Everywhere I've been -- including rural Costa Rica, Vietnam, and Cambodia -- I've been able to get money from the ATM with my card. So, the ATM is your everyday solution. Actually, people take credit cards most everywhere, and you get a great exchange rate on these transactions. But, from time to time, you'll need something else:

• When you land
• For emergencies
• Cash discounts

When You Land

OK, so you just flew for an ungodly number of hours and now you landed in some country where you don't speak the money. The good news is that your vacation has officially started; the bad news is that you need to get to the hotel and they expect cash. Bring some US green and change it, at disastrous rates, at the airport, so that you can get into town where you can use your ATM and get a good rate. Just eat it; you're stuck.

For Emergencies

Well, there was that one town I was in in Costa Rica which didn't have a bank. And there weren't any ATMs along the Mekong River. So, it's good to have some emergency money; I like to shove traveler's checks in the lining of my suitcase (most thieves won't think to check there); most places will take traveler's checks, even though they may charge you a high fee. Hey, it's currency, and you need it in an emergency!

Cash Discounts

Call ahead to find out if you get a discount for paying cash; in Costa Rica, that discount can be as high as 10%.

A Quick Note on Credit and ATM Cards

If you're using your credit or ATM card outside of the country, call the customer support number on the back before you leave and tell them where you're going; otherwise, they're likely to cut you off when it's most inconvenient.

A Quick Note on Carrying Cash

Depending on the country, carrying cash can be smart or stupid. First of all, never flash cash anywhere. Second, if you must carry cash try and put it in a safe, rather than holding it yourself. But also take into account the country; for instance, carrying cash is both safe and thrifty in Costa Rica, so you should favor cash over plastic; in Brazil, you will be rapidly relieved of that cash so rely on plastic. Whatever you decide, remember that you will be an obvious tourist -- even in Canada, foreigners stand out.