Credit card vs. debit card

[dvan68]

The age of the Travelers check is dead. Many places here in Hawaii worn accept them. many hotels and the like in europe will charge a fee or a higher rate to cash them.

A credit card is far more safe and far more usable, for far less.

 

20 years ago....Travelers checks. Today Plastic way safer and cheaper to use.

 

Think this over:rolleyes:

 

In fact you may find it difficult to even BUY traveler's checks. When I was at the AAA office recently, they were explaining the new Debit card that can be reloaded with money. A nice idea, so that it is not linked to your regular account.

[serendipity1499]

The age of the Travelers check is dead. Many places here in Hawaii worn accept them. many hotels and the like in europe will charge a fee or a higher rate to cash them.

A credit card is far more safe and far more usable, for far less.

 

20 years ago....Travelers checks. Today Plastic way safer and cheaper to use.

 

Think this over:rolleyes:

 

To each his own!..No problem with Travelers Checks as our bank issues them & we use them for on board tips & the casino & we may want an extra $50 in cash in our wallewts to shop in a port flea market or for a cab..we always cash them on board....I'm retired from the Airline Business & we still don't fly any more..We've been all over the world & don't plan on doing any more European travel unless it's a round trip cruise from either Florda or Boston...If we should decide on an exotic cruise, & can fly business class , we'll do it...But it's not worth $150 a year to us just for one trip in 5 years.. We cruise 2 to 3 times a year on the longer cruises & mostly out of Florida ports..Flew to Alaska in 2008 & to NYC this past Aug..That is the extent of our flying now..Only take cruises out of the eastern seaboard ports & 99% out of Florida..

 

In fact you may find it difficult to even BUY traveler's checks. When I was at the AAA office recently, they were explaining the new Debit card that can be reloaded with money. A nice idea, so that it is not linked to your regular account.

 

Not difficult at all! Dont have to pay extra for our Travelers checks as our bank issues them...Have no problem getting them either & the ship cashes them..We use them all the time..Would never ask a merchant to cash them, as we only use our credit cards for purchases...The debit card reloaded with money is an excellent idea too, as long as it is not linked to our account..

Cheers....Betty

[prescottbob]

To each his own!..No problem with Travelers Checks as our bank issues them & we use them for on board tips & the casino & we may want an extra $50 in cash in our wallewts to shop in a port flea market or for a cab..we always cash them on board....I'm retired from the Airline Business & we still don't fly any more..We've been all over the world & don't plan on doing any more European travel unless it's a round trip cruise from either Florda or Boston...If we should decide on an exotic cruise, & can fly business class , we'll do it...But it's not worth $150 a year to us just for one trip in 5 years.. We cruise 2 to 3 times a year on the longer cruises & mostly out of Florida ports..Flew to Alaska in 2008 & to NYC this past Aug..That is the extent of our flying now..Only take cruises out of the eastern seaboard ports & 99% out of Florida..

 

 

 

Not difficult at all! Dont have to pay extra for our Travelers checks as our bank issues them...Have no problem getting them either & the ship cashes them..We use them all the time..Would never ask a merchant to cash them, as we only use our credit cards for purchases...The debit card reloaded with money is an excellent idea too, as long as it is not linked to our account..

 

Cheers....Betty

 

 

...regarding TC's. Our bank, BA, doesn't not charge any sort of fee for them.

 

I cash them ONLY aboard the ship (again no charge) that iI use to pay tour vendors and such at various ports. Purchases, and sometimes meals, are paid with a CC if they accept them.

 

Just a quick story: My daughter's boyfriend joined us in Italy for a land tour following a 22 day cruise. All he brought were TC's (he apparently had lost his CC in London).

 

He had a heck of a time (over an hour tus redcing touring time) trying to cash them in for Euros in several banks. Needless to say, many merchants won't even mess with them anymore. However cashing them aboard ship has been no problem.

 

Personally on longer trips I's take around $1500 in cash (at least $50-100 in singles for tipping and such) and use the cashed-in TC's ($3-5K) and CC's depending in the circumstances.

 

More often then not when I return home with have plenty of "leftover" TC's which I re-deposit into the checking account and then transfer the funds back into our internet "vacation fund".

 

This works for us but whatever other do (we don't fly all that much anymore) sounds great also.

 

I'm some what hesitant about the pre-paid cards after have my pocket "picked" on a city bus in Lisbon a few years ago. My wallet only had around $50 worth of Euros plus a couple of CC's and my driver's license.

 

The CC's were cancelled imediately once I got back aboard the ship with no problem and I was able to get a duplicate driver's license via the internet so I could rent a car in Italy for a week following disembarkation.

 

I'm not familiar with the security features of the pre-paid cards but it's certainly something to look at and, perhaps, consider.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[m steve]

if the merchant doesn't accept credit cards. I want my air miles and the float. Makes no sense to remove cash from my account earlier than necessary.

[Acklander]

if the merchant doesn't accept credit cards. I want my air miles and the float. Makes no sense to remove cash from my account earlier than necessary.

 

This made sense when they actually paid you something for having money in your account. With the interest rates they pay these days the "float" doesn't make much of a difference.

 

We usually use debit cards for everything. We get reward points from that so it works for us. Since my vacation fund is saved in cash, I'll probably just put the cash down on account when we get on board for the S&S card.

[MATHA531]

When I first started travelling to Europe, just out of college in the early 1970's, the given was tc's. Many banks even gave a better rate for tc's than cash. But that was then and this is now.

 

In all due respect to anybody who feels differently, I just don't understand in the 21st century in most places why anybody would carry all that much cash or have a need for all that much cash. We can argue my attitude. My attitude is I use a credit card whenever I see a credit card decal period for any charge no matter how large or how small. Unfortunately for us consumers, our idiotic congress has struck down an absolutely pro consumer regulation of mc/visa prohibiting merchants from either requiring a minimum payment with a credit card and prohibiting merchants from surcharging crtedit cards. Still, most chan stores and anythinbg other than mom and pop shops do take credit cards for most any purchase. Now we can argue that but I don't think we can argue about the advantage of using a credit card for all other than the smallest purchases. There are protections you get from the credit cards you don't get when you pay cash. In addition, you get a better exchange rate for using a credit card than you do for exchanging cash for the most part even if you're using a credit card from one of the near criminal banks that imposes an extra 2% fee for credit cards.

 

Now, for example, banks in Europe today even have a fee for giving euro denominated credit card to get euro. Now I understand there might be some very special circumstances that might necessitate a lot of cash (renting an apartment for a week where they don't take cards and the amount needed is more than the daily allowance from an aTM) but in general, in the 21st century, I use cc's everywhere they are taken and supplement with small withdrawals from ATM's. I spent a week in London this past August and never once had to reach into my wallet for actual coins or bank notes and believe me, I don't frequent top of the line places. To me, this is the 21st century and safest way to travel but again as somebody else said to each his or her own.

[krewzin]

American Express Blue Sky credit card. Rewards can be used for any type travel....cruises, airlines, hotels....and there's no annual fee.

[peaches from georgia]

Credit cards are safer than debit because if you have a dispute over a charge the cc company will investigate and arbitrate, denying the charge if your claim is found to be valid. With a debit card the money is gone from your account and not every bank will arbitrate a dispute for you. Cash, of course, offers no protection to you at all, so we only use when traveling for the smallest of purchases and tips.

[Hawaiidan]

American express may be good , or say its good for all sorts of rewards..However, last I checked it didnt own an airline.

 

Thus, you will have to use higher amounts of milage or points and the availability of international business first class just about impossible.

 

Consider too that to make American Express as attractive or as competive with the airlines own affinity credit card would not be in the airlines best interest. You will pay up to 50% more miles. Also a lot of places dont accept American Express because it charges merchants up to 5%.

It is best to use a hotels affinity card for the hotel. and a specific airlines card for flights and criuses.. the ship lines specific card. otherwise you are getting bent over for anything but that specific product line.

 

Also with a credit card...you have insurance for your stuff and purchases...not with a debt ot cash. Many rental car places wont even rent to you without a credit card. Debt cards are the brain child of the banks to suck out profit from you in real time... 24/7. Checks may take 4 days. They were set up and marketed to make you think it is a good deal for you.....it isnt.

 

If a place dosent accept credit cards.... they dont get my business.:cool:

[krewzin]

No America Express doesn't own an airline, which, makes a big difference to those who want to redeem credits towards other types of travel. (including airlines).

 

You get unlimited travel choices w/no travel restrictions. You receive points on everything you buy, that are redeemed for statement credits toward any travel purchase made, so it's more than just airline travel.

 

Rewards are worth 1.33% on all your spending; like most cards, it gives you 1 point per dollar spent, but each point is worth more than 1%. For every 7,500 points, you get a $100 statement credit good for any travel purchase.That means you are earning 33% more than the other guys on your spending.

 

For people who want to receive credit$ toward their cruise, hotel, rental car...OR airline....it's an excellent card.

 

We also utilize a Southwest Air Visa (requires an annual fee) as our secondary card for other purchases and airline credits for those infrequent times someplace doesn't accept AMX.

[Hawaiidan]

I just want to make sure . American express gives you $100 worth of travel for every $ 7500

So, If I want to go first class to say Munich or Rome, from Kona and the fare is about $19,500 rt. (0ne way is about $9600) I would need to spend $1,462,500 to get the necessary credits with American express.

vs. spending about $100,000 for United because I get 2 for one miles on groceries, gas, homeimprovement, taxes, airline expenses. + a milage bonus, free up grades, free baggage ... so its well under 100K not to mention 1 free ticket from ot to Hawaii to anywhere in the US .

 

Spending $1.462 Million would thus earn me a good 12 free first class tickets at $19K @.. ( about $228,000.00 in travel).... on United.

Did I do the math correctly or am I missing something....:rolleyes:

The point is simple....know what you want and get a card or program that works for you future and life style.. dont assume anything.

[m steve]

I can use my United Visa and get all sorts of bonus points(miles) added to my account from shops, restaurants, etc. I can also buy a ticket with no seat restrictions using the same points but at a much greater cost. For example I can get a round trip ticket for 25,000 points where I may have spent a lot less than $25,000. But if I bought the ticket like you can or as Amex does, I would have had to purchse $250,000 worth of items on my card.

[krewzin]

Well then by golly.....I too agree with Hawaiidan! Since United is a totally useless airline to me here in Fl, I guess I'll hafta look into a Continental MC or Visa.

[Hawaiidan]

Get the United card ( no I dont work for them) because Contenental and United have merged now as of September 2010.... the new airline will be called United..:o Contental color tail "United" on the plane...now the largest airline in the world giving you every continent in the globe for free travel to...

Contental frequent flyers will be merged in to the new airline next year 2011

I would thus cauiton you on a "contenintal card.".. Besides presently united is offering 30.000 miles to sign up.... if you are in milage plus that is.

With it I average 12,000 worth of free air travel every year for the past 17 years.... thats $204,000.00 . and for a jerk like me who earns well under 100K a year thats a chunk of change.:rolleyes:

[unfdoug]

I read through the thread and I am sorry for asking this again (i wasnt clear) but when I was just going through my online check-in, it says they do a pre-auth of $420, which is fine.

 

Will the $420 be held right now until I return or will it be held in increments along the voyage?

 

I realize i will be deducted for onboard expenses and tips.

 

Thank you for any answers in advance.

[RuthC]

The $420 "hold" will be placed against your credit card when you board the ship. This is the money HAL will ask be reserved for them, so that your on-board charges will be paid. It lowers your credit limit by that amount.

If you spend more than $420, an additional "hold" should be procesed.

When you disembark, the actual amount you have spent on board will be charged to the credit card, and the "hold" is released.

Hope that explains it clearly.

[jtl513]

Will the $420 be held right now until I return or will it be held in increments along the voyage?

The hold is applied on embarkation day.

[unfdoug]

Thank you so much Ruth and jtl. Excited to sail on the Eurodam tomorrow.

[Hawaiidan]

Debit cards deal with a finite amount of funds/cash in your account and thus you cant float a debt 28 days to match a possible cash flow situation.... Debit cards also lock funds ...your funds.. even if you dont spend that amount... Thats locking up your money...

 

Cash and travelers checks get cashed right now....its gone from a fixed source...only so many beans in the pot.

 

Credit cards deal with credit not cash. They pledge you are good for a credit limit of X which you may never get to. Even though the ship puts a hold on your card for $450.00 it only comes off "available credit", NOT real funds. AND... you have a month after you return to pay the debt....without any interest of charges or fees...

So the $450 is really a credit advice for the next month....not today.

If you have a $10,000 credit line.....then whoopie, you only have $9,550 available.... Ya' think that will get you through the week...