DECIDING how you're going to access your money overseas is one of the most boring and complicated tasks to tick off the to-do list when planning your travels.
There are so many different cards, and so many different fees.
Here's some advice to help you decide:
CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS
To avoid exorbitant fees, make sure your credit or debit card is travel-friendly, and try to minimise your trips to the ATM.
When choosing a card, look out for annual or monthly fees, foreign currency conversion fees, ATM fees, cash advance fees and international transaction fees for purchases.
Pay your monthly balance in full to avoid interest, otherwise, you can load your own money onto the card and avoid the interest altogether, says Michelle Hutchison, from comparison website finder.com.au.
If you're going with a debit card, she advises opening a separate account just for travelling, that's not linked to your primary transaction account. That way, if it's lost or stolen, you don't have to rearrange direct debits or salary deposits.
Canstar spokeswoman Justine Davies says some cards also offer complimentary travel insurance and rewards points.
Tell your bank when and where you're travelling, so they don't suspect fraudulent activity when they see overseas transactions.
TRAVEL MONEY CARDS
These are basically debit cards, pre-loaded with your choice of foreign currency.
Most cards will allow you to load up to ten currencies, but they're generally the common currencies, like euro and US dollar - not very useful if you're going off the beaten track.
On the plus side, they allow you to lock in an exchange rate long before you leave, and some allow you to earn rewards points.
"Those who locked in the US dollar 12 months ago, for example, are probably pretty pleased with themselves," Ms Davies says.
Some cards have withdrawal or reload fees and may penalise you for overspending a particular currency, Ms Davies warns.
They can be easily blocked if lost or stolen and are not linked to other accounts.
CASH
It's always a good idea to have some cash on you, especially if you're going to developing countries where ATMs aren't always easy to find.
Avoid carrying more than a few days' worth and don't keep it all in one spot.
Ms Hutchison says it's often cheaper to exchange your cash at your destination, rather than in Australia, though this will depend on the destination.
Avoid exchanging cash at airports whether at home or abroad, she says, and stick with banks or foreign exchange companies like Travelex.
Be wary of anyone overseas offering to exchange your cash, or who says you can pay in Australian dollars, including businesses where foreign exchange is not their primary purpose, she says.
TRAVELLERS CHEQUES
Allow you to lock in an exchange rate from home but can be costly and inconvenient.
AAP