Travelers' Checks? Not When You Travel!

Generations of admiring fans have used travelers' checks on trips around the world. But now, for too many travelers in too many places, using them may be more trouble than the checks are worth.

Judging from the most prominent provider's website, there are thousands upon thousands of restaurants, retail outlets and other businesses eager to cash traveler's checks, but recent reports indicate that only certain hotels and banks are likely to accept them. On one traveler's trip across the US to Europe and back, even a bureau de change at O'Hare would not take them. Smaller banks, some larger grocery stores and most family restaurants also refused.

"We took one of those checks to our bank," explained one store manager, "and they wouldn't take them. We had to go to another bank on the list online, and even they weren't too happy about it."

The traveler, who had stripped down her bank account to get the checks, had to find a bank that would accept them and pay fees to deposit them back into her bank account. She did this after several embarrassing incidents in which she had to scramble to pay for a meal she had already eaten.

In a time when the plastic card is the standard method of payment around the world, and travelers can find ATMs in jungles, most would say the travelers' check is a dinosaur. But for many travelers who are nervous about sharing their bank account with the locals, they are the instrument of choice when on the road.

"We use checks because my husband left our card on the table in a restaurant in Europe," explained one retired schoolteacher. "Two hours later we came back for it and one of the waiters had already used it to furnish his apartment."

In another case the only Chicago bank within walking distance that would accept the checks made the traveler wait about a half hour before his travelers' checks could be cashed. The teller explained that a seperate phone call was required for each check to be verified.

Some travelers are avoiding scams and thieves by carrying cards for two accounts, one specifically for the trip and one for backup, leaving their everyday card in a safe place at home. As most tickets and rooms are prepaid, they use the cards for meals and shopping, knowing that if one is lost or stolen the other will get them by while waiting for a replacement. Many are doing so because they are finding the checks to be unusable on the road.

"At least I know I won't be stranded somewhere without food," said the disgruntled traveler to Ireland. "At least I know I can get home from the airport. At least I won't be insulted again and again and told my checks are, in reality, worthless."