Why American Express Travellers Checks suck when you are on vacation

Let's face it, not only American Express travelers checks, but travelers check in general suck. You have to pay to change your cash into travelers check, and then when you want to cash one, you first have to find a bank that will cash it for you, and if they do, you again have to pay a small fee for them to exchange it for the local currency.

How did I become jaded about travelers checks? It was years ago when I was a travel virgin. I was told by friends before starting on my vacation that I should play it safe and change my money into American Express Travelers checks so I'll be safe, and everyone accepts them I was told! Sounded pretty smart, and I exchanged a thousand dollars sorted into hundreds.

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So I find myself in the Philippines, traveling in the provinces and I'm having a great time exploring the beaches and the mountains when I find that I'm running out of the local currency. No problem, I'll just go to the local bank.

It's an American Express Travelers Cheque right? It's a name brand company and it should be easy to cash out, right? I mean, that's what the commercials say - you go in the bank with your cheque and happily come out with your money.

Not in the provinces.

The bank didn't accept. The next bank didn't accept. The problem was that no bank would trust a foreigner and a stranger by exchanging travelers checks. The banks in the province were not going to take the hassle to exchange what might be fake travelers cheques. I learned that I should go to the nearest American Express office in Manila, specifically in Makati the financial district of the Philippines.

So with my cash running out, my travelers checks can't be cashed in the provinces, what do I do? I use my credit card and get cash from the ATM machine! Using the ATM and getting money quickly will cost a few dollars in fees, but the convenience makes it worthwhile. 

That's right, anywhere in the Philippines and Asia for that matter is a nearby ATM machine by a bank, or a mall. Whether its in the provinces or the big city. You should be able to use your Visa or Mastercard that are in the Plus or Cirrus networks. Just look behind the back of your card to see which one you have. Most restaurants and department stores will accept American Express, Visa and Mastercard.

So now I had cash from the ATM machine using my Visa. I still wanted to cash out my American Express travelers checks. I was now in Ilocos Norte, so I had to take a Philippine Rabbit bus down to Baguio and from there, take a Victory liner bus down to Manila. Baguio is a big city and there might have been an American Express office, I didn't check. I decided upon the Manila office because I had friends there whom I could visit as well.

Must have taken around 10 hours to get to Manila by bus. All I have to say is that Philippines Rabbit and Victory Liner are two of the best bus lines in the Philippines. My memory is a bit fuzzy but I think the cost for a seat in an air-conditioned bus was around 200 Pesos years ago. That's about less than 5 dollars. The price should be about the same, bus tickets don't cost much and there are stops on the way to your destination.

The bus stops take a few minutes. You are given the oppurtunity to go to the bathroom, buy some snacks or drinks. Like me, you could just remain seated and continue napping.

Throughout the bus ride, people will be getting off and people will be getting on at multiple intervals. All they do is tell the bus conductor where they want to stop before hand or go to the front and wait for the location. Then tell the bus driver to stop.

At times, there are people by the side of the road and flag the bus to pick them up. Sometimes these will be guys selling peanuts, drinks, newspapers, corn and everything else that can be sold to hungry passengers.

Once I got to Manila, I took a taxi to Makati the financial center of the Philippines and the first thing I did was eat at Wendy's, yea that's right, Wendy's burger chain you find in the United States is also in Philippines. Not sure if the marketing is still current, but a few years ago in the Philippines, Wendy was a hot looking big titted model I saw on a billboard. A far cry from the American version of a sweet red head girl with dimples.

Regarding the taxi's in the city. Outside the Victory Liner terminal there's always a few taxi drivers waiting for people. I don't think much of these guys. I've had most of my problems with them regarding their meters. For some reason there's always a problem. Always ask taxi drivers to turn their meters on, if its broken or they start to ask for a set price, move on to the next one. Their trying to cheat you.

So I've walked a few blocks and flagged down a taxi. Ask for the meter before entering and if you are alone, take the front seat. I tend to get on the front seat, it breaks the ice and you can get some pretty good advise on where to go for.... anything.

Again, be friendly and try to talk with the driver. A lot of these guys are pretty friendly and speak multiple languages. If you trust the guy, see how much you could hire him for a day as a tour guide. Taxi drivers know where to go for some fun that might appeal to tourists from out of town. Yea, they probably get incentives to drive tourists to particular night spots, but if you're alone in the city, who else are you going to ask? Your momma?

Original Article can be found at: http://hubpages.com/hub/why-American-Express-travellers-checks-suck-when-you-are-on-vacation

After eating at Wendy's, I took a walk around the area and finally found the American Express office. The guard with their shotguns let me in and I cashed my travelers check. The process was easy once I entered the office, it was a quick transaction. Then I visited some friends and went back to the provinces the next day. That's how I wasted an entire day going and coming back to cash my American Express travelers check.

Now that I have some travel experience under my belt, I don't bother with travelers checks. I rely on cash and my credit cards. When going on vacation, In the case of money, once I arrive at the local airport, I exchange $200 into the local currency. This should last me a few days of food, souvenirs and entertainment.

In addition, if I need extra cash, I tend to bring $500 to $1000 separated in $20 dollar bills by groups of $100s in multiple envelopes. Then I place them in separate locations, a few envelopes in my carry-on luggage in different compartments, some in my shoulder bag, and then maybe my computer bag – all within reach of my body. There are multiple money changers or local banks that will exchange your dollars into the local currency for a small fee.

Original Article can be found at: http://hubpages.com/hub/why-American-Express-travellers-checks-suck-when-you-are-on-vacation

Once your cash runs out, you can use your credit cards. Just a reminder, before you go on your vacation, call your credit card company and notify them when you are going on vacation, where you will be going and when you will be returning home. You really don't want to use your credit card in a foreign country and have your purchase rejected!

I normally use my Visa to get cash from an ATM at a local mall in the Philippines. When I had traveled to Thailand, the ATM machines were even more readily available.

So there you go, travelers checks suck. Bring cash and exchange them into local currency and bring a few credit cards along and have fun on your vacation!