Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
American Express
(Amex; 600 Stewart St;
8:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri)
Travelex-Thomas Cook Currency Services
Sea-Tac airport ( 6am-8pm); Westlake
Center (400 Pine St, Level 3; 9:30am-6pm Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm Sun) The booth at
the main airport terminal is behind the Delta Airlines counter.
Credit & Debit Cards
Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops throughout
Seattle, although visitors will find that many smaller cafes and restaurants will tack on an
extra 30c or 50c amount for paying with plastic. Places that accept Visa and MasterCard
generally also accept (and will often prefer) debit cards, which deduct payments directly
from your check or savings account. Be sure to confirm with your bank before you leave
that your debit card will be accepted in other states or countries. Debit cards from large
commercial banks can often be used worldwide.
If your cards are lost or stolen, contact the issuing company immediately. Toll-free
numbers for the main credit-card companies:
American Express
(
800-528-4800)
Diners Club
( 800-999-9093)
Discover
( 800-347-2683)
MasterCard
( 800-627-8372)
Visa
(
800-847-2911)
Traveler's Checks
This old-school option offers the traveler protection from theft or loss. Checks issued by
American Express and Thomas Cook are widely accepted, and both offer efficient re-
placement policies. Keeping a record of the check numbers and the checks you've used
is vital when it comes to replacing lost checks. Keep this record in a separate place from
the checks themselves.
Bring most of the checks in large denominations. Toward the end of a trip you may
want to change a small check to make sure you aren't left with too much local currency.
Of course, traveler's checks are losing popularity due to the proliferation of ATMs and
you may opt not to carry any at all.
Newspapers & Magazines
Seattle's newspapers and magazines include the following.
Northwest Asian Weekly
(
www.nwasianweekly.com
)
