As if Beijing wasn’t crowded enough, nearly two million visitors are expected to visit China’s capital this summer. And it’s no surprise that many of those visitors will be fanny pack-clad Americans eager to feel a whiff of an Olympic runner’s dust or witness a grueling Olympic table tennis match.
For tourists in Beijing, blowing cash on glittering ceramic bobble-head cats and scrolls of hand-painted calligraphy is to be expected. So the last thing you want is to whip out your credit card to pay for your bamboo hat only to have the cashier shake their head and hand your card back. And keeping a hefty wad of cash in your wallet isn’t always a safe bet either, especially when you pause on a bustling streetcorner to unfold a giant, glossy map.
The best way to ensure financial security on your trip is to bring at least two major credit cards with you, as well as travelers cheques in addition to cash. Before you leave, make sure to inform your credit card companies that you will be out of the country so that they don’t cancel your card when you try to make an unfamiliar charge.
Travelers cheques, unlike cash, are fully refundable if they are lost or stolen. American Express Travelers Cheques are a great option because they provide 24-hour customer service that can replace your lost cheques with ease and speed, often in just one day. Additionally, the cheques can be exchanged for local currency, either in one of the 30+ commission-free exchange locations in Beijing or at many hotels.
If you need more convincing as to why American Express Travelers Cheques are a travel-savvy girl’s best friend, the cheque services also offer worldwide passport and credit card replacement services and emergency medical referral and assistance. That pretty much covers everything that could go wrong!
To purchase American Express Travelers Cheques, visit one of the 88,000 U.S. locations, including banks, credit unions, and American Express Travel Service locations.
For more information, please visit www.americanexpress.com/travelerscheques
