Identification

• Traveler's checks offer the best security for carrying money abroad. Traveler's checks are similar to paper checks used in your home country, but you sign these as soon as you purchase them. When you need to make a purchase, you sign it again so the merchant can compare the signatures. The downside to using travelers checks is that they are inconvenient, since you must buy them before leaving, which make them cumbersome for small purchases, and not all merchants take them.
  
  

Credit Cards

• Credit cards are usually the best way to pay for items in a foreign country. In the U.S., credit card users are liable for no more than $50 in fraudulent purchases per the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, and many issuers extend that liability to zero. Debit cards are slightly less safe, because the user is liable for up to $500 in charges if the loss is not reported within 60 business days, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
  
  

Considerations

• You will probably need to carry some amount of hard cash for making small purchases or when the merchant does not accept credit cards. When you carry cash, only take what you think you might need while you are out and keep it in your front pocket. Watch out for pickpockets that may use a distraction, such as bumping into you, to allow an accomplice to steal your wallet.
  
  

Tips

• Frequent travelers often use gadgets and special devices to conceal cash. One such product is the money belt. The money belt works like it sounds, there is a zipper on the inside of the belt and the lining acts as a pouch. Some other items include wallets that strap to your leg or shoulder and pouches that hang off the front of a pair of pants.