Does anybody use travelers checks anymore?

[melmd]

Hello all,

I wanted to get your thoughts on travelers checks. Does anybody still use them? If I did bring some down will, the banks cash them for me, do resturants take them? I will not be bringing an ATM card so cash or travelers checks are my two choices (expect for credit card). I'd hate to get travelers check and then not be able to cash them, but I really really do not want to travel with all cash.

thoughts..

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I still use them however, they are getting more difficult to obtain from banks; they are trying to phase them out.

Yes, you can cash them at the bank in STJ with proper ID. I've always taken my passport.

Never have tried to use one to purchase anything on STJ, so can't answer that.

Like you, I do not like to travel with too much extra cash but want to be able to avail myself of cash if an emergency arises. And, I don't want to rely on ATMs.

[bill]

I use them all the time. Don't like to have too much cash on me. They are great for paying for dinner and sailing and snorkeling trips. Never had a problem with anyone not taking travelers checks on St. John or any of the BVI.

[islandjo2010]

We used them last summer at resturants and shopping...no problems...and will use them again next summer!

[AquaGirl]

We still use them too. We don't want to rely on carrying a lot of cash, using ATMs, or standing in line at the bank. Some smaller businesses and boat charters don't take credit cards. We paid at restaurants, boat trips and stores with no problem. We always use them in the BVIs because of the exorbitant currency exchange fees charged by our CC company. It does seem like they are getting phased out and not used as much.

I wonder if merchants have to pay a fee to cash them?

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

We still use them too. We don't want to rely on carrying a lot of cash, using ATMs, or standing in line at the bank. Some smaller businesses and boat charters don't take credit cards. We paid at restaurants, boat trips and stores with no problem. We always use them in the BVIs because of the exorbitant currency exchange fees charged by our CC company. It does seem like they are getting phased out and not used as much.

I wonder if merchants have to pay a fee to cash them?

Unless things have changed in the last few years, merchants do not have to pay any fee to cash them. However, they do cost the bank money to have on hand which is recouped in fees to the bank customer who buys them. They become one of those "perks" to customers in special accounts ("no fee for traveler's checks").

[melmd]

Thanks all,

I am going to keep on using them for now.