We live in Toronto. My Significant Other wants to drive across to BC this summer; I will be flying out to join him later. He doesn't own a credit card (not a bad credit issue; he just doesn't want one, and don't get me started!) but figures he'll be OK with travellers' cheques instead. I've been trying to talk him out of this entire idea, but he's still considering it. How widely accepted do you suppose travellers' cheques will be in smaller places? I haven't used them for years; I find plastic a lot more convenient. I don't want to shoot down his plans unless they really are unrealistic. Any ideas?

Travellers' Cheques, especially Amex and Visa are pretty widely accepted in Canada. Most if not all lodging establishment are happy to take them because they are as good as cash and unlike credit cards they don't have to pay commission on them. My main problem with them is the way the issuing company presents them. What you should understand is that when you 'purchase' T.C.'s you are in fact loaning the issuing company, (i.e. Amex or Visa), your money interest free until you actually cash the cheque. Upwards of 10-20% of all travellers' cheques remain uncashed for a year or more. That's a huge amount of money that the issuer gets interest free. <BR><BR>So you can imagine my outrage when banks actually have the Chutzpah to charge people a fee of 1% when they make this interest free loan. Don't get me wrong - T.C.'s are very useful and a good protection against theft but don't let anyone charge you vigorish on a loan you are making to them.

What about using an ATM card? Not a credit card, but I guess it's a debit card that he uses to take cash from his bank account. If he can buy travellers cheques, he must have the money in his bank account. Unless he stands in the lineups at the bank, he must have some way of withdrawing cash from his bank - he can use that card.

Thanks for your replies. Gary, I had read a similar post from you on another thread and planned to quote you when we next "discuss" this issue. I suspect my S.O. will be interested in this information. As far as a debit card is concerned - yes, he does stand in lineups at the bank - he has never used an ATM. He seems extremely normal in all other respects! I had rather hoped somebody would tell me that if he carries through with his plans, he will end up being stranded in some little town in the prairies with no cash and a bunch of annoyed locals refusing to cash his travellers cheque. No such luck, huh? (I would really rather he didn't undertake such a potentially lengthy and exhausting trip on his own.)

Another thing he might want to consider is how he will secure hotels along the way without a credit card.<BR><BR>During our visit to NYC in mid-Feb, we couldn't check-in with our credit card (long story). Most (all?) hotels take an imprint of the cc to cover "incidentals". We offered to leave some cash (like $100), but the clerk said he'd prefer it if we had a debit card, which we had. Our hotel was pre-paid already, and the clerk was very nice about it, but it was clear they wanted something other than cash. It might only be this hotel (W Hotel Times Square), I don't know as we've never not had a cc available. <BR><BR>Just wanted to give you a heads up. Your SO can probably overcome this with some pre-planning and calling ahead.

Klam is absolutely right if for instance SO wants to make a reservation somewhere for a late arrival a credit card is the only way most places will guarantee it. <BR><BR>As for keeping a card no. on account I think this only applies to multi-facility hotels and I don't think the standard hiway motel will ask for anything more than payment of the room in advance. They might however close off the L/D phone access if there is no c.c. guarantee on file.

When I was going to Toronto and reserved a room in a small hotel the lady who answered the phone asked if I can pay cash on arrival. While checking in she made it clear - it's a problem for her to pay % to credit card companies and asked me if I have travel checks or cash. So I think the checks will be gladly accepted as there is no additional charge from CC companies. However it may create a reservation problem if he wants advance reservations. Telephone? There is always a coin phone in a hall, make him walk

Thank you all so much for your responses! I will pass all of this along to SO, and then trust his judgment in terms of whether he decides to go ahead with this or not. I'm still hoping he'll decide to fly - and he might - but I don't want to be a party-pooper either. Thanks again!

I don't like to think negatively, but if he's driving and has some major problem with his car would he be carrying enough travellers' cheques to cover a huge repair bill?<BR>Could you get him a credit card on your credit account that he would take for emergencies, and then when the trip is over he could destroy it? Even if he's philosophically opposed to credit cards maybe he could make an exception for your peace of mind.

That was a great suggestion, dave - and I would have followed through with it (that's a good point about potential car problems) - however, last night when he came home from work, he told me he had discussed this whole thing with a colleague. Her response was "You're going to do WHAT? That's the dumbest idea I ever heard!" So now he's decided to fly. I'm very relieved, and when I see his colleague (whom I happen to like a lot) I'm going to quietly thank her. Better for her to say it than for me! You've all been great. Thought you all deserved to hear the end of the story.