Finance and money forum
Prepaid Visas vs. Debit card vs. travellers cheques which is best?
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
| Possibly related discussions | Replies | Views | Latest reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good PrePaid Card, Credit card or Debit Card (from UK)...? ... By lukusmaca on 28 May 2013 | 4 | 336 | 3 Jun 2013 |
| Travellers Cheques in CAD ... By mckayb on 30 May 2010 | 4 | 2861 | 21 Aug 2010 |
| Best Irish prepaid Travel Card for Asia ... By helz26 on 21 May 2011 | 5 | 3539 | 9 Feb 2012 |
| How much USD to bring ? And what about travellers cheques? ... By nickolt on 25 Oct 2010 | 12 | 4236 | 3 Dec 2010 |
| Travellers cheques in Cambodia? ... By halu on 11 Oct 2006 | 6 | 2807 | 30 Oct 2006 |
| How much Cash/Travellers Cheques ... By elena9 on 27 Jan 2008 | 1 | 2375 | 27 Jan 2008 |
| USD OR STERLING TRAVELLERS CHEQUES? ... By dazm26 on 31 Jan 2008 | 1 | 3348 | 31 Jan 2008 |
| Mosquito Net & Travellers Cheques ... By Gerry on 22 May 2008 | 7 | 4365 | 14 Aug 2008 |
| US$ Travellers cheques -> US$ cash in Bangkok ... By krisim on 11 Feb 2010 | 2 | 1771 | 12 Feb 2010 |
| travellers cheques in provincial towns ... By wanderingcat on 8 Nov 2006 | 1 | 1557 | 9 Nov 2006 |
gocartmozart
Joined Travelfish
21st February, 2013
Posts 3
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to go with finances for our trip. Some helpful advice would be much appreciated. We're going for 3 weeks in Thailand. Bangkok first then to Chiang Mai (visit Dad) then Phuket down to some Islands then back up to Bangkok to go home. We don't have a regular visa card, so, we were thinking of getting two seperate prepaid visas for around $300 CAN each then use those to book online.But then pay for hotels in baht whenever we are near banks where we can withdraw using my debit card, or use the visa if we are not close to one, then carry some quantity of baht when we travel to an island. Has anyone had any problems using a prepaid visa booking hotels online etc., getting deposit back onto the visa etc.? Any thought s about the best way to do this? Travellers cheques maybe?
#1 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 19:28
Drew84
Joined Travelfish
6th July, 2011
Posts 36
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hey good evening! Fellow Canadian here! When I was last in Thailand in 2011, I travelled with a Visa debit card issued from CIBC and had absolutely no issues with booking anything or making any withdrawls. Infact the fees were very reasonable I found. When traveling internationally the card gets treated as a standard Visa card so you can do anything you would with an actual credit card. As far as I know, all major banks in canada are now issuing these as their standard issue debit cards with chequing accounts. Prepaid visas, travellers cheques are for the most part unnecessary and also more costly, in my experiance. When do you plan to go? I'll be back in the kingdom in april-may.
#2 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 20:19
Advertisement
gocartmozart
Joined Travelfish
21st February, 2013
Posts 3
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hello there fellow Canuck! Thanks for your response. I bank at Vancity and they don't have a visa debit card unfortunately. The prepaid gift visa card has a one time $2 purhase and no transaction fee, so, it isn't costly. I just want to know that I won't have any trouble using it to book some accomodations online. They only charge 33 baht to cash a travellers cheque, so I was thinking that's pretty safe to use too. We'll be there in March.
#3 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 21:18
Drew84
Joined Travelfish
6th July, 2011
Posts 36
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
its always free to open a checking account too! and generally you pay a percentage to purchase travelers cheques too. i considered all the same things before my trip last time. this time im just going with the visa debit and about $500 cash.
#4 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 21:22
gocartmozart
Joined Travelfish
21st February, 2013
Posts 3
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Say Drew, I seem to recall getting shots before I went to Thailand many moons ago, is that still advisable. Malaria pills
Darryl
#5 Posted: 21/2/2013 - 22:39
Drew84
Joined Travelfish
6th July, 2011
Posts 36
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
The twinrix is advisable from my understanding. I also made sure my tetnus was up to date. if you plan to spend some time in rural areas some people recommend rabies as well. The anti-malarials are not really necessary from what I gather.
For me, I just got the twinrix (hep a and b) and a tetnus shot before departure.
#6 Posted: 22/2/2013 - 09:50