Planning Your Trip to Oahu - Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu - page 379

while out of the country—even if those charges were made in U.S. dollars. Fees can amount to 3%
or more of the purchase price. Check with your bank before departing to avoid any surprise
charges on your statement.
Though credit cards and debit cards are more often used, traveler's checks are still widely accep-
ted in the U.S. Foreign visitors should make sure that traveler's checks are denominated in U.S.
dollars; foreign-currency checks are often difficult to exchange.
You can buy traveler's checks at most banks. Most are offered in denominations of $20, $50,
$100, $500, and sometimes $1,000. Generally, you'll pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%.
The most popular traveler's checks are offered by American Express ( & 800/221-7282 for card
holders—this number accepts collect calls, offers service in several foreign languages, and ex-
empts Amex gold and platinum cardholders from the fee).
Be sure to keep a copy of the traveler's checks' serial numbers separate from your checks in the
event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.
Another option is the new prepaid traveler's check cards, reloadable cards that work much like
debit cards but aren't linked to your checking account. The American Express Travelers Cheque
Card, for example, requires a minimum deposit ($25), sets a maximum balance ($2,500), can be
used to withdraw money from an ATM ($1.50 per transaction, not including bank fees), and can be
purchased in dollars, euros, or pounds. If you lose the card, your card will be replaced, but they
can't mail it out of the country.
Visa also sells a pre-paid “debit” card, locations can be found at http://usa.visa.com/locators/
travelmoney-locations.jsp .
Why Oahu Is More Expensive
No, it's not your imagination—Oahu is more expensive than the other Hawaiian islands.
That's the result of the Hawaii State Legislature passing a bill allowing the City and County of
Honolulu (which is the entire island of Oahu) to add an additional .5% tax on to the state
general excise tax of 4%. Everything you buy on Oahu will have this tax, and so will your
hotel bill. The funds from this additional tax are earmarked for mass transit for Oahu.
Newspapers & Magazines The Honolulu Star Advertiser is Oahu's daily newspaper, it can be
found at newspaper racks all over the island. Midweek, Pacific Business News, and Honolulu
Weekly are weekly papers. Honolulu Weekly, available free at restaurants, clubs, shops, book-
stores, and newspaper racks around Oahu, is the best source for what's going on around town. It
features discriminating restaurant reviews and an informed critique of the nightclub scene, plus a
weekly Calendar of Events.
Passports Virtually every air traveler entering the U.S. is required to show a passport. All persons,
including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central
and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport. Note:
U.S. and Canadian citizens entering the U. S. at land and sea ports of entry from within the west-