Comments on: Cash, Traveler’s Checks or Credit Cards http://belizeantravel.com/2009/09/cash-travelers-checks-credit-cards/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:04:25 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Marie - Hot Card Belize http://belizeantravel.com/2009/09/cash-travelers-checks-credit-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Marie - Hot Card Belize Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:29:20 +0000 http://belizeantravel.com/?p=1351#comment-136 Most large stores, rental companies, hotels, restaurants, etc. will accept travelers cheques so long as you have ID - there is no need to stand in line at the bank to change them (and believe me those lines can be long, especially on a day when the building contractors have been paid!!). The BZ dollar is fixed at 2:1 with the US dollar so you will get the same rate everywhere including the bank. ATMs are becoming more readily available but many use the credit card network rather than the debit one so you could find you are paying interest on a cash advance on your credit card rather than just drawing money from your bank account. Also the exchange rate fee is dependent on your credit card company not the Belizean vendor, so check with them before you leave home as some (I think Capital One, maybe others) have no international fee. Do not let a Belizean vendor add a commission to your purchase just because you are paying by credit card - it is in contradiction of their agreement with the bank and if reported they could lose their merchant account! Also I believe the Belize exit tax for tourists must still be paid in US dollars. Most large stores, rental companies, hotels, restaurants, etc. will accept travelers cheques so long as you have ID – there is no need to stand in line at the bank to change them (and believe me those lines can be long, especially on a day when the building contractors have been paid!!). The BZ dollar is fixed at 2:1 with the US dollar so you will get the same rate everywhere including the bank.

ATMs are becoming more readily available but many use the credit card network rather than the debit one so you could find you are paying interest on a cash advance on your credit card rather than just drawing money from your bank account. Also the exchange rate fee is dependent on your credit card company not the Belizean vendor, so check with them before you leave home as some (I think Capital One, maybe others) have no international fee.

Do not let a Belizean vendor add a commission to your purchase just because you are paying by credit card – it is in contradiction of their agreement with the bank and if reported they could lose their merchant account!

Also I believe the Belize exit tax for tourists must still be paid in US dollars.

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