Unlike the use of an ATM or credit card, when using traveler's checks you must deal with a 1 percent commission rate for each check that you cash. There are some locations that will charge slightly higher commission rates. If traveler's checks are the sole means for financing travel, these commission rates can add up quickly.
Most traveler's checks have to be cashed at local banking institutions in order to get the funds. In order to do this, an individual needs to find a bank that accepts traveler's checks. With that comes the painstaking task of waiting in line and signing each individual check that needs to be cashed. In rural areas or third world countries, it can be difficult to find a bank or location willing to cash traveler's checks.
Losing a traveler's check does come with some reassurance, but also some hassles. When purchasing a traveler's check, individuals are given a receipt for the purchase. This receipt should be kept in a different location than the checks themselves. In the event traveler's checks are lost or stolen, an individual must present this receipt as proof of purchase. Some institutions will take 24 to 48 hours to replace the checks, which can be inconvenient when stuck in a foreign country. In the event the receipt is also lost or stolen, the replacement process can be delayed even further.
There was once a day when a traveler could make a direct purchase from a merchant with a traveler's check. Unfortunately, more merchants in foreign countries are refusing to accept traveler's checks and will only accept cash or credit cards. That means that the individual will first have to go to a local bank location, cash their check for local currency and then make a purchase.
Though a traveler's check can be purchased for currencies such as Euro, Canadian Dollars, Yen, Australian Dollars and Pound Sterling, there are limitations to other foreign currencies. When traveling to third world countries many companies will not sell traveler's checks in the correct currency. This means that the traveler will have to purchase the traveler's checks in their current currency and cash them for the country's currency upon visiting. This means that checks will be subject to an exchange rate which can fluctuate depending on the day or month they are used.
