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Anyone still use travelers checks?

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by burdog, Apr 4, 2014.

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  1. burdog

    burdog Low-Roller

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    I guess I am old as we have always used travelers checks when we traveled. Last year we could only find one bank within 60 miles of home that handled them and they told us they were going stop. I don't care for loadable "travel cards" as it seems to me that you double pay for them. Travelers checks have the upfront fee, but the cards have the upfront fee PLUS you then have the ATM fee as well. Any suggestions, or do I have to catch up with the times?:eek:
     
  2. thezue

    thezue Tourist

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    I've never used them. When we went on a trip in our early twenties with a group of friends we spent a substantial amount of time following one guy around trying to cash them. The 45 minute wait at Disneyland first thing in the morning was the worst. It totally turned me off of them.
     
  3. Dewey089

    Dewey089 VIP Whale

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    I've used them. Our credit union still issues them for free and I carry them with me as backup in my wallet.
    I never had trouble cashing them in casinos. Once when I pulled out an especially ratty looking one that had been too long in the wallet, a Binions clerk had reservations, but her colleague assured her they were good for life.
    However, in recent trips I've taken to getting money from Bank of America either downtown, where the bank is just a few blocks, or out Boulder Highway across from the Eastside Cannery.

    I always think that if for some reason I had to cancel the B of A card for some reason or I lost it, then the traveler's checks would be fine for cash until I got home. But I'm out there for 25 days at a time.
     
  4. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    I used them twice and gave up. My main issue was that I couldn't get amounts that seemed useful to me. My bank only had 20s and 50s. That works fine if I'm paying for dinner, but I tended to just cash a few $100 at a time. It was simply annoying having to cash 6-8 checks each time.

    If there were $250 or $500 ones I might actually use them. The cards to me are useless since my debit card or credit cards do the same thing.
     
  5. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I always carry along some tc's when I go to vegas. I usually take out markers when I get to Vegas but the tc's are my "just in case" money. Just in case meaning in the unlikely event that I can't take out a marker or my marker was removed I can use the tc's instead.

    I can pick up tc's from my credit union for free so I have no problem with them. When I go to the cashier's cage I have no problems or the cashier doesn't appear surprised or anything when he/she sees them.

    This past January trip, I used the tc's at the end of my trip to pay off all of my markers.

    I know many here don't like them or use them or have a hard time getting them or the right denominations, etc. etc. but I don't mind and will probably get them as long as the casinos will let me cash them and my credit union has em for free. I usually pick them up in $100 denominations.
     
  6. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    Travelers check technology has been replaced with debit cards & ATMs.
     
  7. DonnyC

    DonnyC VIP Whale

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    If you're using traveler's cheques...your probably over 55.

    My dad used to like them because they were insured...'HEY DAD' (even tough he isn't on this forum) 'Most credit cards have insurance built right into them' - against being lost or stolen!
     
  8. da1chifan

    da1chifan High-Roller

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    Vegas is the only place I use travelers checks. They are very easy to cash at any casino cage, whether you are staying there or not.

    If you can find them and don't want to carry thousands of dollars of cash in your wallet, they are very handy. I can't be bothered with ATM limits and ridiculous ATM fees in Vegas. I get them in 100s.
     
  9. da1chifan

    da1chifan High-Roller

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    Well, I am 35 and I use them (only in Vegas). :poke:

    Credit card insurance has nothing to do with gambling cash. Getting cash from a CC is a bad, if not insane, idea.

    We use them for gambling cash. Everything else goes on CC (that we pay off every month) to get the rewards from that card. ATM limits are too low and the ATM fees in Vegas are too high.
     
  10. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    ATM Limits can usually be removed. I know some places give the TCs for free. I know mine cost something and it endws up a $5 ATM fee is cheaper as long as I take out more than $500 at a time.
     
  11. da1chifan

    da1chifan High-Roller

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    Last time I asked them, our credit union wouldn't allow an ATM limit over $1000. I will check again. But they do give free travelers checks. So if I had to pay (or pay much) for them, maybe I would reconsider.
     
  12. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    I used to use them all the time but my bank has numerous locations in Vegas now so I just go to a branch when I need to. I use my debit card as little as possible in Vegas, really only for hotel reservations, everything else is cash.

    :peace: :beer:
     
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  13. ajonate

    ajonate Low-Roller

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    That's a consideration for most. But I live locally so i don't worry about it. I have bank branches all over, and my bank has ATMs at Walgreens that are free for bank customers. Two free ATMs on the Strip, one downtown, and more all over town.
     
  14. dglen

    dglen Low-Roller

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    Being from Canada I still use Travellers Cheques to get around the ATM fees and daily limits. They are very easy to cash at any casino cage.
     
  15. burdog

    burdog Low-Roller

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    Thanks all. And DonnyC yes I am over 55 LOL. I guess I'll just have to hunt around to see if they can be found locally. We don't belong to a credit union, might have to look into that.
     
  16. Julie888

    Julie888 VIP Whale

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    Me too. Unfortunately all the banks quit carrying the $500 ones. A teller asked me where I could use one of these. The bankers obviously have forgotten about folks who go to Vegas. They think/hope we're going to use our debit or credit cards so they can gouge us with more fees.
     
  17. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    I haven't used them in about 15 years. Back then you could order them from AMEX (I can't remember if it was free or a nominal fee), charge them to your card, and have them fedexed to your house. Doesn't look like that service is available anymore.
     
  18. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    We come over from Scotland every year and always use Travellers Cheques and cash, usually after politely declining hard sell tactics from travel agents desperate to sell us pre-loaded travel spend cards. There has never been a problem getting the t/cs, they are American Express and every casino cage accepts them without problem.

    The major concern we have is that not only do you pay an initial fee, but then a fee every time you use them, but most importantly unless you are an incredibly organised person ,especially in Vegas, you have only a vague idea as to your running total left in the account and it would be very easy to overspend in a short period of time!

    Many tourists will pay for meals, shows, attractions etc. and then indiscriminately splash out on alcohol all night with little real idea of their total spend for the day and get a nasty shock when discovering their entire budget is blown after a day or two!
     
  19. bignig135

    bignig135 Low-Roller

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    As you will gather, I was pointing out the deficiencies re. the pre load travel spend cards! We will continue to buy Travellers Cheques until they are abolished.
     
  20. dfalk

    dfalk VIP Whale

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    I wouldn't even know what a travelers check is if I saw one.

    And am I the only one in the world who doesn't have to pay ATM fees? My bank reimburses me up to $50 (i think) a month in ATM fees. The only reason I keep money in this account is in case I need cash I can pull it out for free no matter where I'm at.
     
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