cashing traveler's checks as US citizen
 

I am a US citizen going to Cuba with government approval in three weeks. I am concerned about assess to cash in Cuba. I know that I can get non-U.S. traveler's checks, but have heard many stories about US citizens who were unable to cash them once in Cuba. I doubt I have time to get a credit card on a non-U.S. bank. Have others had success in cashing traveler's checks? Are some kinds better than others? If any one has any other advice on getting cash in Cuba I would appreciate hearing from you.

Contact the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control which granted your waiver. They should be able to give you guidance. Remember, you are restricted to $100 per day as per U.S. law.

Here's an idea, I would get some Canadian money and take that, as Canadians are big on Cuba, their money would be most welcome, and probably readily changeable. <BR> <BR>Good luck on your trip. <BR> <BR>tweedy

Canadian money is not welcome in Cuba. <BR>The US dollar is the most widely accepted, although I did manage to convert some Canadian cash at the airport on my day of departure. Yesterday I returned from 1 week in Varadero and rather than pay the 3 or 4 percent commission to cash TC's I took approximately $400 US cash. Stupid maybe but it made the trip a whole lot easier. I kept the money locked up in the room safe. <BR>

Hi Sandra. Regardless of whether or not you're in Cuba with government approval, no one can/will cash US traveller's checks or honor a credit card issued by a U.S. bank. We didn't hear of any Americans who had trouble cashing Thomas Cook or other non-US traveller's checks in the banks. Much as we hated to do it, we carried a lot of cash in our money belts and didn't have any problems. <BR> <BR>Good luck!

SANDRA: <BR>THE ONLY CREDIT CARD NOT ACCEPTED IN CUBA, IS AMERICAN EXPRESS. THE ONLY TRAVELLERS CHEQUES NOT ACCEPTED ARE ALSO, AMERICAN EXPRESS. US CASH IS PREFERRED. FOR THE PERSON WHO SUGGESTED CANADIAN CASH, YEARS AGO, THE HOTELS AND LOCALS WOULD ACCEPT CANADIAN CASH, BUT LATELY, THEY WILL ONLY ACCEPT US DOLLARS. YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM CASHING IN TRAVELLERS CHEQUES...ANTONIETTE

SANDRA: <BR>When I mentioned travellers cheques are accepted, I failed to mention the ones that are: visa/mastercard/thomas cook, but not issued by a U&gt;S. bank. Antonie

Just a slight correction of Toni's post above. American Express isn't the only credit card not accepted in Cuba; ANY credit card issued on a US bank will not be honoured. My wife has a CitiBank Visa, and even though we're Canadian & the card was issued in Canada, CitiBank is a US bank & the card was not accepted. <BR> <BR>Just a word of caution. Non-US bank traveller's checks are fine, and you should have no problem cashing them in Cuba, regardless of your nationality. Enjoy your trip.