vacation: cash or credit?

I'm going on vacation Monday and can't decide if its better to go ahead and use cash for everything or put it on a cc and pay it off when I get home. Both have pros and cons but I just wanted to hear yalls $.02. I don't like the idea of traveling with large sums of $$ but then I hear stories of cc fraud on tourists so idk. Let's hear some advise and/or personal experiences.

 

No brainer, CC all the way and pay off. Everything goes on my CC, but never keep a balance.

 

so it sounds like we kinda think the same. food, rental expences, gas, ect. go on CC. but tips and small random purchases for cash. glad to know im on the right page.

 

I used to put vacations on the CC, for the first time in a long time, I paid everything cash this last vacation. Its great not having to worry about paying a vaction off later.

 

what kinda vacation? anything large like a hotel, airplane, rental car, if the service is extremely poor, and they refuse to work with you, you can dispute it with your cc company and they can work something out. cash for food and such though.

But i generally put everything on my cc and pay it off right away. they hate me for it, but it builds credit. only put stuff on cc if you have the cash right then, or its an extreme emergency.

 

just a little 3 day get away to the beach. gotta pay the condo rental with a check (per owners rule) which is no big deal. i have the cash for the trip in my acct so its not like ill have to pay off the card for months at a time. just not a big fan of traveling out of state with large sums of cash b/c if its lost or stolen, thats pretty much the end of it. with a cc, you can dispute it with the company, as u stated.

 

Credit, but I always take some cash as well.

 

Use the credit card and pay it off. 1000 dollars for a flight = points/cash back.

 

I use a CC because I get 1% cash back at the end of the year. I do not carry a balance on my CC. But for eating out and junk while on vacation it is always my debit card.

 

use credit card,as long as you can pay the full balance when due. on hunting trips I would carry all cash. had to take quite a bit extra with in case of breakdown, or if I found something I just had to have. I did not have a credit card then,now I have one, use it alot. I have never paid one cent on an unpaid balance. I really don't need it,but it's very convenient. If I had a cabelas credit card,I would put everything on it to get the points for freebies.

 

I use my ATM for most everything. Best of both worlds.

 

Credit Card if you have the cash to pay off the vacation, before interest is charged at the end of the billing cycle. I carry some cash, usually not more then $100.00, for small things like tips etc.. Usually use the ATMs in the area, I know you get charged a fee if it is not your banks ATM, but I would rather pay a small fee, then if you loose your money or get ripped off your not out.

In most tourist areas thieves are on the lookout for people carrying large amounts of cash, this is something we all must lookout for and protect ourselves.

 

It's easy to plan to "pay it off" when you get home and then spend more than you planned. Cash is good for this.

I use my debit card because it gives you some protection like a cc. I have 1 cc and it rarely leaves my house.

 

I pay my cc off every month. I use it for travel expenses and even pay my bill if it's due while on vacation.

Not sure if the rules have changed, but if the bg gets your debit card info, he can clean your account out and there's not much you can do. But with credit cards you are protected.

I also carry some cash in case something happens to my cc. Don't like carrying large amounts of cash.

 

The other half and I are going to Germany for Oktoberfest leaving in a month. Happy to say we paid cash for 100% of things back in April.

 

I always have a few bucks in my pocket for smaller things but typically use a credit card for everything. I figure if I'm going to buy it, why use cash when I can get points by using the credit card. Buying in cash has no return. As long as you're disciplined enough to pay off your balance every month, credit cards are the way to go in my opinion.

 

i used to do this..but now i dont. CC has a layer of protection that a debit card doesnt. one wrong swipe, and some scumbag will have access to your bank account. the CC will protect you for the most part from fraud.

i use my CC for everything when i travel. i have the cash on hand, and pay it off right away. take a small stack of cash for the small stuff, and tips.

 

x2.

in addition, i use a rewards card so all the expenses i can go on the card to get the rebate.

also, i can track my spending better if i want.

and... you have the protection of the credit card company if something goes wrong with the purchase, or are you liable (generally - if you notify them in a certain amount of time) if it gets stolen and used.

carrying a lot of cash while traveling is not a great idea IMO.

 

no, it really doesn't give you the protection of a cc in general.

in addition, while using it at certain locations such as gas stations, it's far riskier as the information is beamed via satellite and exposes your information.

and there's other issues such as freezing your funds...
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/BetterBanking/HosedAtTheGasPumpByYourDebitCard.aspx