I'm planning on taking out a big stack of ones to tip the good people at the resort... but I'm wondering about setting off any red flags in customs or security. Thoughts? Should it go in carry-on? Carried on my person?
I just put ours in envelopes and carry it in my back pack that never leaves my side. We have taken up to $1800 in cash for various things and never had a question about it.
I carry my ones and fives on me. Yes it may send a red flag going through customs. I have been pulled aside and quietly asked how much cash I was carrying. I have always explained it is tip money and they have never had a problem with that. Make sure your bills are is good shape. I have been told the staff can't take them to their bank if they are written on or if they are in poor shape.
Can't see it being a problem. I think the rule is that you have to declare over $10,000 in cash. I mean people are going on vacation to spend money. I could have 1K in cash in my wallet for spending money. Can't see if making much of a difference if it is in small bills.
As others have said, you should have absolutely no issues. They know people are coming to all-inclusive's primarily but need tip money as most of the staff in resorts rely on tips. Now fat stacks of 100's might be a different issue lol
This is me. Call it a little OCD, but I break up my cash into envelopes - Boobs Cruise, tip money, USA Transfers, etc. The envelopes go in my backpack that never leaves my side at the airport and I pull the money out of the specific envelope. Never had any issues with Customs. Easy peasy. Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk
We've never been questioned (we've been 9x) and we typically carry enough cash for a 7-14 day trip to cover tips/off resort shopping/duty free/Mexico restaurants/Pub crawls. They've never questioned or even asked us to open our carry on. You should be fine guys as people have stated above, if they were to stop all travelers to question why they have large amounts of cash in wallets/carry on we'd never get the TTR party started - couldn't imagine ... LOL!!! :banghead: And customs would be an absolute nightmare!!!! Like I said - don't think it's something to worry about ... but if asked, answer as we all do!!
I do the exact same thing. I have Boobs Cruise, USA Transfers, Tip money, spending money, taxi money (home from the airport). All in the right denominations and the right currency. Nikki
Traveled with $4k in cash, lots of small bills to Costa Rica, brought $1000 to Cancun last trip all being 1's and 5's except a few hundred in 20's. No issues I will say prior to doing it and even while doing it I had your same concerns.
