When visiting another country with a different currency, how do you typically handle the cash process? Do you prefer to withdraw money beforehand, use only a credit or debit card, or rely on ATMs after you land?

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Prior to taking an international trip, it’s important to know how to get the best value when accessing your money or exchanging currencies. Exchange rates and conversion fees can sometimes be tricky when traveling to a different country, which is why I always make a point to do some extra research so access to foreign currency can be as painless as possible.

The good news is overseas banking has become a bit easier these days, which provides a number of options based on your destination. A popular option is to head to a currency exchange at the airport before the flight, but I’m typically wary of using this because the transfer fees can be egregious. However, it can be reliable when you are going somewhere remote where ATMs and credit cards may not be widely accepted.

My personal go-to, international ATMs, are another popular option that protects you from carrying all of your cash on you at once, which I always try to avoid. Give your bank notice you leave and check to see if they can help you out — some banks provide protection from raised international withdrawal fees, which can help save some extra cash.

My final suggestion would be to get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. There are a bunch of travel rewards cards that provide this, and this perk can be incredibly valuable over time for those who constantly find themselves in foreign countries.

Thanks and safe travels!

— Chris Sager, account executive