Page 278 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

276  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Currency for most forms of entertainment.
The most widely used cards are
Visitors will generally not encounter any problems with VISA and MasterCard, but most
financial transactions in Alaska. Banks are plentiful and places also accept American
foreign currency exchanges are available in larger cities, Express, Diner’s Club, and
but it is best to verify opening hours before visiting banks Discover Card.
ATMs offer bet ter foreign
or exchange bureaux. Automated teller machines (ATMs), exchange rates than banks, and
which enable visitors to make cash withdrawals with all credit, charge, and debit cards
debit or credit cards, are available all over Alaska, even can be used to with draw cash
in small towns and some villages. Found in most banks, from ATMs, with a bank transac-
supermarkets, and general stores, these are open 24 hours tion fee of $2 to $3, in addition
to the credit card compa ny’s
a day. Some banks even have drive-up ATMs. Credit cards charges. The most common
are commonly used for making pay ments, especially at international systems are Cirrus
hotels and car rental companies. and Plus. Before you leave home,
it is best to ask your bank or
credit card company which ATM
system your card can access.

Wiring Money
Money can be wired to Alaska
from more than 100 countries.
Money transfers can usually
be sent and received within
15 min utes, but in some cases,
it may take as much as a full day
or even up to a week. The fastest
and most popular service is
Western Union, which is found
all over Alaska, but banks also
offer wire services, albeit slower.
ATMs can dispense cash, enact account transfers, and show bank balances Thanks to the number of foreign
crew mem bers on cruise ships,
other businesses offering wire
Banks and Foreign be cashed at Wells Fargo banks services can usually be found
Currency Exchange
in Juneau, Anchorage, and near the cruise ship docks.
Alaskan banks are generally Fairbanks, but they are otherwise
open from 9 or 10am to 4:30, of little use in Alaska. To avoid Currency
5, or 6pm on weekdays, and extra charges, it is best to carry
often on Saturdays from 10am American Express or VISA US currency is based on the
to 2 or 3pm, but these hours traveler’s checks in US dollars. decimal system, and the standard
can vary across the state. Banks These are always accepted as unit is the US dollar, divided into
will convert traveler’s checks to cash, without fees, in hotels, 100 cents. Bills, or bank notes,
US dollars, and for a substantial restaurants, shops, gas sta tions, are all of similar size and greenish
commission, some Wells Fargo and other businesses across in color (newer bills have subtle
banks in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Alaska, except in some of the color backgrounds), so it is wise
and Juneau will also change smallest rural villages. Often, to always check the denom-
foreign currency traveler’s some form of photo ID, such ination and count change
checks and cash. as a passport or driv er’s license, carefully. In villages and remote
is required as identification areas, smaller bills are preferred,
when using traveler’s checks. and in some places, $50 and
Traveler’s Checks
$100 bills are not accepted at
Traveler’s checks, while rarely night. Similarly, some liquor
used in the age of ATMs, are Credit, Debit, and stores will not change $50 or
Charge Cards
safer than cash as they can be $100 bills unless the purchase is
replaced if lost or stolen. It is Credit and charge cards are over half the amount of the bill.
important to keep the checks practically essential when The quarter (25-cent piece) is
separate from the list of check traveling in the US. The cards are useful for the now rare public
numbers, which are required if usually required as a guar antee telephones. It is also best to
checks have to be replaced in when renting a car or RV (see carry cash for small transactions
case of loss or theft. Foreign pp288–9), and are used to book and tips, and for use on public
currency traveler’s checks may tours, airline tickets, and tickets transport and in taxis.

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