USVI-On-Line

Good point about the reliability of the ATMs. Its good practice to cash up whenever you pass by and see that it is working, even if you dont need it right away. Also, we had problems with CC billing at Soggy Dollar on JVD. Phone lines were acting up and they swiped it several times before it "worked". Guess what? Got triple billed.

On TCs, this topic has been debated a few times on the TTOL (BVI) forum.
If memory serves, several business owners/proprietors chimed in and apparently TCs are not the hassle for them to deal with that they once may have been. On the other hand, they bemoaned the increasing costs associated with credit card transactions. Its getting such that some business owners are happier to get TCs and wouldnt mind seeing them make a comeback because they may have lower transaction costs.
Hopefully Ruth and other USVI business owners will chime in and confirm or dispute.

Does AAA still do free TCs?

I have no problem with TC's. Unlike credit card transaction fess, the fee for TC's (if there is one)is paid by the consumer, not the retailer. I'm sure that is part of the reason why they have become less popular over the years.

Travelers checks! This board can give you answers to any modern question. Like, where are the best places for disco dancing, and where can you catch the latest Brat Pack movie?

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As Pete mentioned, we always bring TCs. We stay on island for 2+ weeks and bringing the amount of cash we'd like to have for "emergencies" is difficult. We only use the TCs when we want to add to our cash coffers; either using them at Starfish and getting change or going to the bank and cashing them. We skip the whole ATM thing, way too much of a hassle!

When you get home, you can simply redeposit them back into your account. There is no fee.

I really like the security of TCs.

I didn't even know that you could still get traveler's checks.

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We always take them as a back up -- having had times when computers aren't working and ATM's are out of money.....if we don't use them while travelling, we use them as cash once we are home.....

Would anyone like to chime in here on what happens when the ATM is out of cash and you need it to get on the ferry to go home? We have had some sad tales of woe in this regard. That is the risk of relying on the ATM for cash.
Some people don't like to use credit cards for their own reasons, but also don't want to carry large sums of cash around or leave it in the villa.
My advice to those people is to not let the cash run down to nothing before you belly up to the ATM. It can be pretty scary when you are out of cash and can't get any. It doesn't happen every day, but it does happen.
Having a few TC's tucked away somewhere can't hurt. I don't think they expire and you can deposit them in your own account when you get home if you didn't use them.
- Ruth

we put our return ferry cash in a safe place way before it's time to leave!

StJohnRuth wrote:Would anyone like to chime in here on what happens when the ATM is out of cash and you need it to get on the ferry to go home?

Come beg you for a loan

My personal trick is that when I put our passports in the safe I put enough cash in there with them to cover the ferry, cab and porter. This helps me REMEMBER to clear the safe out and grab our passports before we leave. (I am the girl who, on a business trip, left my passport in a drawer in a Toronto hotel room. Thank goodness I remembered it before I left for the airport, but I had checked out already. They were very kind to help me retrieve it!

I have been on island when the ATMs were wonky and it took a few days to find a working one. I never let my cash run too low before trying to replenish.

But by all means if you are TC comfy, bring them. You'll find someone to cash them for you and you will have the security of knowing if you lose them you're covered. I also always split our cash up between us and even stash it in various places on myself and in my carryon. Just in case I lose something. I am a forgetful girl.

Old school here...traveler's checks save you the ATM lines and out of cash situations. And, let's say your stuff is stolen, which has happened to me on vacation, how do you use the ATM card that you no longer have? With traveler's checks, you can go to any bank and get your money.

By the way, "Breakfast Club" was based on mine and Marcia's high school, New Trier East. John Hughes grew up in our area. It was called "breakfast club" so that you could tell your parents that you were going to breakfast club instead of having to admit that you were going to detention. Also, unlike the movie, it was held on week days, starting an hour before school started...hence the term, breakfast club.

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Honestly I wouldn't even know where to go get a traveler's check. The bank? AAA? The Amex office?

I am not that young but honestly I don't think I have ever in my life used one. I am not even sure I've seen one in the last decade.

I know ... I have just jinxed myself ... I will lose everything on my next trip. With I will have Gromit with me and she will cover me

Joshie wrote:

flip-flop wrote:But by all means if you are TC comfy, bring them. You'll find someone to cash them for you and you will have the security of knowing if you lose them you're covered.

And, don't forget to carry the phone number for Western Union.

Never know when you might need to send a telegram.

-j

Stop and think for a minute. Traveler's checks are designed to deal with the situation when your stuff is stolen. Like the time I was on vacation and my car was broken into. I had traveler's checks and was able to go to the bank and get my money. If I had been relying on my ATM card, it would have been of no use because I no longer had it...thief guy did.

It may be an "outdated" system to you, but it works.

We can roll different ways. But, don't call me for a loan when your ATM card is stolen.