| My first time overseas, I had to exchange cash in | | | | out. |
| $200 of travelers checks to pay a mountaineering | | | | Of course, on longer trips it's a hassle to pay the |
| guide who hadn't heard of American Express. The | | | | credit card bill on time, which isn't a problem with |
| bank charged me $8. During the same trip, I used | | | | debit cards. Carry both, and on longer trips you |
| my debit card at an ATM to get $200 from my | | | | can wait until you're a few weeks from home to |
| checking account. Once home, I saw that the | | | | use the credit card. That way you'll get there |
| charge for this was one dollar, and that was the | | | | before the bill does. |
| last time I used traveler's checks. | | | | An important advantage credit and debit cards |
| Debit And Credit Cards When Traveling | | | | have over travelers checks, is that when you |
| I usually carry a debit card and a credit card | | | | need the local currency, you'll almost always get a |
| when I travel now. I keep them well-hidden in two | | | | better exchange rate with your cards. Also, the |
| separate places. If they are stolen, which has | | | | cash you get from the local ATM will truly be |
| never happened yet, they have either zero | | | | accepted everywhere, something even American |
| liability, or a fifty dollar liability limit for any | | | | Express Travelers Checks can't promise. |
| unauthorized charges. Ask your bank or credit | | | | I have nothing against American Express. Once, |
| card company about this. | | | | when I was robbed in Mexico, they quickly and |
| When an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) won't | | | | curtiously replaced my stolen traveler's checks. |
| take one of the cards for some reason - and this | | | | Also, at times it is appropriate to carry money in |
| will happen - I use the other card, which usually | | | | several forms, including theirs. However, times |
| works fine. Credit cards may be less trouble than | | | | change and ATMs are everywhere now, so my |
| debit cards. Your liability could be zero on your | | | | policy is : Travelers checks; don't leave home with |
| stolen debit card, but you probably won't have | | | | them. You can take an American Express credit |
| access to your account until the matter is sorted | | | | card instead. |