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From: ben@moncol.UUCP (Bennett Broder)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: American Express or Diners Club ?
Message-ID: <275@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 11:59:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: moncol.275
Posted: Tue Apr 30 11:59:04 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-May-85 03:58:07 EDT
References: <1822@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Lines: 36


>    The question as to what of these cards should one prefer (American
>Express or Diners Club) may seem ridiculous but I am seriously concerned.
>I want such a card in order to be able to travel around the world. I know
>that many people will recommend instantly Amex but I have noticed in Europe
>that Diners is much respected.Also Diners offers a "reserved hotel room"
>service (Amex offers it for gold cards only).
>    Can anybody list some service facts?, tell about experience or any
>pitfalls?.

First of all, the American Express assured reservation plan is
available to all cardmembers, not just to those with gold cards.
In fact, the only real difference between a green card and a gold one
is that a major bank has agreed to provide a personal line of credit
for gold cardmembers, so they can get cash and/or travelers checks on
the spot.  Second, the American Express card is very widely excepted
in Europe (at least in Italy, France, England, Belgium and Holland),
and I have travelled extensively in these countries with only the AMEX
card and some travelers checks.  American express also provides a
wealth of other services, even discount subscriptions on MCI called
Expressphone.  (No more MCI flames, please)  I, for one, have been
very pleased with their service (Amex, not MCI).

Since I don't have a Diners Club, I am not as familiar with its
worldwide acceptance, however, I cannot recall ever seeing an
establishment that takes Diners Club, but not American Express;
I have seen many that take Amex but not Diners.  I have seen places
that take Master Card/Visa but not Amex, claiming that Amex charges
too high a percentage.

My advice would be to carry Amex for most of your charges, a bank card
for those shops that don't take Amex, and some travelers checks for
those that don't take any cards at all.

                     Ben Broder
                     ihnp4!princeton!moncol!ben