Island Expenses

[lsugolfer]

The two of us did fine with $300 cash.

We used it for:

- Charter tip
- BVI Customs Fee
- Auto Ferry
- A few bars...

[waterguy]

Go ahead and try she carries a machete

[Gromit]

@Tess' Dad-- yeah but don't forget to view the thread with my packing list, I also bring a machete

[Barb Y]

What is the story with Traveler's checks? I never realized that they were frowned upon. I just went to the bank last week to get a few hundred for this trip Oops didn't realize it was a bad thing!

[Gromit]

Some merchants don't like to take them and they just end up being a hassle IMHO. That being said, some people still love them.

I guess back in the day when CC's weren't readily available they made sense but I personally feel they have become obsolete.

I know some folks here on the forum still use and love them though and I guess if you don't believe in CC's they are a safe way to travel with assets.

I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who still use them and can tell you why they prefer them to other forms of currency.

[lsugolfer]

I guess back in the day when CC's weren't readily available they made sense but I personally feel they have become obsolete.

This would be my answer.

CC's offer the same protection and services (and often times more) than a Traveler's Check would.

[liamsaunt]

I think I used a credit card to pay for our family pass at Trunk Bay a couple of weeks ago...maybe not.

I hate carrying cash. We brought down a bunch this past trip for the first time because we were going on a boat trip and it got all moldy in the safe! Yuck.

Oh, and double yes to letting your cc companies know that you are traveling! I will never forget one time many years ago when John and I went to Bermuda for three weeks with my parents. When we went to settle the final bill all of our cards were turned off! We had to wait until the actual banks opened in the US to call and get it straightened out--the 24 hour help line could not help! They told us that it was because we had been using our cards at places like grocery stores and laundromats for an extended period so each bank assumed the card had been stolen. The bank had been calling our home lines for ages, but this was pre-cell phone and we never thought to check our messages.

[jmq]

Some merchants don't like to take them and they just end up being a hassle IMHO. That being said, some people still love them.

I guess back in the day when CC's weren't readily available they made sense but I personally feel they have become obsolete.

I know some folks here on the forum still use and love them though and I guess if you don't believe in CC's they are a safe way to travel with assets.

I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who still use them and can tell you why they prefer them to other forms of currency.

Indeed, this pops up every so often. Here is a link from a thread in Jan that has another link from last May in it re various pros and cons.
http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... =travelers

My own personal nuggets from those threads:

> it's not a bad idea to cash up a little during the 2nd half of your stay when you are in town and you pass by an ATM that is working. Don't wait til it is absolutely needed.

> If going to the BVIs, the phone lines can be quirky in places like Jost and could cause CC transaction problems.

> And, if using your CCs in the BVIs, most banks WILL hit you with a foreign transaction fee of 2-3% even though it is US dollars. Capital One is one of the few cards left that do not have that fee in the BVIs (or anywhere else overseas).