Did you apply for the appropriate credit card? They have different levels of credit cards for people with all types of credit.

I am going to Hawaii and I don't have a Capital One card. I am currently not looking for a new card to travel with. Besides, last year they denied me for a bunch of reasons that didn't make sense.

If you have a Capital One credit card, take it with you and use it when you need to make a credit card purchase. They don't charge you any Foreign Exchange fees.

I do all of my banking with Chase, so I don't have two checking accounts. But I do plan on carrying more than one credit card, not just Amex.

Agree with having real cash. Also when traveling I have at least two different bank issued cards usually a Mastercard and Visa. It has happened when bank computers have gone down which turns into a surprise and hassle. Frankly a good scout know: "...always be prepared..."!!!

I plan on taking some cash with me and my debit card. My sister and I might go somwhere and they only take cash. I know that with my luggage I will have to have some cash on me.

youi know what young man, you are right but society has even made that easy with your Debit Card, who carries cash when their is always is an ATM or go into a Safeway or Lucky's and as always the card reader asks you if you would like additional cash ? I hear you though young man because that's how I was raised, always have some cash in your pocket.

Eldarwen, it would be a good idea to take some cash with you in case of an emergency and/or back-up.

I am going to Hawaii to visit my sister and that reminds me to call Amex, Discover and Chase before I leave. I don't want to be shut down with no money.

I agree with your idea. Funny thing is I went back to the Bay Area a week ago and had to let the Fraud / Security Dept at BOA know I would be out of town and for how long and where I was going so they wouldn't flag my cards for fraud if they saw charges coming out of Cal. I got off the plane and booked my Rental Car / Hotel using my AMEX card and no problem. I have heard the stories of people being declined in the most un-opportune times with their amex card and that's why I made sure my Signature cards were going to be ok. Had no issue......

They may be doing it less often, but it is Amex and they are finicky. Some people slip under the radar and have great experiences with Amex. Others have lost quite a bit credit line with Amex and they did nothing wrong. One guy at the credit board forums had Amex CLD him and he lost almost $200,000 in credit.

Now your making me nervous. Got upgraded to the Gold Preferred and I have used my old Gold Card at Walmart several times to purchase groceries ($500 +) and have yet to experience a negative issue from Amex. I upgraded to the Gold Preferred because of the 2 for 1 points when purchasing groceries. Have spent $2K+ this year using the Amex Card and they continue to send me their offers, i.e. companion ticket, subscriptions to magazines, sweepstakes entries,etc.. Still want the Platinum Card Eldarwen but I will hold on to the Gold Preferred and pay closer attention to issues that might come up.

To tell you the truth, smcc, Amex has gone crazy. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Amex likes to see a lot of spending and tons of it at a high end store. Every time I think of Amex, I think of weathy people. I just got my Amex Platinum a few months ago, if I used it at a Walmart, I think Amex would have shut down my Platinum card and given me a financial review. They probably would do it to my Blue Cash as well given the oppritunity.

Now Eldarwen that's interesting. Would you get the same type of static had you used your Platinum Card vs your Amex Credit Card ? Interesting, Amex offers this special from their site but your saying that they want you to use your buying power at high end retailers ?

Do you think Amex/Wal Mart have come together just for this special or is Amex just wanting to pad the bottom line during the holidays and realizes the amount of traffic that will come through Wal Mart ?

I have a Walmart that is a half an hour away and did use my Amex there once and one of the reasons that they stated for my CLD on my Blue Cash is that I used it at 'discount' stores. I didn't use it any discount stores, except one time at Walmart. Amex is very spend-centric, they like to have you spend money at high or higher end stores. I am getting 5% cash back on my Discover card right now. The category is groceries.