As many of you would have seen, im off to Sidari on my first holiday with my girlfriend.
Just wanted to know, what to take in the way of money,do i:-
1)Take mostly travellers cheque's and a little bit of cash, and my credit card
2)Just take my credit card and take out money as and when needed
3)Or just take travellers cheque's and my credit card for cash as and when needed.
The reason i'm asking, is, i don't know what the travellers cheques involve. And i know you get charged about 2% for using a credit card abroad for each transaction.And i don't really want to take cash for obvious reasons.
Is there a charge for travellers cheques also?
thanks
Kris
Message posted by jules seeds on 19 April 2005 at 11:53pm - IP Logged
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When we go to Corfu we now only ever take cash and put it into a safety deposit box on arrival.That way no charges are incurred We got fed up of paying a percenatge for travellers cheques to be changed. If you travel with Thompsons in San Stefanos you do not even pay for using the safety deposit boxes for the duration of your holiday. Take a credit or debit card as back up as you never know if you need more money. Also be aware that not all resorts have cash machines.
Have a great time. Where abouts are you staying?
Jules
Message posted by MCH on 19 April 2005 at 11:59pm - IP Logged
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Personally I haven't used Traveller's Cheques for years.
Take some cash to get you started.
Use a debit rather than a credit card to withdraw cash. If you use a credit card you will be charged interest immediately.
Use a credit card for purchases.
There are charges associated with them but the banks and card providers convert at commercial rates that are better than tourist rates and I generally find that these charges cancel each other out.
Enjoy your holiday.
Gareth
Message posted by mickboss on 20 April 2005 at 2:29am - IP Logged
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hi westy, it,s hit and miss due to exchange rates, but normally i always use cash leaving card for emergengies like one or two to many drinks(only kidding) to be honest take cash
Message posted by Westy on 20 April 2005 at 11:56am - IP Logged
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With everyone suggesting not to take traveller’s cheques i would just like to point out that your travel insurance only covers you for a small amount of cash, usually £200 (depending on your level of cover).
I understand what people are saying about traveller’s cheques and the cost to exchange them but they give you peace of mind and if you lose them or they are stolen you haven’t lost anything. I feel this is a small price to pay for this service.
Cards are a good idea but just be aware that some resorts have cash machines which are not always filled regularly. It happened to us where we couldn’t get any money out so we were glad of our traveller’s cheques.
Message posted by ABBSCROSS on 20 April 2005 at 2:12pm - IP Logged
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ABBSCROSS
I agree with you Sheryl.Travellers cheques have always been ok with me.We usually take some cash for the first couple of days to get us started,then use traveller's cheques for the rest of the holiday,always taking debit and credit cards as back up when we run out,which we always do.
Mark.
Message posted by tc on 20 April 2005 at 2:30pm - IP Logged
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Hi Westy. I agree 100 per cent with the first reply _ from Jules. I've found that apart from getting stung twice with charges when purchasing and then cashing travellers cheques they can also be like the proverbial Million Dollar note. Some shops don't want to know them (maybe they get charged by their banks?) Unless you've a long way to travel to the airport in this country, or an overnight, take Sterling. You sure as hell aren't going to get mugged in Corfu.
enjoy your hols
tc
PS: If you are staying at the Three Brothers in Sidari the safety deposit boxes are free.
Message posted by ABBSCROSS on 20 April 2005 at 2:40pm - IP Logged
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ABBSCROSS
We have always managed to get commission free travellers cheques and always change them in the same place on holiday where we have never been charged anything to cash them in.
Also have never had a problem with using travellers cheques for purchasing goods/dining out etc.
Mark.
Message posted by jedi (Avatar Admin) on 20 April 2005 at 2:41pm - IP Logged
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jedi
I agree with Sheryl. Travellers cheques have never ever caused us a problem and we have never had difficulty getting them changed. If they do get lost or stolen, you don't lose a thing - just a bit of inconvenience getting them replaced. Lose your cash and it's gone forever.
Just to be on the safe side we always take a bit of everything, cheques, debit and credit cards, local cash and sterling. That way you can cover almost every eventuality.
It's a 'belt and braces' thing we wrinklies suffer from.
LOL..........Jedi
Message posted by pete b on 20 April 2005 at 3:01pm - IP Logged
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I have to agree with the previous few posters, travellers cheques are our preferred way of taking money, although we do take some Euros with us to get us started. Incidentally we always take Sterling chequeus with us, as you can cash in any unused ones when you get back, and the exchange rate you get in Corfu is generally better then you get in the UK. We also like the security of the cheques, although so far we have been lucky, and carefull, and haven't had to get any replaced.
I have to admit that I have never tried to use the cheques to purchase goods, we always change £200 or so at a time, and then pay cash, and this lasts us a couple of days. There are many, many places where you can change cheques, at virtually any time of the day, and we have always found the rates reasonable.
However we do take credit/debit cards as backup, and sometimes pay for petrol/meals etc. with them. A tip I have picked up is that if you open a Nationwide account and get their debit card, they don't charge extra for use abroad, whereas most of the others do.
I have never used an ATM so have no idea if there are any problems, but have heard several reports of them being empty on a fairly regular basis.
I hope that some of these ramblings are of interest.
Message posted by MCH on 20 April 2005 at 6:17pm - IP Logged
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ATM's Here you will find a list of ATM's www.visa.com and www.mastercard.com there is one at the airport, but gets alot of use. The ATM's will use English either automatic or select flag/ word
Travellers Cheques, safest way to take your money, disadvantages are that you will buy them from bank, post office, M&S, etc and they may say commission free, but they make their profit in the exchange rate. You will be charged 2% to exchange them. Stirling or Euro? if you buy Euro Travellers Cheques you know how much you have got to spend, Stirling the rate can go up and down, your choice. What do you do with you leftover ones? not a good rate exchanging them back.
Cash, you could get mugged in the UK before you leave, most travel insurance policies only cover you for £150 - £200, so if you lose it you wont have any spending money .Where are you going to put it when you get there? You can hire a safety deposit box in most resorts, adds to the cost.
Credit Cards. Using your credit card can be expensive, spend £100 and it will cost between £1.50 - around £5 depending on your bank and which card you have, ask your bank how much they charge,and dont forget if you get cash from an ATM with your credit card interest is charged from day one. Most places will take cards but check before you eat. Dont forget most credit card companies are not libel for transactions outside UK.
Debit Cards. Most places will take a debit card without charging you, one place told me it was illegal to charge, how true this is I do not know. You can use ATM's with your debit card to get your Euros, charge by your bank between nothing and 5.25%, ask your bank, advantage you get the higher interbank/visa rate of exchange. Take care of your cards they can get stolen/lost.
How I do it. Having deep pockets and short arms, I use a Nationwide Debit card, no charge for using abroad in Euro zone and I get the interbank/visa exchange rate . I take mine and Mrs MCH's cards 8 in total so we are safe if a machine grabs one, and I normally have a few Euros in cash from my last trip enough for a drink and snack. I of course know where the ATM's are on the way to Kassiopi, have not found one not working yet apart from airport, even then they said it would be in 10 minutes.
Dont forget if you are going to rely on cards make sure there is an ATM where you are going, and where is the next closest one and dont forget your PIN numbers,
MCH
This is in The Travel To Greece section
Message posted by Sheryl on 20 April 2005 at 6:23pm - IP Logged
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MCH, I was reading your post in the Greek travel experience earlier and i meant to tell people to look at it but you have added it. It is really informative and will help a lot of people. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
Message posted by angela_h on 20 April 2005 at 6:31pm - IP Logged
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We always take mostly cash and when thats run out we use our debit card to withdraw money from our account and you get charged £1.50 per transaction, which if your are drawing out a few hundred pounds isnt a lot really. You wont have any trouble finding cash machines as there were at least 4 when I counted last year.
Also to change up your sterling to euros we always use Vlasseros Travel in the centre of Sidari , it has a post box outside and we book all our trips and car hire through him, he is a great guy , who is highly amusing
Angela
Message posted by Westy on 21 April 2005 at 11:27am - IP Logged
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Message posted by superman (The Beach - Moderator) on 27 May 2005 at 6:06pm - IP Logged
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superman
I agree with sheryl etc
I take cash for the first few days and T/c's for the bulk of the money. It is insurance against you losing your money. The charge for cashing them isn't that bad, when you think your covered against loss.
The ony thing I'm not sure about is if they should be sterling or euro. I think sterling.
Supe.
Message posted by sazmacklin on 27 May 2005 at 6:26pm - IP Logged
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Quote: Originally posted by ABBSCROSS on 20 April 2005
We have always managed to get commission free travellers cheques and always change them in the same place on holiday where we have never been charged anything to cash them in.
Hi Mark,
We are going to Kassiopi on 6th June, dont suppose this place that doesnt charge anything is near there?
Sarahx
Message posted by SLD on 29 May 2005 at 8:02pm - IP Logged
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Sterling Cheques are a better choice. With Euro cheques, you are charged for changing sterling to Euro at UK rate and once again when you come to change them at your resort. Also be wary of places with "no commission", their rates may not be so good or they may not have a licence (this may not bother you, but bugs the hell out of those that have to pay to run an exchange!).
Tarrah!
Sarah
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.Where are you going to put it when you get there? You can hire a safety deposit box in most resorts, adds to the cost.
. I take mine and Mrs MCH's cards 8 in total so we are safe if a machine grabs one, and I normally have a few Euros in cash from my last trip enough for a drink and snack. I of course know where the ATM's are on the way to Kassiopi, have not found one not working yet apart from airport, even then they said it would be in 10 minutes.
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