AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Travelers Cheques / Local bank account ?

I like Islenutt's idea. (my .02) I took a bunch of $20 Amex TCs once and it was more of a pain than it was worth. Tried cashing a few at the bank and it took a lot of time and bank management signatures. If you fly AA you will have to pay an exit tax at BZE on your way home. The tax agent wouldnt accept my TC's because 2 of the letters in one signature didnt exactly match 2 letters in another signature. Shops and restaurants took them but it was never a smooth transaction. Now I take what cash I think I'll need for the week and mostly use Citi MC. Citi, like all cards, will charge 3% but ATM usage fees are really high. If there is a problem with a charge Citi is very easy to deal with. That happened only once and I believe it was due to some electronic malfunction, not something hinky.

Never had a problem with Super Markets mentioned able to cash $100 checks a bit later in the day for face value. Also remember to make a couple copies of all ID's, passport, driver's licence and front and back of credit cards and travel check #'s, important phone numbers and keep in different places. Call your card companies and tell them you will be traveling. The other thing I like about Capitol One...I signed up for alerts...I can make a purchase at the corner store-come home and check my email and there is an "International Transaction Alert" posted within seconds stating amount charged and where card was used.

Thanks, Shuffles. I will be definitely using them for travel insurance.

Thank you for the above post. I emailed Capital One to verify this information. You are correct on there not being a transaction fee. However evidently a POS withdrawal however is considered a cash advance subject to fees. Here is Capital One's response to my question:

Capital One does not charge foreign transaction fees.
In addition, a cash advance is when cash or cash equivalents are obtained against a line of credit. Cash equivalents include wire transfers, travelers' checks, money orders, foreign currency, lottery tickets, gaming chips and wagers. Cash advances are made through ATMs, tellers (over the counter) or access checks. Cash advances obtained
through a teller require proper ID (which is determined by the individual bank) and the physical credit card. A PIN is not required for over the counter cash advances. Capital One will not do verbal authorizations for cash advances. Cash advances are posted to the Cash Advance segment of the customer's account and not to the purchase
segment. The cash advance fee is currently 3.0% or $10.00 whichever is greater
per cash advance. The cash advance fee is a one time service charge on a cash advance made.
Furthermore, in order to place a travel notification note on your account, we ask that you either respond to this email or call with the following:
- Date that you plan to start traveling
- Date that you will return
- Your destination (if within the US provide us with the state, if
outside of the US provide us with the country)
- An alternate phone number to contact you while you are traveling

I used Multitrip.com

Annual policy for both of us including up to 60 days at a time aborad for around £80.