I love watching tourists try to pay with a credit card when they are new in town. Accepting international credit cards is not the norm for most places of business in many countries.
It's smart to have a debit card that you can use to withdraw money so that you aren't carrying a ton on you at any time, but it's smart to have a couple days worth of US currency or local on you at all times.
I've seen stupid tourists show up in a new country at 10 PM without any spending cash end up in a tizzy because they couldn't find an ATM and needed to hand over cash at the hotel (which of course didn't accept foreign credit cards), despite believing themselves to be "experienced travelers."
Credit cards or debit cards of any sort aren't going to be very useful if there is a problem with your bank account (which often happens when you make withdraws on foreign soil and will be difficult to fix if you aren't able to access bank branches, which are only in your home country). There's a lot of more backwards transit routes in SEA where an ATM can be hard to come by.
Better to have multiple options at your disposal.
Quote: (08-10-2017 10:42 PM)Windom Earle Wrote:
That and being weighed down with coins etc, stuff that for a joke.
If "being weighed down with coins" is a concern for you on any level, best you stay home and never go anywhere that will cause you any stress.
Quote: (08-10-2017 10:13 PM)Luther Wrote:
I'll have plenty of money to travel but I've fucked my credit in the past and won't have a credit card. Especially when it comes to reservations and such.
Canadian ATM cards work great in most countries. I've never had a problem.
As for making reservations, some online reservation websites do not require a credit card to make a reservation for many hotels.
Get a pre-paid credit card for use on online transaction where you don't need to use a card specifically in your name.
I think there are some Canadian services as well that allow you to get a prepaid card that is in your name. Research those.