paying with credit card, travelers checks, or what?

[sandy]

How do you pay for most things in Aruba? When I booked our hotel with a credit card, I noticed a foreign transaction fee, I assume because of charging something in another country/currency. I would like to avoid having to pay this in the future, if there is a better way to pay. Thanks!

[Sgroi135]

Cash is the best IMO. Some credit card companies will charge the foreign transaction fee. US Currency is accepted everywhere.

I am not going to pay the Occidental when i get there for the AI in cash, I guess I can, but to have to carry that much on me, not sure.

American Express does charge the foreign transation fee. But check with your other CC's there are a couple out there that DON'T.

[Linda VH]

We always use credit cards - have to rack up the miles Capitol One does not charge the 3% and American Express Platinum doesn't either. Have no idea about other Amex cards. Citibank DOES charge as do some others. Call your cc company.

[~Amy~®]

After years of using it in Aruba, my CitiCard MC Platinum began charging a fee this past April. For our last trip (Sept.), I switched and used our AMEX (Gold Delta Skymiles) for our hotel and car rental and they did not charge a fee.

As was said earlier. it's best to call the CC company and ask since there are so many different cards/programs available.

We only use our CC in Aruba for our hotel and car rental. We pay for everything else with cash or travelers checks.

[TomFrederick]

>>> "avoid having to pay this in the future"
---- Get a card that doesn't charge that fee if transaction is in US$$. Our Amazon Chase Visa and Costco American Express did not.
Usually for restaurants pay with Amer Express Travel Checks and cash. Every few months hear where someone's Card # is used again and feel numbers are copyed as card somtimes leaves your eyes sight in a restaurant.

[ragdoll]

I try and use my American Express Platinum card when ever I can, but I find that a lot of places in Aruba will not accept it, and do not like it. They say the service from AMEX is very bad and the fees they charge are much more then other cards.
Any time I do use it where it is accepted it takes for ever for the transaction to go through.I have been meaning to complain to AMEX about the lack of acceptance of their card on the Island, I can't find one gas station on the Island that will take it.

[lizzardo]

Just a reminder that if you are renting a car and have AMEX to get their
car coverage for something like $49 - covers theft and other things
not covered by some car rental agencies.

We like to have a 'low limit' credit card for trips for small things -
that way if the card gets compromised there is not much exposure
to what they can do - we aim for 2K. Have to fight w/ the credit
card companies who love to raise it!

[Sgroi135]

I just was on the phone with AMEX. I asked about the foreign transaction fee. She told me that if the location charges in US dollars then there is no fee. So if you are using a hotel that has a US location, you may be able to get around that fee. I know that the Radisson is based in Florida and when my charges went through for my last trip, it had Florida on the paperwork.

Not sure that the Occidental has a US location but i will check to see if I can get around the fee. Want to keep racking up the points for my Jet Blue Card.

Next month I will have enough for a free R/T ticket!

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by lizzardo

Just a reminder that if you are renting a car and have AMEX to get their car coverage for something like $49 - covers theft and other things not covered by some car rental agencies.

Premium Car Rental Protection One flat price of $24.95 per rental period, up to 42 consecutive days. You MUST register in advance for the program but you will only be charged at the time of rental.

http://www.aruba.com/forum/tags/amex%20car%20insurance.html

Originally Posted by Sgroi135

I just was on the phone with AMEX. I asked about the foreign transaction fee. She told me that if the location charges in US dollars then there is no fee. So if you are using a hotel that has a US location, you may be able to get around that fee. I know that the Radisson is based in Florida and when my charges went through for my last trip, it had Florida on the paperwork.

Not sure that the Occidental has a US location but i will check to see if I can get around the fee. Want to keep racking up the points for my Jet Blue Card.

Next month I will have enough for a free R/T ticket!

We just went through this with our AMEX platinum after we were hit with the 3% surcharge in June. The only bad thing I can say about AMEX

Dh just got a Capital One Mastercard. They are the only "major" cc issuer who does not charge a international transaction fee. Here http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/foreign-exchange-fees-going-up-1267.php#foreignfeecharts is a chart listing all of the major issuers and associated fees.

[Sunny Beaches]

Travelers Checks on taken at Hotel's & Casino's. If you are using CC, also make sure your company knows you are out of the Country, And NEVER let it out of your site! Some have had issuses.