Travellers Cheques...

wonderwomanusa · May 14th, 2009, 10:09

I always have a few TCs with me, because I have a very old stash of them and they do sometimes come in handy. They are so old (1989, I think) that I consider them "free money" and if I want to cash one at Cottage Industries, it doesn't matter what rate they give me ... I spent that money long ago!

I have an account at a credit union, and AmEx TCs are free there.

goingback · Oct 27th, 2009, 04:25

Crikey this thread was hard work, but useful, very useful.

We are taking: Cash, Travellers' cheques, ATM card, Credit card and some luck it don't all get lost/stolen at once!

Aishah · Oct 27th, 2009, 09:54

Nothing will be stolen if you are vigilant at all times! Good to hedge your bets I think, goingback.

palerider · Oct 27th, 2009, 13:40

You just don't see travellers cheques much anymore. You have to buy them, and then you're at the mercy of the exchange rate. You can lose out twice, and quite a lot.
Australians just haven't used them for years i don't think.
The free ones require an Amex card, which is another thing no one uses, coz they charge extra. And I don't have that kind of money to get one.
And I think you need to wear Spats to do any transactions.
Any company which deals in travels etc. in India will take credit cards, not the weird ones, but certainly visa and MC.
I just can't see why there is still the braces and belt mentality.

Groovemeister · Oct 27th, 2009, 13:47

I have more trouble using my Indian debit card here than I have using my UK one. The best part is they are both issued by HSBC.

World's local bank my a*se.

camelgirl · Oct 27th, 2009, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by palerider

You just don't see travellers cheques much anymore. You have to buy them, and then you're at the mercy of the exchange rate. You can lose out twice, and quite a lot.
Australians just haven't used them for years i don't think.
The free ones require an Amex card, which is another thing no one uses, coz they charge extra. And I don't have that kind of money to get one.
And I think you need to wear Spats to do any transactions.
Any company which deals in travels etc. in India will take credit cards, not the weird ones, but certainly visa and MC.
I just can't see why there is still the braces and belt mentality.

When did those go out of style

Of course, you're right but seriously, some old habits die hard & I've been using TCs since I started to travel--when dinosaurs ruled the earth

and it was the only option besides cash.

I'm really trying to get onboard with ATMs! But since I can get free AmEx traveler checks, I'll always bring some. I keep the same batch for years. I think I used one at a casino last year

palerider · Oct 28th, 2009, 20:30

I did use them in Europe in '87/'88, but atm's weren't alive then.
I can't think of a place where atms aren't in India, there must be some places.
Even in Smit, a very small town in rural Assam, near Shillong, there's no restaurants, no cinema, no grog shop, but 1 atm.
I 'spose they'd come in handy if you could keep them for years.
It seems to be a national thing.
Aussies seem to be obsessed with deet mosquito repellent, americans with TCs, the french seem to have to have a good pair of boots for some inexplicable reason. There's a Phd there somwhere. Any sociologists need a subject for funding?.

edwardseco · Oct 28th, 2009, 22:22

Quote:

You just don't see travellers cheques much anymore. You have to buy them, and then you're at the mercy of the exchange rate. You can lose out twice, and quite a lot.
Australians just haven't used them for years i don't think.

Yeh, but this is very specific to Ozzies first & to specific events as well. Exchange risk isn't well understood here. However, I will say that I no longer rely exclusively on TCs but use a mix. Have had a few glitches with cards & want a balanced "portfolio"..

Kjellorix · Oct 29th, 2009, 16:16

I'm Swedish and have'nt use TCs sins 1969 in Marocko,
now some days ago when the US Dollar drop to the lowest vale for this year, i by TCs 1000 USD.
Hope the USD rise in value.
Like a travel-insuranse, if something happends with my ATM visa cards.

Aishah · Oct 29th, 2009, 19:07

I had TC's which were 10 years old - American Express. I cashed the last one not very long ago. They seem to have no expiry date.

fsg · Oct 29th, 2009, 20:16

I last used TCs in 1994, and what a fiddle it was to get my hands on the money.
The bank clerk doubted my signature and the cheques were a bit the worse for wear having been around my waist for 6 weeks.

Never again

Atms are everywhere, and some give you your balance in your home currency, some in INR, and its simple arithmetic to calcutate the exchange rate.

I also carry a wad of cash.

May 14th, 2009, 10:09	#61
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,268	I always have a few TCs with me, because I have a very old stash of them and they do sometimes come in handy. They are so old (1989, I think) that I consider them "free money" and if I want to cash one at Cottage Industries, it doesn't matter what rate they give me ... I spent that money long ago! I have an account at a credit union, and AmEx TCs are free there. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Oct 27th, 2009, 09:54	#63
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,626	Nothing will be stolen if you are vigilant at all times! Good to hedge your bets I think, goingback. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Oct 27th, 2009, 13:40	#64
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	You just don't see travellers cheques much anymore. You have to buy them, and then you're at the mercy of the exchange rate. You can lose out twice, and quite a lot. Australians just haven't used them for years i don't think. The free ones require an Amex card, which is another thing no one uses, coz they charge extra. And I don't have that kind of money to get one. And I think you need to wear Spats to do any transactions. Any company which deals in travels etc. in India will take credit cards, not the weird ones, but certainly visa and MC. I just can't see why there is still the braces and belt mentality. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Oct 29th, 2009, 16:16	#69
Kjellorix Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Stockholm Posts: 52	I'm Swedish and have'nt use TCs sins 1969 in Marocko, now some days ago when the US Dollar drop to the lowest vale for this year, i by TCs 1000 USD. Hope the USD rise in value. Like a travel-insuranse, if something happends with my ATM visa cards. __________________ kitesurfing Hang Loose

Oct 29th, 2009, 20:16	#71
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 478	I last used TCs in 1994, and what a fiddle it was to get my hands on the money. The bank clerk doubted my signature and the cheques were a bit the worse for wear having been around my waist for 6 weeks. Never again Atms are everywhere, and some give you your balance in your home currency, some in INR, and its simple arithmetic to calcutate the exchange rate. I also carry a wad of cash. __________________ The British gave India bureaucracy..... India perfected it [Lord Desai]

Oct 27th, 2009, 04:25	#62
goingback Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 237	Crikey this thread was hard work, but useful, very useful. We are taking: Cash, Travellers' cheques, ATM card, Credit card and some luck it don't all get lost/stolen at once!

Oct 27th, 2009, 13:47	#65
Groovemeister Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 47	I have more trouble using my Indian debit card here than I have using my UK one. The best part is they are both issued by HSBC. World's local bank my a*se.

Oct 28th, 2009, 20:30	#67
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	I did use them in Europe in '87/'88, but atm's weren't alive then. I can't think of a place where atms aren't in India, there must be some places. Even in Smit, a very small town in rural Assam, near Shillong, there's no restaurants, no cinema, no grog shop, but 1 atm. I 'spose they'd come in handy if you could keep them for years. It seems to be a national thing. Aussies seem to be obsessed with deet mosquito repellent, americans with TCs, the french seem to have to have a good pair of boots for some inexplicable reason. There's a Phd there somwhere. Any sociologists need a subject for funding?.

Oct 29th, 2009, 19:07	#70
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,626	I had TC's which were 10 years old - American Express. I cashed the last one not very long ago. They seem to have no expiry date.

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