Travelers Checks in Alaska & BC

[PeteC]

I'll be leaving to Alaska through British Columbia in about 2 weeks. Will be carrying some cash, but hope to mostly use a Visa Travelers Card which worked very well on a trip I did from the USA to Ushuaia, Argentina in 2009. I have been reading in some reports on traveling through BC & Alaska that credit cards are not always accepted in some of the remote areas, cash & traveler checks only accepted. Some of these reports are older so it may not be the same now. I'm wondering if things have changed & credit cards are now pretty much accepted all over & Travelers Checks won't be needed. I will have a stash of cash hidden here & there just in case though. One problem I've found is that very few banks even supply Travelers Checks any more & some places don't even accept them because of a lot of fraud involving them.

Also if any of you have any suggestions or hints for me on this trip I'd like to hear them. Thanks in advance for any help given. Pete Chester

[MountainMan]

No need for traveller's checks anymore, that's been the case for quite a while. Credit cards, a debit card as a backup and your small stash of cash for one off situations will be more than enough. A few hundred/thousand Americans make the same journey to the north in motorhomes and campers every year so it's well set up for travellers. Distances between gas stations can be far though so carry some extra fuel in case you are caught in between or passing through a one horse town where they have closed down for the night.

[PeteC]

Originally Posted by MountainMan

No need for traveller's checks anymore, that's been the case for quite a while. Credit cards, a debit card as a backup and your small stash of cash for one off situations will be more than enough. A few hundred/thousand Americans make the same journey to the north in motorhomes and campers every year so it's well set up for travellers. Distances between gas stations can be far though so carry some extra fuel in case you are caught in between or passing through a one horse town where they have closed down for the night.

This sounds good. Thanks for the info. Pete

[fullpower]

Much less common, I haven't received a travelers check in at least 6 or 7 years.
Pretty easy and safe to spend US dollars up this way.
most gasoline dispenser pumps will take credit cards, but always the risk of the electrons failing, in which case cash is the only way to fill up.
Lots of specific and general road and destination tips on the ALASKA section of advrider
... Alaska - ADVrider

.
If you make it down the Kenai Peninsula, stop in Homer, and say hello.
Free camping space on my homestead, or in town by my shop.