out of order. Not to mention if they get lost, they are easily replaced, unlike cash. They come in several demoninations and I usually take several hundreds and fifties and cash them as I need to. Very convenient!

[nicollet]

Cash is king...no fees and no worries about empty broken ATM'S. Traveler cheques are things of the past. My bank doesn't even sell them anymore, why pay for something that you'll have nothing but trouble trying to cash. Not worth it. Cash always..all the way!

[captaind]

We got 107.90 yesterday from the ATM. Official rate was 109.10

That is twenty basis points (1/5 of 1pct) No fee at my end.

Linston calls and needs money for payroll or something. I fund the account from here and he gets the money instantly.

Worth .2 % ...you bet your ass....

Cap

[Homebrewer]

Check with credit unions for obtaining TC.

The FX in front of Bourbon Beach cashed mine in February - no problems. Some times there have been exceptions, a few years ago on a Friday afternoon they wouldn't cash any because they were low on cash on hand and wouldn't make it to the bank before Monday.

[Ras Walleye]

Unless something has changed, the cambio in front of Bourbon Beach is not an FX Trader. It is an independent. FX Trader is an island wide chain owned by Grace-Kennedy food company.

[x l ent]

Never had a problem with Travelers checks at the cambio next to Bourbon Beach. Just take my drivers license one time, then no need any time after for as long as I am there.

[Rhythmwize]

I have always used Travelers checks in the past but haven't been to Negril in 5 years so when I went to get them at AAA or Wells Fargo they both said they don't have them anymore...So, I just brought cash since my hotel has a safe. I also brought 100 dollars in one's and could have used more, they were really handy. Was a little concerned about carrying a lot of cash on the trip from the airport to the hotel so I split the money between my wife and I and carried it in a couple places. Not sure how often taxis are robbed on the highway to Negril but I'd be willing to bet its happened before. On returning to MoBay this last Monday, the road was blocked and detoured at Hopewell with heavily armed police at the road block, had me wondering. Also carried one credit card and one debit card as backup and when I went to use the credit card at the hotel to pay my bar tab the card was blocked even though I had called customer service ahead of time and told them I might be using the card in Jamaica. Guess one card is not enuff?? Balancing the amount of Jamaican dollars and US dollars was a bit of a problem as well as it seemed I was getting screwed on the exchange if I didnt have the right currency for the particular purchase...Don't recall it being that way in the past, but whatever!

[Integrity]

Our driver told us the detour on Monday at Hopewell was due to a police shooting. We were stuck in traffic too. Never been held up en route to and from airport.

[Maryann]

Some AAA's don't have the traveler's checks anymore, but you can go directly to the American Express website and see where in your area you can find them. Many credit unions have them and our local CitiBank and Chase Card Services carry them as well. I will continue using traveler's checks, especially with reading about the recent robberies and people having their cash stolen.