KayF

...in shops, restaurants and hotels? We would be buying them in US currency, as a back-up should something happen to our ATM card or credit card.
The reason for the question is we had trouble using euro TC's in Italy last year. Eventually, out of desperation, we had to queue for ages in banks to cash them. I think the US would be a different story?
Thanks, Kay

tracker

If you are purchasing American Travellers cheques, then you can use them just about anywhere and in most cases are as good as cash, just make sure you have some I.D. with you passport etc. I used them in a small town outside of Monument Valley and at a Gas Station along the way without a problem. I think Citibank have their own travellers cheques, but am not familier in their usage, I'm sure you will receive some further advice about this from other fodorites.

Ruth

I bought US $ travellers cheques in England and had no problems using them in shops and restaurants in the US. They are treated like cash, and change is given in $. Like tracker said, photo ID is needed when you use them.

Dreamer2

As the above posts say, using US$ TC in the US will not be any problem in hotels, restaurants, and most shops. Bringing any type of foreign currency would require a stop at the bank.

Dick

Cashing AMEX TC won't be a problem in most places...especially with hotels.

However, you should be aware that some merchants may be reluctant to accept them as in the following:

1. Your try to pay for a small purchase with a large denomination TC.

2. If they are at all suspicous. The reason being that AMEX checks get stolen in quantity from places that are permitted to sell the checks. AMEX wil not honor those checks. Larger merchants have the ability to easily check the numbers on the TC being presented to see if they are on AMEX's hot list. Smaller merchants may not have that ability.

Most small merchants will only get nervous after they were previously burned by an AMEX check that was not honored.

joan

Good advice. As a "small merchant" for 20 years, I have never had one returned, and accept them without question if they are U.S. currency, and signed. Just be sure you sign them all when you purchase them, then sign again in the presence of the cashier. I'm amazed at how many people neglect to sign first before using their TC's.

The_Banking_Scot

Hi,

I have used Amex US$ Travellers checks in the US with no problem.

In Orlando over Easter, altohugh I took out my passport ( Photo ID) all the stores never asked for it.

In California and Las Vegas they did ask for Photo ID ( no problem) but they also asked for Photo ID when using credit cards ( esp in Las Vegas in the Outlet mall stores)


Regards ( and looking forward to Orlando at Easter)

TBS

CF

Be sure to carry a photo ID. Here in Texas I have had slight problems with them. Once in a Domino's in Galveston and a grocery store in Mission. They acted like they had never seen a travelers check before. Then they treat you like you stole them. They don't seem to grasp the concept that they same the same as cash.

CF

Forgot to add that the one in the grocery store wanted a permanent Texas address. We tried to explain that we were on vaca, hence the TC. What a trip.

tracker

Just to add to 'the banking scot'; I do recall something funny about purchasing or cashing American express TC's in Las Vegas, although can't remember what it was. If you are going to Vegas , check with your American Express outlet before you go. Also, I have heard of some folks having a withdrawal limit of $100 US from some teller machines, although I did not experience this last November with an Australian debit card having the mistro cirrus facility.

Dick

CF, you are mistaken. Travelers Checcks are NOT the same as cash.

They are checks subject to fraud, theft, etc. AMEX and the others do NOT have to honor the checks if they have been stolen or deemed fruadulent.

In that case, the merchant would be stuck.

joan

Dick, do you have any actual experience with this? I've been in retail for 20 years, and never ever had one returned. They now have an embedded underlying logo - easy to see and hard to counterfeit - and as long as both signatures match, my understanding is that's all the merchant needs. I don't require ID unless the first signature is not on there.

I will add that my experience outside the US is very different - in Grenada we had to cash them at the bank (after waiting in a long line) while an armed guard AND a manager looked over the teller's shoulder. But in the US I have to agree with CF - a rudimentary look to see if they're authentic, and good as cash.

djkbooks

It's a good idea to check with the hotels where you'll be staying. Most will cash them at the front desk. Other than a bank, that would be the best place to exchange them for cash without making a purchase.

As someone mentioned above, it's best to have them mostly in $20 checks, especially for using in small restaurants/shops that do not keep a lot of cash around.

I work in retail and we do accept AmExp travelers checks, though we rarely have enough cash on hand to make change for $50's or $100's for a small purchase.

On the other hand, there is the occasional place where you can buy a bottle of water, etc., with a $50 and cash it that way for the change.

Dick

Joan, it has been several years, I ran a group of retail stores.

Although it would be very rare for a check to be returned, we did have a couple come back because they wee stolen and the signatures didn't EXACTLY match.

While AMEX says that a merchant just has to watch and compare signatures, they do encourage a merchant to call for verification if they are suspicious.

Variances from the first signature are usually never a problem. It's when the check is stolen or lost, that AMEX starts to study the signature.

I am not looking to knock TC's, I was merely pointing out that, from the merchant, point of view, they are not the same as cash.
PS. I read theat stolen TCs may not be reimbursed if the individual didn not safegruard them. Such as leaving them unattended on the beach.