cash or cheques

[chrisj]

Just a quickie

When we last visited (1989), a lot of shops etc would not accept
Travellers cheques, the only places we found were the parks. Im
sure this may have changed. It just that we would rather have
little amounts of cash and more cheques for Safety. I will make
sure the cheques are $50 and $100

Thanks
Chris

[Lakul]

Hi Chris

We used traveller cheques on our last visit, and we didn't have any problems using them in the shops.

[Andy & Arlene]

You can use travellers cheques everywhere now. They are accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, parks etc in the same way as cash.

[fiona]

Only time we have had a problem is when our bank in their wisdom gave us $500 cheques. Only place we could cash them was Publix or a bank. I bought Gap to a standstill the first day we went shopping as they tried to find enough change to give us. This is when Lloyds first took over TSB and all customer banking went over to TSB systems. Not an improvement, as we lost the foreign travel experts and now have all these youngsters who don't have a clue what they are doing. We bank with commercial services who we have to phone to sort anything out and then actually deal with the local branch. (Complicated or what?)

If you buy from the Disney shop at the florida mall you need your passport as identification with travellers cheques, whereas you don't require that at any of the parks, or indeed the supermarket, or any other shop we have been to!!

If you travel off the beaten track you might have a problem, we found in Miami we couldn't use them at places such as mcdonalds and the turnpike service stations.

[chrisj]

Thanks people, thats made it easier. So I assume we dont have to show our passport
when we use them, mind you I suppose its safer to take it with us just in case.

Chris

[steph_goodrum]

A tip which I saw and am going to follow for next trip, rather than carry passport everywhere is to make a slightly reduced copy of the photo page on your passport and laminate it and keep it in your purse or wallet. May not work all the time but it's one step up from not having any id on you.

[Matt]

Talking of ID. A few trips ago I was pulled over by a state trooper[:I] for having a broken tail light. I got a good ticking off for not having any form of photo ID. Apparently it is the law in the US that everyone has some kind of picture ID.

Using travellers checks (sorry cheques) in supermarkets, store etc., it depends on the clerk who is serving you as to whether you show ID or not.

If ever I'm in Wal-Mart I always take my passport with me as sometimes they ask, and sometimes they don't[?][?] Go figure!!!

Matt

[chrisj]

Thanks for all the tips

One more little question, We have an ATM card (Link) that works in the UK. On the back
next to the Link Logo theres a Cirrus Logo. Do any of you know if we will be able to
use this to withdraw money

Thanks
Chris

[Matt]

Chris, I always use my Abbey Debit Card to withdraw money with no problems, but that carries the VISA logo.

Cirrus is part of Mastercard, so I would think that this would be OK as well, but if nobody can give you a definite answer on this one, then I would just make sure you have enough cash/travellers cheques (and of course the trusted credit card!!!).

Matt

[fiona]

We no problems withdrawing money with our visa debit card.

However, watch the rates they charge because with Lloyds there is such a high charge, it's cheaper to put transactions onto credit card and pay that off when we come home!

Doesn't help if you want cash though!