Credit VS Cash

[Miss913]

I am not a ATM person and wonder what works best...ofcourse credit card, but how much cash on hand necessary?? Would it be easier to have "money cards" as in gift cards? I do not want to over do it with bringing cash if credit cards cover most. I understand, tip money etc....but what are the entities that require cash only in Aruba? Like bus or taxi, and what else? Tips? Please advise.

[Traceyd14]

Taxis are cash only. Most restaurants and tours in the tourist areas will except credit. Some smaller carryout style restaurants are cash only. We take a small amount of cash for casinos, taxis, tipping, and walking around money. If there is a specific excursion we want to do, I will always ask. Some fishing charters and private tours are cash only.

[Andrea J.]

bus/taxi - cash
tips - cash

we usually do a mix of credit and cash.

re: gift cards
be aware that an aruban place such as dunkin donuts will not take usa dunkin donut gift cards.
but ruths chris steakhouse will accept them.
i would not rely on gift cards.

i do know it is old school, but some folks still like travelers checks and those can be cashed at casinos and at the front dest of your resort.

credit cards do cover most.

check your card to see if it charges a foreign transaction fee.
many do.
many don't.

also please notify your credit card comany that you will be away.

I am not a ATM person and wonder what works best...ofcourse credit card, but how much cash on hand necessary?? Would it be easier to have "money cards" as in gift cards? I do not want to over do it with bringing cash if credit cards cover most. I understand, tip money etc....but what are the entities that require cash only in Aruba? Like bus or taxi, and what else? Tips? Please advise.

[FBS199]

Cash & Traveler's Checks are accepted almost everywhere and can remove any concerns of your CC being compromised.

[robin]

b

check your card to see if it charges a foreign transaction fee.
many do.
many don't.

also please notify your credit card company that you will be away.

Make sure they bill your credit card in US $$$ not Aruban florins to avoid the service charge.

[Miss913]

that was helpful, thanks!

[Miss913]

thanks, very helpful, and i did hear about the letting the card company know you are going abroad...important! I am going to look into the old fashion travelers cks idea too....seems like a safer way to travel with "cash"...thanks!

[AndyM]

Cash & Traveler's Checks are accepted almost everywhere and can remove any concerns of your CC being compromised.

All major CC companies protect you from fraudulent charges. You review you charges and call or click to complain and you're off the hook.

Make sure they bill your credit card in US $$$ not Aruban florins to avoid the service charge.

I'm not sure you have a choice in how the business bills your card. However, if you have a CC with a bank that doesn't charge a currency conversion fees, it doesn't matter.

[WaltVB]

Be safe and make front and back copies of your credit and debit cards in case they are compromised. Keep the info separate from the cards and you'll have the account number and the phone number to call if something were to happen.

[AUA1989]

Not only is Andrea correct about Dunkin not taking Dunkin gift cards, some prepaid credit cards purchased in the U.S. are usable only in the U.S. Please read the fine print if you purchase "prepaid" credit cards such as Visa and MC. Some of them can only be used in the U.S. (speaking from experience). We had a $500 prepaid Visa, which I found out the hard way, was useless on a vacation out of the country. Apparently, there are domestic prepaid cards and international prepaid cards.