ajb1701

I will be travelling to NYC Vegas and Miami in the summertime can I pay for the hotels in cash or travellers cheques I am getting hit with bad credit card charges. I know you use the credit card to secure the rooms but when it comes to payment could it be cash or travellers cheque?

ajb1701

Any takers? I am real worried about credit card security they don't use Chip and Pin in the states do they. My friends have been and they were never asked for ID with credit cards a couple of them go hit online after the overseas trip. Had murder getting the money back

tonrob

Yes, most/all places will take them. If you were considering buying US$ cash/TCs with another currency (not sure where you're traveling from) then this will almost certainly be more expensive than using your credit card, and statistically you'd be more likely to get our cash or TCs nicked than your CC compromised. This is 2010. Everyone uses credit cards. Stop worrying and enjoy your holiday!


P.S. Sorry I took so long to reply.

Scouse Express

I spend well in excess of 150 nights, per year, in Hotels as I work in the Travel Business. I have never had a CC comprimised in all my years of travelling, even when the bill has come into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Jim.

lapin_windstar

No-one ever says no to cash. I don't think I've seen a travellers cheque in 15 years but I assume some people still know what to do with them.

But either way it's still much more convenient to carry a credit or debit card. You're much more likely to lose money from having cash/cheques stolen than a card cloned.

Bob

Considering it's a Sunday morning and you asked rather early...

Travellers cheques are a waste of time unless they're in $'s, but even then, most places won't take them, more seen in larger cities but even then most won't accept them and they're a hassle at banks.

Cash works, but some places might not take cash if it's an expensive place, but generally shouldn't be a problem.

Credit cards won't be a problem...just let your bank/card carrier know you'll be travelling so they don't put a stop on your card on you.

Patrick Hasler

We tried to obtain travellers cheques last year at our bank and were told that no banks deal with them anymore. cash or your credit cards will be safe, we have never been in any situaltions where it has been cloned or wrong charges have occured ......... pin numbers are in comon use by the way, this is the USA, not outer mongolia.

tonrob

OP said Chip and Pin - we don't have that here. In case you missed its introduction:



I think the Mongolian banking system might give the US one a run for its money compared to the comparatively modern system in the UK.

lisa67

my parents have brought over travellers checks a couple of times in $s and they're a pain in the @rse. Not everyone knows what to do with them..not even a bank clerk, so I wouldn't bother if I were you!

Jerseygirl

Just use the credit card...take a little cash...stop worrying or it's going to spoil your holiday. I've used credit cards all over the world and have only experienced a couple of problems. Problems that a quick phone call to the credit card company sort out for you.

You'll have a greater problem with Vegas taxi drivers trying to rip you off than you will using your CC. Top tip: make sure you have plenty of $1 and $5 bills because they'll swear they don't have change for a $20 bill when the fare is $11.

ajb1701

This Chip and Pin is supposedly un-hackable. If you get taken in England now the banks say its your fault you must have had the written down someplace. It will be ok it all work itself out

Thanks for the help people

scrubbedexpat091

I've worked at several hotels and none took the credit card number or an imprint. We do swipe the card but all we see on our screen is a lot of XXXXXXXXXXXX's and then the expiration date, but the card number itself, we have no access to.

My current hotel we do take cash at check out but at check in we require a credit card which will be authorized and the funds held for the estimated amount of your stay.

If you dont want to provide a credit card we require full room rate and tax paid upfront + an additional 500 deposit that is refunded at check out but you loose the ability to charge anything to the room such as meals.

We dont take travelers checks at all.

Every hotel property is different even within chains, best thing to do is call the hotels direct and ask what their policy is.

S Folinsky

I was checking in to a small hotel in San Francisco a few years back and they refused to take cash. However, this was a walk-in off the street. I was behind them waiting to check in with reservation and credit card in hand. BTW, they do have debit cards and many merchants prefer use of the PIN because it saves them money. [I think there is a lawsuit going on with VISA over the differential.].

lapin_windstar

I stand corrected in that case.

I assumed the OP's credit card deposit would have been enough but you're right, some places they do swipe your card again to cover against fleeing or throwing TVs out of the window into the pool.

dbj1000

A simple Google search would show you that Chip'n'Pin isn't unhackable:

Chip & Pin Hacked

...and that you can even hack the terminals to play Tetris:

"Tamperproof Chip & Pin Terminal hacked to play Tetris