On the trail, do you carry cash or credit cards or debit cards or a mixture? Do you carry an identification such as a drivers license?
nova
What kind of money do you carry?
system
#2
On my Thru I carried Postal Money Orders but I don’t recommend that. Carry a Debit and Credit card and no more the 100 cash. Just make sure you can use cards to get more cash at ATMS. I carried my Drives Lic. and Military ID. I would keep this stuff at least doubled zip locked. I recommend carrying 2 forms of ID. Make sure your ground support has the info on your cards in case you lose them.
Have a great hike
Sub
Subman
system
#3
I agree with Subman. On the trail I carry not more than $100 in cash, but I carry my Mil. ID (Ret) and my insurance card and my state drivers lisc. for ID purposes (plus you may need a rent-a-car somewhere and need that to be able to drive).
My hiking “pard” got hurt in Warwick NY and we had a bear-of-a-time at the hospital because he didn’t have his insurance card with the policy numbers along with him. I had to call his wife and get them over the phone.
I also learned the hard way not to use my credit card to get cash at a bank. I took our $100.00 in Hot Springs and after bank charges and fees it cost me $137.50 for the transaction. Use your DEBIT card to get cash, there may be a $2-3 fee for the transaction but not a $37.50 cash advance fee!
I carry my Debit card (which I can also use as a credit card).
Also learned on that trip not to use the hospital if possible, use the local walk-in CLINIC instead. My “pard” had a serious eye infection in Damascus, went to the Damascus clinic and it cost him about $100.00 for treatment and meds. He had a similar issue outside of Warwick, NY and they tried to bill him over $900.00 at the hospital emergency room - same issue +$800 for a doctor to see him for less than 5 min and refer him to an eye doctor across the street!
There are some places that only take cash so check your guidebooks and call in advance and find the nearest ATM! Also if you save your Credit/Debit card reciepts for your financial records mail them home to yourself rather than carry them. My wife is a CPA and goes nuts when I bring home a reciept she can’t read!
Have fund and Be Careful and Be Safe Out There!
Hardcharger
Hardcharger
system
#4
traveler checks- frowned upon, but most placese will take them
debit card/credit card- recommened, but surprising amt of places are cash only, usually- but not always- can hit up an atm, bank, wallmart etc.
Cash- is king- but should minimize amt carried at any given time.
mythe
system
#5
take cash - i always tried to leave town with $100 so i would $ immediatly when i hit the next town - credit card (you may need to buy gear online) a debit card (use at grocery store and get cash back with no fee. take your drivers license - not only is it good to have id for a lot of reasons if you have something sent to you at a po you’ll need it to get your package. don’t need travelers checks - that was last century.
the truth!!!
system
#6
I carry swiss Francs. I also have several gold coins strapped to the inner lining of my pack in case the world economy tanks and Armageddon ensues.
Stynker
system
#7
Gold coins for armageddon? Sounds like a liability to me. Better to be able to start a fire by rubbing two sticks and chasing down skunks like Bear Grylls. I plan to carry VHS tapes of Man vs Wild as a refresher when needed, b/c no way is DVD going to survive M.A.D.
tron
system
#9
if all else fails, you could always ‘sherpa’ for $. Believe it or not, this HAS happened on the AT over the years. I think the arrangement is # dollars / per pound / per mile…:eek:
freebird
system
#10
Allways carry some change, I ran into a coke machine that wouldn’t take my dollar and almost became double jointed trying to reach thru the slot (unsuccessfully) .
The Hobo
system
#11
Most thru-hikers will agree you should NEVER carry loose change out of town. It is too heavy to justify the need, if any.
fern
system
#13
The Joy of a cold Dr. Pepper on a hot trail is worth the .8 of an once for the 4 quarters
The Hobo
system
#14
—> Hobo! Hate when that happens! I got to the Gathland SP in MD and spotted a drink machine near the bathroom. I even made sure that I had some nice crisp $1-bills - no heavy change. Soda was $1.50 a bottle - put in my first dollar and it was accepted, put in the second and it came back out - reinserted -back out again and the machine said “sorry out of change”! never did get my first dollar back and had to settle for a quart of Propel instead! My Kingdom for two quarters! to mis-quote the Bard!
Hardcharger
system
#15
I tried to use a Travelers Cheque in the town Bob Peoples drove us to. The cashier didn’t know what it was so she called the manager over for help. When the manager also didn’t know what it was, I had to use a credit card to buy my food. I guess Travelers Cheques are going the way of the Pay Phone.
Old Goat
system
#16
Some interesting history on traveler’s checks (cheques):
Traveler’s cheques were first issued on 1 January 1772 by the London Credit Exchange Company for use in ninety European cities,[1] and in 1874 Thomas Cook was issuing ‘circular notes’ that operated in the manner of traveler’s cheques.[2]
American Express was the first company to develop a large-scale traveller’s cheque system in 1891,[3] and is still the largest issuer of traveler’s cheques today by volume. American Express’s introduction of traveler’s cheques is traditionally attributed to employee Marcellus Flemming Berry, after company president J.C. Fargo had problems in smaller European cities obtaining funds with a letter of credit.
Between the 1950s and the 1990s travelers cheques became one of the main ways that people took money on vacation for use in foreign countries without the risks associated with carrying large amounts of cash.
Several brands of travelers cheques have been marketed; the most familiar of those were Thomas Cook Group, Bank of America and American Express.
Declining use
The wider acceptance and better security of the alternatives such as credit and debit cards has meant a significant decline in the use of travelers cheques since the 1990s. In addition, the security issues for retailers accepting travelers cheques has meant that many businesses no longer accept them, making them less attractive to travelers. This has led to complaints about the difficulty that holders have in using them. In much of Europe and Asia, the cheques are no longer widely accepted and can not easily be cashed, even at the banks that issue the cheques.
(source: Wikipedia)
tron
system
#17
I used the debit card exclusively. I took $200 from the ATM whenever I needed it. The only other time I used the debit card was for motel rooms and anything over $100 (shoes, etc).
Wingo