Disagreement about how much cash to take

[BananaAnna]

To clarify - not fake-fake - just not my full name and exact home address. And I have real ID with me, just not with the 'mugger money'. Really, its just a little nicer than the cardboard inserts you'd get with a new wallet - but hopefully enough that a mugger wouldn't think to keep looking......

[geduffer]

Personally, I've never had problems with travelers checks. You can also get the money back if they're lost or stolen. I bring a mix of travelers checks and cash and make liberal use of the safe in the cabin. Just use common sense and watch your back and you should be ok.

[CruisingEasy]

I never use travelers checks and I do not own an ATM card.

 

I always take 3 or 4 credit cards when I board and a few hundred dollars in cash.

[travelntreats]

Dont understand the problem with bringing cash... We usually allow $50.00 - $100.00 per day per person in cash to bring along with us... it stays in the safe in the stateroom and is brought out when needed.....If we brought too much, it comes back home... if it looks like not enough, we will use the c.card.

[pom]

Dont understand the problem with bringing cash... We usually allow $50.00 - $100.00 per day per person in cash to bring along with us... it stays in the safe in the stateroom and is brought out when needed.....If we brought too much, it comes back home... if it looks like not enough, we will use the c.card.

 

Hi

 

I think this is a good idea, now I just want to make sure I have it correct, this money in the safe is for you to spend on the cruise or tour right, or is it also used for all tipping including the end tip when the cruise is over.

 

I would like to so this as well, that is why I am asking you

 

thank you :confused:

[travelntreats]

Hi

 

I think this is a good idea, now I just want to make sure I have it correct, this money in the safe is for you to spend on the cruise or tour right, or is it also used for all tipping including the end tip when the cruise is over.

 

I would like to so this as well, that is why I am asking you

 

thank you :confused:

It is used for the casino... off ship shopping, tours purchased off the ship, eating off ship....xtra tips.....

 

Usually we come home with a couple hundred $'s at the end of the cruise, but a minimal c.card charge :D

[choochoocruiser]

as far as i know you can not cash a personal check on board and at a bank you need to much ID. i just take travels checks.

 

I have never had a problem cashing either a personal check or traveler's checks on board.

[excitedofharpenden]

Never had a problem except for being locked inside one in Brussels and I couldn't get out....

That one gave me a :) this morning. Not the way you want to spend your trip away. Locked in an ATM is ok, but Brussels?:D

 

I don't like carrying too much cash around and use the ATM where possible and draw it out as and when needed or a credit card in the retailers. It's never happened yet, but I would hate to lose cash either through my own fault or those with sleight of hand.

 

Phil

[lifevicarious]

ATM cards are usually tied into your checking account at your bank or credit union. European Bank (emphasize bank) ATM's do not charge you a fee to use their ATM's to withdraw Euro. The only charges you will incur will be those levied by your hometown bank/CU.

 

Good to know about that bank but many banks and ATM's themselves charge you a fee as well but they will tell you that before you make the transaction.

 

Credit cards used in an ATM to withdraw money (I had a pin associated with my credit card for emergencies only) will be considered a cash advance by your credit card company, and the APR for some cards is higher than regular transactions with a balance.

 

Absolutely agree. This holds true in your own country as well. The poster I was responding too stated "a credit card used for transactions that need to be converted to Euros will result in that transaction being considered a cash advance". I read that as a blanket statement that ANY transaction (even purchases) are considered a cash advance which is absolutely untrue.

 

 

If you use your credit card in the ATM to get cash, it is considered a cash advance, and interest will incur from the date of transaction, unlike if you used your credit card for purchases -- you have the grace period of up to 45 days or more, depending on when your credit card cycles.

 

In Europe, I always use my ATM card to get cash, and my credit card for purchases, hotel, rental cars, dinner, etc.

 

Exactly.

[lifevicarious]

I must be the last person on earth to not have an ATM card.

 

How do you bank without an ATM card?? My bank doesn't even have branches!!

[grummanyankee]

I must be the last person on earth to not have an ATM card.

 

How do you bank without an ATM card?? My bank doesn't even have branches!!

I guess we're fortunate to have banks near us. DH and I get paid 2x a month and that's direct deposit. I get paid once a mos. from Social Security and I keep that check in cash. We keep cash in a safe and I guess you could say we are our own bank.

[Arubamoose]

I don't own an ATM card either. I am one of those people who charge EVERYTHING (to rack up those FF miles - thank you very much). I have automatic deposit and automatic withdrawal to pay all my bills and I go to by credit union once every couple of months to take out the cold hard...less if I happen to go out to dinner with a group of friends who pay cash. Then I take it and pay the bill with my CC. As I said - I like to fly free!

 

We usually take enough cash with us on board to cover incidentals, tours and casino bucks and keep it in the safe.

 

I may break down though and get one when I go to on my Med cruise next year. Having an ATM card in Europe is handy.

[shipknotshore]

We usually take cash to cover all of our tours, taxis, tips and shopping in ports. I'm not one that likes to use our credit cards or atm cards when we're in ports.....something else to have to keep track of or risk losing. We only take the amount of cash we will need off the ship into port and leave the rest locked in the safe. This has worked well for us so far.

[lifevicarious]

I must be the last person on earth to not have an ATM card.

I guess we're fortunate to have banks near us. DH and I get paid 2x a month and that's direct deposit. I get paid once a mos. from Social Security and I keep that check in cash. We keep cash in a safe and I guess you could say we are our own bank.

 

I live in Manhattan, there is a bank on practically every corner here and often on more then one corner! :) But I do 99% of my banking with ING which has no branches (at least in the US). And I wouldn't have it any other way. I personally don't feel I need to go to a branch when I can do everything I need to do online straight from my phone.

 

As for cash, if they don't take credit cards, they don't get my business! :)

[bubbie617]

The OP didn't mention where she was travelling, but in Europe, we've always used ATM's with great success. Just be sure that your debit card has a 4 digit PIN code, because many of the European ATM's don't accept a 6 digit pin. We found that out the hard way on our first stop in Santorini when the ATM responded with "Insufficient funds". We raced to an internet cafe where we checked and our account was in order - the rather misleading error message was caused by our 6 digit PIN.

 

One note of caution when choosing a PIN. We used to have a PIN that started with zero. That will not work in Europe. We had to change it so we wouldn't run into a problem.

[Random Acts]

This thread indicates that ATMS are plentiful and easy to use in Europe. How about in the Mediterranean; specifically Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt?

[SandG]

This thread indicates that ATMS are plentiful and easy to use in Europe. How about in the Mediterranean; specifically Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt?

 

Just back from the Solstice to Italy, Greece and Turkey, I can't speak for the others. ATMs were plentiful in Italy and Greece. We rely on credit cards and ATMs because we find we get a better exchange rate than converting cash or travelers checks. I get charged a small international transaction fee from my bank, but found it still works out to be a good deal. There is no transaction fee with my husband's Capitol One credit card.

 

We did not use the ATMs in Turkey because I discovered when I notified my bank that we were going to be using our VISA and ATM cards overseas that they block all credit card and ATM transactions from Turkey!! Note this is the policy with our local bank, and my husband's credit card still worked okay in Turkey, but we didn't withdraw any cash, so I cannot give you any advice on this.

 

Also note that in Kusadasi, the shops and restaurants all accept both euros and dollars, and the tour operators are usually paid in Euros. So I just withdrew enough money in the port before Turkey to cover my expenses there.

 

Sue

[bobbyleduck]

My husband and I disagree about how much cash to take for a 10 day vacation. His argument is that, since we use the credit card, we don't need a lot of cash. My argument is that I feel insecure without a wad of cash. I ALWAYS secure our cash and carry very little in my purse except en route. My purse loops around my neck and I don't hang it on restroom hooks in airports or sit it down anywhere. What does your family do? (please don't name amounts for your own security)

 

Here is the rule of thumb regarding both clothing and cash. Spread all of your clothing and cash, for the cruise, on your bed. Now, take half the clothing and twice the amount of cash.

 

Happy cruising to all!

 

Bob

[tinkerme1]

If you are using ATM's abroad, make sure that your ATM pin number is four digits! European ATMs do not accept pin numbers that are larger than four digits.

 

Carrying American Express Traveler's Cheques is much safer than carrying cash and you can always cash them onboard the ship. For the Caribbean and Bermuda, take enough for cab rides and some meals off the ship (if that is what you intend to do) and also take enough for paying tips to cabs and airline baggage porters as well as Cruise Line Baggage Porters.

 

Taking too much cash is unnecessary.