Using American Express Travellers Cheques in Phuket

[CFC]

Last year I was travelling through Asia and it was hard to use American Express Travellers Cheques in certain parts. Are they easy to cash in Phuket?

Edited October 16, 2013 by CFC

[falkan]

you get a bad rate, get a mastercard/visacard instead!

travellers cheques only americans.... heheh..

[CFC]

you get a bad rate, get a mastercard/visacard instead!

travellers cheques only americans.... heheh..

I got a credit card but just wanted a back up

[NamKangMan]

you get a bad rate, get a mastercard/visacard instead!

travellers cheques only americans.... heheh..

I got a credit card but just wanted a back up

Get two credit/debit cards, and link them both to online banking.

Keep one in your wallet, and the other locked up in your room, this way, each card will be a back up for the other card.

You can change travelers cheques on Phuket but it's time consuming. You need your passport and to sign infront of them, but they ring a central office call centre to check that the travelers checks you are producing are not stolen, and sometimes there is a long wait on the phone to the call centre.

[CFC]

NamKangMan, Thanks for the info.

[hansgruber]

People still use travellers cheques? How 80's of you.

[stevenl]

Works easy, can be esxchanged at any bank, and exchange rate is better than cash. (of course you already have paid for that). They are secure, so nothing wrong with using them as a back up, especially with the banks (here and back home) charging more and more for withdrawals.

[KarenBravo]

Unfortunately, American Express isn't that welcome in Asia.

Most banks either refuse it, or, take a higher commision than a bank brand traveler's check.

It's the same with the cards.

Edited October 17, 2013 by KarenBravo

[stevenl]

Unfortunately, American Express isn't that welcome in Asia.

Most banks either refuse it, or, take a higher commision than a bank brand traveler's check.

It's the same with the cards.

Cards, yes (too much commission asked by AE), checks no, all banks will accept them.

[Guest]

Related question as the OQ was already answered: What would be the recovery options for backpacker who is on 6 months trip and loses all the documents, credit cards, travelers checks etc?

I guess the embassies can issue new or temporary passports, but how to do with the money if someone back home could send it - how and to where? Or the traveler would have access to the internet banking.

[NamKangMan]

Related question as the OQ was already answered: What would be the recovery options for backpacker who is on 6 months trip and loses all the documents, credit cards, travelers checks etc?

I guess the embassies can issue new or temporary passports, but how to do with the money if someone back home could send it - how and to where? Or the traveler would have access to the internet banking.

Backpackers should never have everything (passport, credit cards, travelers cheques etc) all in the one place. They should have some carried on them (wallet) and some stored in their backpack in their hostel.

The chances of losing what is on you, and what is in your backpack, at the same time, is slim. It has happened, but mainly through a hostel fire, for example, rather than theft.

A new passport means a trip to your Embassy in Bangkok. A backpacker should have a scanned copy of all documents stored in their email. This will assist in identification.

Internet banking allows you to move all the money on the stolen card to the card you have left, then, a phone call to the bank cancels and re-issues the stolen credit card and the travelers cheques.

Travelers cheques guarantee delivery to your hotel withing 24 to 48 hours, so they say.

The new credit card can be sent by a family/friend back home via courier or using poste restante.

[Guest]

Backpackers often have their whole world with them as they move from one location to another. They stay at the hotel, hostel etc is only part of the time.

Quite often these longer trips are once in the lifetime events and if not really necessary, one does not wish to get back home to start all over again. Trip to Embassy is not a big deal, but return trip to home is.

New credit card sent to poste restante (or Embassy) is a good idea.

[NamKangMan]

Backpackers often have their whole world with them as they move from one location to another. They stay at the hotel, hostel etc is only part of the time.

Quite often these longer trips are once in the lifetime events and if not really necessary, one does not wish to get back home to start all over again. Trip to Embassy is not a big deal, but return trip to home is.

New credit card sent to poste restante (or Embassy) is a good idea.

One credit card in your wallet, whilst sitting in a bar, and one credit card stored in your backpack, which is sitting on your dorm bed, in a hostel, is not a hard concept.

If someone steals the backpack, you still have a credit card to work with. If someone robs you of your wallet, you still have a credit card back at the hostel to work with.

Both cards are connected on internet banking.

The chances of you being robbed, and the backpack being stolen, at the same time, is slim.

[Guest]

One credit card in your wallet, whilst sitting in a bar, and one credit card stored in your backpack, which is sitting on your dorm bed, in a hostel, is not a hard concept.

If someone steals the backpack, you still have a credit card to work with. If someone robs you of your wallet, you still have a credit card back at the hostel to work with.

Both cards are connected on internet banking.

The chances of you being robbed, and the backpack being stolen, at the same time, is slim.

I'm not sure how much you have done backpacking. Only one part of the trip is staying at one location for a longer time (2-14 days), where one have the safety of the hotel/hostel.

Generally the most 'dangerous' times are:

- Starting the trip, when everything is new and the skin color is not adjusted to the local climate.

- Getting to a new city, where traveller does not know how things work.

- Border crossings

These are the times backpackers have everything with them. The crooks also know this.

I have never been robbed, but it does not mean that I should not be prepared to the situation.

[Ping]

OP, I always used to use Amex TCs - secure, easy to cash at any bank, and better Xrate than cash. Best idea is to get them in your home currency, because you will almost certainly get a better Xrate here. Many institutions in my country offer them free to account holders - probably the same with you.

[CFC]

What about changing them at a moneychanger. I know credit card/pre paid currency cards are better but its always good to have a few reserves especially when travelling alone.

[NamKangMan]

One credit card in your wallet, whilst sitting in a bar, and one credit card stored in your backpack, which is sitting on your dorm bed, in a hostel, is not a hard concept.

If someone steals the backpack, you still have a credit card to work with. If someone robs you of your wallet, you still have a credit card back at the hostel to work with.

Both cards are connected on internet banking.

The chances of you being robbed, and the backpack being stolen, at the same time, is slim.

I'm not sure how much you have done backpacking. Only one part of the trip is staying at one location for a longer time (2-14 days), where one have the safety of the hotel/hostel.

Generally the most 'dangerous' times are:

- Starting the trip, when everything is new and the skin color is not adjusted to the local climate.

- Getting to a new city, where traveller does not know how things work.

- Border crossings

These are the times backpackers have everything with them. The crooks also know this.

I have never been robbed, but it does not mean that I should not be prepared to the situation.

I did some backpacking when younger, and a little flashpacking when I was a bit older.

I disagree with your "most dangerous times."

As an older guy, now looking at younger backpackers, the most dangerous time for backpackers is when they are out at night, drinking, with some also taking drugs.

Specific to Thailand, and particularly Phuket - motor scooter accidents are the cause of many injuries and death.

I do agree that when they are in transit, this is when they have everything with them, obviously, but the majority of backpackers travel with a friend/s, or their boyfriend or girlfriend. This makes them a less of a target. Not many travel solo.

They are all going to the same places, so, they are always at the train station, bus station, boat pier etc etc together, although unconnected. Many meet other backpackers in the hostel, and during their conversation, find out they are both leaving on the same day to go to the same place, so, now they are in transit in a small group, further reducing them as a target.

South East Asia is not like Africa or South America. In these places, yes, if you were in transit, and robbed, they would take the lot, at gun point. That's your wallet, backpack, watch, phone, camera - everything.

When I backpacked to dangerous places, I kept a $100US note in a plastic bag in my shoe - that's how dangerous it was back then. I then had an "inside pocket" sewed into my shorts and I kept it there.

That $100US note was my backup. It would provide food, accommodation, phone calls and travel to my Embassy.

That said, I have never been robbed either, but I considered myself prepared as best as one could be.

[NamKangMan]

What about changing them at a moneychanger. I know credit card/pre paid currency cards are better but its always good to have a few reserves especially when travelling alone.

Yes, a set of these would be better than travelers cheques.

http://www.travelex.com/US/Products/Cash-Passport/

[patongphil]

I did some backpacking when younger, and a little flashpacking when I was a bit older.

I disagree with your "most dangerous times."

As an older guy, now looking at younger backpackers, the most dangerous time for backpackers is when they are out at night, drinking, with some also taking drugs.

Specific to Thailand, and particularly Phuket - motor scooter accidents are the cause of many injuries and death.

I do agree that when they are in transit, this is when they have everything with them, obviously, but the majority of backpackers travel with a friend/s, or their boyfriend or girlfriend. This makes them a less of a target. Not many travel solo.

They are all going to the same places, so, they are always at the train station, bus station, boat pier etc etc together, although unconnected. Many meet other backpackers in the hostel, and during their conversation, find out they are both leaving on the same day to go to the same place, so, now they are in transit in a small group, further reducing them as a target.

South East Asia is not like Africa or South America. In these places, yes, if you were in transit, and robbed, they would take the lot, at gun point. That's your wallet, backpack, watch, phone, camera - everything.

When I backpacked to dangerous places, I kept a $100US note in a plastic bag in my shoe - that's how dangerous it was back then. I then had an "inside pocket" sewed into my shorts and I kept it there.

That $100US note was my backup. It would provide food, accommodation, phone calls and travel to my Embassy.

That said, I have never been robbed either, but I considered myself prepared as best as one could be.

The dreaded $100 bill saved me big time in the Philippines in 1990. Had one in my pocket while the rest of my world was in my bag which was appropriated by some kind person in Manila while I was waiting for a bus North.

After that bought myself one of those belts with a zipper inside.

[Guest]

@NKM: Seems that our backpacking environments have been different. For me majority of the trips were solo and the people I met were traveling alone as well. Of course groups and friendships were created, we did travel together for a while, until it was time to go different roads.

I used to have $100 inside of my belt.

Ps. Flashpacking term was new to me and I had to check it from the dictionary. It was quite different what was the first idea came to my head, fortunately.

[grumpyoldman]

People still use travellers cheques? How 80's of you.

Ha, ha, ha HG, you could say 90's of you too as when I used to come here on vacation in the 90's I use to use them.

Main purpose was budgeting, see how long a 100$ travellers check would last. '97 during the Asian crisis I was getting something like 55thb to the dollar so that 100 travellers check would last a few days. Sometimes I'd come up short as in the one year staying with a friend his maid, "sticky fingers" AKA nosy Nellie would pinch from the bundle. Just a bit, not enough for me to notice but I figured it out later.

[NamKangMan]

@NKM: Seems that our backpacking environments have been different. For me majority of the trips were solo and the people I met were traveling alone as well. Of course groups and friendships were created, we did travel together for a while, until it was time to go different roads.

I used to have $100 inside of my belt.

Ps. Flashpacking term was new to me and I had to check it from the dictionary. It was quite different what was the first idea came to my head, fortunately.

In my day, and probably yours, I backpacked solo as well. I was talking about the young ones, these days. You will see, generally, they travel in pairs, or small groups.

To give a few examples of the differences, in my day, there were no mobile phones. These days, the young ones take a drunken photo and it's on Facebook in 2 minutes for the world to see.

I could list many things different from back then to now. One that stands out is having to carry rolls and rolls and rolls of film (with photos on them) in my backpack for months. Now, a small memory card holds thousands of photos.

[honoluabay]

ATM card , is the best way but your rate w/ TC will be the worst. Cash is king here, but make sure all money is clean ,no cuts ,or marks on bills. Thai banks are very careful.

Sent from my A200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stevenl]

ATM card , is the best way but your rate w/ TC will be the worst. Cash is king here, but make sure all money is clean ,no cuts ,or marks on bills. Thai banks are very careful.

Sent from my A200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It is obvious you have never compared the exchange rates between cash and T/C's.

[LivinginKata]

ATM card , is the best way but your rate w/ TC will be the worst. Cash is king here, but make sure all money is clean ,no cuts ,or marks on bills. Thai banks are very careful.

Sent from my A200 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Cash notes offer the lowest exchange rate compared with TCs and TT transfers.

[CFC]

^{The first bank I walked into to accepted Travellers Cheques. I was half expecting them to ask where you been since the 1980"s. Okay you might or might not get a good exchange rate with travellers cheques but if the $#@$# has hit the fan and you are out of money you arent really worried about exchange rates on a few hundred quid. You are worried about having enough Bhat until you sort out the situation. I know theres always western union but that takes time.}

[NamKangMan]

^{The first bank I walked into to accepted Travellers Cheques. I was half expecting them to ask where you been since the 1980"s. Okay you might or might not get a good exchange rate with travellers cheques but if the $#@$# has hit the fan and you are out of money you arent really worried about exchange rates on a few hundred quid. You are worried about having enough Bhat until you sort out the situation. I know theres always western union but that takes time.}

If you Western Union your own money, to yourself, over the internet, the money is there immediately.

[CFC]

^{The first bank I walked into to accepted Travellers Cheques. I was half expecting them to ask where you been since the 1980"s. Okay you might or might not get a good exchange rate with travellers cheques but if the $#@$# has hit the fan and you are out of money you arent really worried about exchange rates on a few hundred quid. You are worried about having enough Bhat until you sort out the situation. I know theres always western union but that takes time.}

If you Western Union your own money, to yourself, over the internet, the money is there immediately.

Only problem with this is, if the western union website detects a foreign I.P address it blocks the payment. If you have your computer and the software to show a I.P address from your home country this is possible and a better option than travellers cheques.