Debit or Credit? Cash or Check?
February 27, 2008. While staying at a luxury vacation rental, one might wonder which forms of payment are bet for travelers. There are several options to choose from: credit cards, debit cards, cash and travelers checks. CNN.com offered some advice in a recent article. Each of the currencies has pros and cons.
Although we don't like to admit something bad could happen during our travels, things occassionally do go wrong. In the event of theft, credit cards are most easily replaced, and credit card companies are good about making sure their clients don't get saddled with bills for money they didn't spend.
Cash is king when it comes to small purchases, however. Some small retail stores and restaurants will actually charge small fees of 75 cents or more for purchases less than $5 or $10. That's not a big deal in your everyday life, but it could add up on vacation, when you're constantly purchasing individual drinks, museum admissions, etc.
Although the article aims much of its advice at foreign travel, we believe debit cards are convenient if you have a national bank such as Bank of America. In this case, you won't incur extra fees, whether you're in North Carolina or Northern California.
