Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP 43
be denied—are Visa, American
Express, and Thomas Cook. Be sure
to record the numbers of the checks,
and keep that information in a separate
place in case they get lost or stolen.
Most businesses are pretty good about
taking traveler’s checks, but you’re better
off cashing them in at a bank (in
small amounts, of course) and paying
in cash. Remember: You’ll need identification,
such as a driver’s license or
passport, to change a traveler’s check.
CREDIT CARDS & ATMs Credit
cards are the most widely used form of
payment in the United States: Visa
(Barclaycard in Britain), MasterCard
(EuroCard in Europe, Access in Britain,
Chargex in Canada), American
Express, Diners Club, Discover, and
Carte Blanche. You’ll also find that
some Vegas vendors may also accept
international cards like enRoute, Euro-
Card, and JCB, but not as universally
as Amex, MasterCard, or Visa. There
are, however, a handful of stores and
restaurants that do not take credit cards,
so be sure to ask in advance. Most businesses
display a sticker near their
entrance to let you know which cards
they accept. (Note: Businesses may
require a minimum purchase, usually
around $10, to use a credit card.)
It is strongly recommended that you
bring at least one major credit card. You
must have a credit or charge card to rent
a car. Hotels and airlines usually require
a credit-card imprint as a deposit
against expenses, and in an emergency a
credit card can be priceless.
You’ll find automated teller
machines (ATMs) on just about every
block—at least in almost every town—
across the country. Some ATMs will
allow you to draw U.S. currency
against your bank and credit cards.
Check with your bank before leaving
home, and remember that you will
need your personal identification number
(PIN) to do so. Most accept Visa,
MasterCard, and American Express, as
well as ATM cards from other U.S.
banks. Expect to be charged up to $3
per transaction, however, if you’re not
using your own bank’s ATM.
One way around these fees is to ask
for cash back at grocery stores that
accept ATM cards and don’t charge
usage fees. Of course, you’ll have to
purchase something first.
ATM cards with major credit card
backing, known as “debit cards,” are
now a commonly acceptable form of
payment in most stores and restaurants.
Debit cards draw money directly from
your checking account. Some stores
enable you to receive “cash back” on
your debit-card purchases as well.
SAFETY
GENERAL SAFETY SUGGES-
TIONS While tourist areas are generally
safe, crime is a national
problem, and U.S. urban areas tend to
be less safe than those in Europe or
Japan. You should always stay alert. It’s
wise to ask your hotel front-desk staff
if you’re in doubt about which neighborhoods
are safe.
Avoid carrying valuables with you
on the street, and don’t display expensive
cameras or electronic equipment.
Hold on to your pocketbook, and place
your billfold in an inside pocket. In
theaters, restaurants, and other public
places, keep your possessions in sight.
Remember also that hotels are open
to the public, and in a large hotel,
security may not be able to screen
everyone entering. Always lock your
room door—don’t assume that once
inside your hotel you are automatically
safe and no longer need to be
aware of your surroundings. In Las
Vegas, many hotels check room keys at
the elevators at night, providing some
extra security. Many Las Vegas hotels
also have in-room safes; if yours
doesn’t and you’re traveling with valuables,
put them in a safety-deposit box
at the front desk.