<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - How to do quick unit conversions online"/><ul class="gnt_ar_sh"><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Don't use your debit card to pay for anything but ATM withdrawals.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Both cash and credit are useful for different transactions.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">You can get foreign currency from your bank, a currency exchange kiosk or an ATM.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><em>Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by</em> <a target="_blank" href="https://profile.usatoday.com/newsletters/travel/" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a"><em>signing up for our Travel newsletter here</em></a><em>. </em></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">You’re finally taking that big trip abroad.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">For as much time and energy you’ve spent saving up and searching for the best deals on flights or cruises, places to stay, and travel experiences, it would be a shame to blow extra money at the last minute. But that’s what you’ll be doing if you don’t use your cash and credit wisely.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“The thing I never, ever, ever recommend doing abroad is (using) your debit card to pay for things unless you're withdrawing money from an ATM,” said consumer savings expert Matt Granite, who’s known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@thedealguy" data-t-l=":b|z|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" rel="noopener">The Deal Guy on YouTube</a>.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Here’s why and what else travelers should know before visiting another country:</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Learn more:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":body nav (cc)|e|auto spike click:6|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" href="https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/credit-cards/best-credit-cards/">Best credit cards of 2023</a></p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_mt">Can you use debit cards internationally?</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Yes, but Granite strongly discourages using it to pay for anything but ATM withdrawals.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“You've just given a terminal that you are unfamiliar with access to your bank account with a pin. You've absolutely no idea what happens beyond that point,” he warned. </p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:413px" fetchpriority="high" data-g-r="lazy" data-gl-src="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/07/01/USAT/74266862007-getty-images-1245938711.jpg?width=660&height=413&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" data-gl-srcset="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/07/01/USAT/74266862007-getty-images-1245938711.jpg?width=1320&height=826&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="A woman withdraws euro banknotes from an ATM in Zagreb on Jan. 2, 2023. Since January 1, 2023 the euro is the official currency in Croatia."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_mt">Is it better to travel with cash or credit?</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Both.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">“You generally want cash on you, always, in case of an emergency,” Granite said. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Cash is also useful for gratuities and small purchases. For larger...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2024/07/09/international-travel-foreign-currency-cash-credit/74267428007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
