I’m in the initial stages of hiking the AT in '04 season and am wandering if anyone knows if there is a bank’s ATM that is seen more up and down…or are the ATM machines random ones that take just about anybody’s card?..also any money suggestions as far as how much cash/credit cards/traveler’s checks/coinage etc. to take along would be helpful. -Thanks!
Knotter
There are plenty of ATMs in all the trail towns except Monson, ME. I think. Most of the ATMs take multiple cards. You won’t have a problem.
Wolf
I’d recomend hiding $50 somewhere you’re not gonna want to go (like inside a pair of really dirty socks). ATM’s are not a problem but…you never know. We rolled up to Mountain Mama’s and realised we were skint. They did’nt accept cards so we had to sit and drool over the famous Mountain mama burger…that we could’nt afford. In the end the guy gave us a ride into town (for $20) to use the ATM.
Moral: Be prepared - Like we were’nt.
Ross
Ross
A lot of people would get cash at the post office, because they let you buy stamps with your cash card and then “withdraw” more than the cost of the stamps at no charge. For some reason my stupid bank blocked my ability to do that, but I never heard of another hiker with that problem. Some grocery stores let you do that too if you pay for your groceries with your card. ATM machines were also fairly common, took anybody’s card but often charged a fee to use.
Ross is right, always carry cash some cash on you. $50. a person sounds about right. We usually carried some one dollar bills, incase we ran across a soda machine or something, and because we usually offered a few bucks to people who gave us a ride. I don’t think anyone ever took our money, but we felt it polite to offer. I didn’t use travelers checks and don’t think most people did.
jitterbug
What Knotter (and I) are looking for is the name of the bank or company that supports the most number of ATM machines along the Trail. If you just use your card at any ATM, the service charges mount up. For example, I know Keybank ATMs run from PA to ME but they may not have the most ATMs in trail towns. Is there a bank that covers GA to PA? You could get cards from both and with minimum balances avoid many service charges.
Blue Jay
My bank does not charge a fee for a cash advance on my debit card. I would ask in banks along the trail if they charged a fee for a cash advance and many didn’t. Thus, I never had to pay the $1.50 or $2.00 fee that ATMs charge.
Bump
Go to REI and purchase a money belt.My partner and I did a setion hike of the AT last April,and both of us used money belts.We each carried close to 100 dollars in small bills.We didn’t touch it until we got into a bind at some of the stores.We removed it ahead of time or went into a bathroom, so no one would see us getting it out of our belts.I also use it when I’m hiking on portions of the PCT and JMT.You can always replace the money you removed, when you arrive intown where there is an ATM.Works fine for me.
:cheers
Bill Harris
are banks in america regional? in uk + aus they are all national. my visas + debit cards are all marked as either ‘maestro’ and ‘cirrus’ which means i can use them in any atm…
this works in australia + uk… but can one of you kind americans confirm this for me?? (the logos are double blue circles or 1 blue and 1 red, slightly overlapping…)
Bloody Cactus