I thought we had a thread on these but I can't find it so here we are.
I have just returned from a Canada/Alaska trip and thought I would let future travellers know about the restrictions on these as they are being pushed Very hard at all the banks.
These cards are praised as the best for available cash, daily expenses and shopping. After many enquiries and having to persist to get the answers that I needed, I decided not to get one.
Some people on the tour had decided they would get one so we have a very good comparison of each.
We all travelled on Air Canada, they will not accept a debit card for anything, only credit cards so travel card useless.
So we arrive in Canada, we head up to bank to get some cash, I go to the local ATM get a cash advance on my Visa, fee $2.00 + $8.00 for $400. They try to get some cash, sorry can't help you, as they maxed out their CC to buy the travel card this is a problem. It means that everywhere they go they have to use the card which attracts a $3.50 fee for every transaction. A $5 hat becomes a $8.50 hat, a $2 bottle of water becomes a $5.50 bottle of water etc.
Then we board the coach and all the way around they cope with it, we then get on board the Rocky Mountaineer train, they only accept credit cards, "sorry, no debit cards" so unable to buy souvenirs.
Board the Holland America line cruise, " sorry, debit cards not accepted, only credit cards" these poor people struggled the whole way trying to use this card.
We got 2 cash advances in Canada of $400 cost $10 each time and a cash advance in Alaska which cost $8.90 for $200. I have compared the CC exchange rates and seem to quite be favourable with what banks offer so I am happy we went the right way with cash advances and pay cash to avoid CC overseas transaction charges on small daily purchases.
In comparison, at times they were forced to go without lunch as many of the smaller places did not accept debit cards either and they paid over $100 in fees because they were using this card.
They were quite embarrassed by the situation and did not tell us of their problem until the tour was virtually over, I am sure we could have worked something out if we had known.
When we consider they had already paid to buy the card, then a % to load the card this was a very expensive option and I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the branch of 'which bank" when they went into complain.
I have just returned from a Canada/Alaska trip and thought I would let future travellers know about the restrictions on these as they are being pushed Very hard at all the banks.
These cards are praised as the best for available cash, daily expenses and shopping. After many enquiries and having to persist to get the answers that I needed, I decided not to get one.
Some people on the tour had decided they would get one so we have a very good comparison of each.
We all travelled on Air Canada, they will not accept a debit card for anything, only credit cards so travel card useless.
So we arrive in Canada, we head up to bank to get some cash, I go to the local ATM get a cash advance on my Visa, fee $2.00 + $8.00 for $400. They try to get some cash, sorry can't help you, as they maxed out their CC to buy the travel card this is a problem. It means that everywhere they go they have to use the card which attracts a $3.50 fee for every transaction. A $5 hat becomes a $8.50 hat, a $2 bottle of water becomes a $5.50 bottle of water etc.
Then we board the coach and all the way around they cope with it, we then get on board the Rocky Mountaineer train, they only accept credit cards, "sorry, no debit cards" so unable to buy souvenirs.
Board the Holland America line cruise, " sorry, debit cards not accepted, only credit cards" these poor people struggled the whole way trying to use this card.
We got 2 cash advances in Canada of $400 cost $10 each time and a cash advance in Alaska which cost $8.90 for $200. I have compared the CC exchange rates and seem to quite be favourable with what banks offer so I am happy we went the right way with cash advances and pay cash to avoid CC overseas transaction charges on small daily purchases.
In comparison, at times they were forced to go without lunch as many of the smaller places did not accept debit cards either and they paid over $100 in fees because they were using this card.
They were quite embarrassed by the situation and did not tell us of their problem until the tour was virtually over, I am sure we could have worked something out if we had known.
When we consider they had already paid to buy the card, then a % to load the card this was a very expensive option and I would love to have been a fly on the wall at the branch of 'which bank" when they went into complain.
