Every traveler who has gone abroad has struggled with this. And I for one am not someone who enjoys getting traveler checks, going to money exchanges, or taking out large amounts of cash. I want to be able to go to the ATM when I can and get just the amount I need out.
First, you need to find a debit card that will pay back any ATM fees you accrue. The debit card or bank doesn’t have to be your main bank. Charles Schwab, for example, isn’t a savings bank, but you can still open up an account in order to use the debit card. Charles Schwab is a great card to use abroad as it repays any fees you accrue.
Credit cards that give travel rewards have started giving the perk of $0 foreign transaction fees. Do your research first as many of those cards require annual fees.