[bestmickey]

Do most restaurants (and country clubs) in TV accept Travelers Checks?

AAA (which I belong to) offers American Express Travelers Checks, and with the more frequent credit card fraud, I'm thinking I will get them IF they are generally accepted in TV restaurants. That way, I won't have to carry cash with me either.

[Wing-nut2]

I took travelers checks on my last trip to Australia. When I went to cash one, I found out no one wanted them. In fact I was charged a percentage to cash them at an American Express in Melbourne, Australia. I was charged a cashing fee every time I used one. Not again!

[JB in TV]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

Do most restaurants (and country clubs) in TV accept Travelers Checks?

AAA (which I belong to) offers American Express Travelers Checks, and with the more frequent credit card fraud, I'm thinking I will get them IF they are generally accepted in TV restaurants. That way, I won't have to carry cash with me either.

I would think the best way to find out is to call the restaurants you want to go to and ask them directly.

[bonrich]

My home bank up North will not accept AX travelers checks from patrons that do not have an account with them. Seems they are easily counterfeited and have been passed around the area. Best to get a debit card and use that instead of travelers checks.

[JB in TV]

Originally Posted by bonrich

My home bank up North will not accept AX travelers checks from patrons that do not have an account with them. Seems they are easily counterfeited and have been passed around the area. Best to get a debit card and use that instead of travelers checks.

Most debit cards and traveler's checks offer little or no protection to you as a user. That's why the banks want you to use debit cards. Credit cards offer the most. The best plan in my mind is to use credit cards, and check your account regularly for misuse, and report it. You will not be held responible for fraudulent charges, and the credit card often offers you extended warranties, and other valuable benefits...car rental damage liability waiver, price protection if an item you buy is found for less after you buy....etc, etc. Read your credit card list of benefits. I suspect many will be surprised.

[BarryRX]

their use has been in decline since the 1990's. It is difficult in Europe and Asia to cash them, even in banks. With the widespread acceptance of credit cards, debit cards, and the availability of ATM's, they are not used very much here in the US.

[BogeyBoy]

A while ago I went to the local AAA office to buy travelers checks and was told they no long offer them.

We travel a lot and over the years we found establishments accepted them less and less. Credit Card/Debit Card/Cash seems to work. Watch out for fees and exchange rates if in foreign countries.

[bestmickey]

Thanks for the responses. Clearly, I won't go with traveler's checks!

[KayakerNC]

James Bond carried 50 gold sovereigns hidden in his attache case. May not be an ideal solution for the rest of us.
I carry plastic.

[Indy-Guy]

Counterfeit travelers checks were very common in the mid 70's and 80's. The common practice was to go to use a counterfeit $100.00 travelers check for a $20.00 purchase or so and get $80.00 or so in change. This scam happened to many business's and is a major reason that many business's stopped taking travelers checks. The pack of thieves would hit a town and be gone in 24 hours. They would hit several large shopping centers and go to every store in the center and move on to the next town the next day.