tipping with travelers checks?
Jun 7th, 2004, 11:41 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tipping with travelers checks?
Hi! I'd like to know if you can leave gratuity for TD and bus driver in travelers checks. I'd like to use these for tip as well as paying for optional excursions. Please advise because we're leaving on Sunday!
Jun 7th, 2004, 11:57 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi; Because of this and other difficulties with traveller's cheques very few people use them. It is simply much easier and cheaper to use an ATM card in almost any country in the world.
It may be that there are places in the world where this is not so, then in these places it is also unlikely that a traveller's cheque would be accepted. I'm not sure what you mean by TD but if it is related to the Professional Tour field they most likely will take traveller's cheques.
It may be that there are places in the world where this is not so, then in these places it is also unlikely that a traveller's cheque would be accepted. I'm not sure what you mean by TD but if it is related to the Professional Tour field they most likely will take traveller's cheques.
Jun 8th, 2004, 01:09 AM
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume TD stands for "tour director" and the answer would be the same: you can do this but personally I wouldn't.
Get cash from an ATM and use that for tips, etc.
Why put someone through the hassle of negotiating a travelers check when it is so simple to obtain local currency?
Get cash from an ATM and use that for tips, etc.
Why put someone through the hassle of negotiating a travelers check when it is so simple to obtain local currency?
Jun 8th, 2004, 04:25 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
mgmargate -
>>I was under the impression that each travelers check had to be signed by you at point of purchase then counter signed by you to redeem<<
Travelers checks are used the same as regular checks - sure you have to initially sign them, then when you use a check for a restaurant, shop, person - just write in the name of whom is to receive (restaurant, shop, person) and counter sign so this check can be redeemed.
That said - it's still not a good idea to use a TC as a "tip", agree this would be tacky. Local currency is much appreciated.
The only reason to have travelers checks on a holiday would be in case of an emergency - some people still like to have these as a back-up - more than likely they'll be redeposited in the bank once one has arrived home.
>>I was under the impression that each travelers check had to be signed by you at point of purchase then counter signed by you to redeem<<
Travelers checks are used the same as regular checks - sure you have to initially sign them, then when you use a check for a restaurant, shop, person - just write in the name of whom is to receive (restaurant, shop, person) and counter sign so this check can be redeemed.
That said - it's still not a good idea to use a TC as a "tip", agree this would be tacky. Local currency is much appreciated.
The only reason to have travelers checks on a holiday would be in case of an emergency - some people still like to have these as a back-up - more than likely they'll be redeposited in the bank once one has arrived home.
Jun 8th, 2004, 04:42 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Flyboy nailed it. why give someone something that they will have difficulty cashing and be charged a commission to do so. TCs are "good" to have in the back of your wallet as an emergency backup--in USD. If you don't need them, then cash them in when you get home.
Jun 8th, 2004, 04:43 AM
#11
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 25,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the tour company is US based and the prices are in dollars, you can probably use your TC's to pay for excursions. This was true with the last Cosmos tour I did, but of course, every company is different. If it's not US based and/or the prices are in another currency, you're better off using a credit card or the local currency. Tipping in TC's or US dollars really isn't cool. Take the TC's as a back-up, but get all of your cash from the ATM and tip in the local currency.
Jun 8th, 2004, 04:46 AM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi kat,
The people to whom you give the TC, whether in dollars or euros, will have to pay a commission to have them cashed.
Furthermore, a bank is less likely to cash a TC made out to a private person as it might have been stolen.
I agree with the others, get cash and put it in an envelope.
The people to whom you give the TC, whether in dollars or euros, will have to pay a commission to have them cashed.
Furthermore, a bank is less likely to cash a TC made out to a private person as it might have been stolen.
I agree with the others, get cash and put it in an envelope.
Jun 8th, 2004, 06:17 AM
#14
Individuals can cash traveler's checks.
As an artist, I am occasionally asked to take TCs as payment. The buyer signs when they hand it over to me and I countersign before I deposit it. I'm not crazy about doing it as my bank charges me a small percentage (3% or something) to cash them but they've never declined to take them or were suspicious of them being stolen. The originators are always VISA or AMEX. As it is a bit of an oddity, I do get a address and phone # from the buyers.
As an artist, I am occasionally asked to take TCs as payment. The buyer signs when they hand it over to me and I countersign before I deposit it. I'm not crazy about doing it as my bank charges me a small percentage (3% or something) to cash them but they've never declined to take them or were suspicious of them being stolen. The originators are always VISA or AMEX. As it is a bit of an oddity, I do get a address and phone # from the buyers.
Jun 8th, 2004, 06:30 AM
#15
I do not know how organized tours handles payment for optional excursions, but I would ask them directly if TC's are OK for that.
For tips I would strongly suggest cash in the local currency, which you can easily get using an ATM card. I believe even U.S. cash would be better than a travelers check. The idea of a gratuity is to be a nice gesture, if the person has to pay a fee to have a TC cashed or even to stand in line at the bank to exchange currency, that's less of a nice gesture (IMO).
For tips I would strongly suggest cash in the local currency, which you can easily get using an ATM card. I believe even U.S. cash would be better than a travelers check. The idea of a gratuity is to be a nice gesture, if the person has to pay a fee to have a TC cashed or even to stand in line at the bank to exchange currency, that's less of a nice gesture (IMO).
Jun 8th, 2004, 08:49 AM
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OP says "I'd like to know if you can..." Yes, but... Probably the least desirable way, but you can.
I, too, have quit using them. I rarely even write regular checks. Utilities & insurance are sucked out of my bank account & I used plastic for most else. Except taxes<
I, too, have quit using them. I rarely even write regular checks. Utilities & insurance are sucked out of my bank account & I used plastic for most else. Except taxes<
Jun 8th, 2004, 10:30 AM
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am referring to the payment of an entire 2 weeks worth of tour optionals which are paid for in US Dollars at the beginning of the trip. I estimate the optionals for our family to be around $2000 for our entire family. These are the tours offered and paid directly to Globus Tours (a US company). The same would be true for the gratuities at the end of the trip. These would roughly be about $150/person for our family or $750 also in US currency.
Jun 8th, 2004, 12:11 PM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
katdesign - if you've already figured what your tip expenditure will be for your family, be sure to obtain sufficient local currency from the ATM to take care of this. You might have to do this with a few trips to the ATM as there will probably be a limit on the amount you can withdraw daily.
mgmargate - I've never, nor would I give a TC to a tour guide/director in a foreign country. But here in the States I cash travelers checks often at my bank, supermarket, cleaners, wherever - or just deposit them into my account, whether they're TC's I've had left (as emergency back-up funds) from a trip or received from someone else. No problem.
Banks still sell them, people still buy them - what they use them for, it's anyones guess, but they're out there.
mgmargate - I've never, nor would I give a TC to a tour guide/director in a foreign country. But here in the States I cash travelers checks often at my bank, supermarket, cleaners, wherever - or just deposit them into my account, whether they're TC's I've had left (as emergency back-up funds) from a trip or received from someone else. No problem.
Banks still sell them, people still buy them - what they use them for, it's anyones guess, but they're out there.
