fiveninerzero

I always carry 3 cards, each from an independent bank. One each Visa, MC, Amex as well so I will at least hopefully have one available in case a network is down. I've learnt my lesson after being stranded in the Malaysian Borneo jungle 150 miles away from the nearest town with a debit card that wasn't being accepted by the only ATM in the region.

Oh, I use credit cards as much as possible, because cash doesn't earn rewards points, nor does it have the fraud guarantee.

freezingflyboy

I would second the argument for the credit being safer and more accepted than debit. I carry a Chase credit card and a Citibank credit card and a Chase debit card. I have used all three domestically and internationally for years with out any hassles.

Oddly enough, the only time I've ever had a card turned off was when trying to use it at gas stations and grocery stores at areas of the US I don't frequent that have been identified as areas of high incidence of credit card fraud by the card companies (Miami, Atlanta, LA).

XForces

I use both my B of A and USAA cards abroad. I use them all over the Caribbean, S. America, and across the U.S.

I had the same issues with both my B of A and USAA cards in the beginning. I would use them for small, simple purchases and the next thing you know they were deactivated.

For B of A, I called their support center and had about a 30 minute conversation regarding my travel and destinations. Haven't had a problem since. With the USAA account, it was easy to go online and activate the travel exclusion for a period of time and the specific destination.

For both accounts I have specifically told them that I travel for a living and small purchases in foreign locations will be common. I know that both of these accounts have this as remarks in the account attributes, and the fraud department will take note of this prior to deactivating a debit card.

I haven't had any problems for a couple of years now.

Lurking

We do Amex as a primary card for each of us and then we each have a visa and mastercard as a back up. We also started a Delta CCU savings account for international trips it is only to get money out of the ATM in local currency and there is never more than a few hundred bucks in the account.

WesternSkies

I'd encourage some (apparently many?) posters here to look deeper into their debt fraud protection through their banks.
Physically (stolen) losing your debit card is not the same it being "stolen" via the net.

jonnyjetprop

Call your bank's fraud protection division and tell them what you do for a living. Never had a problem after that.

PotatoChip

Another vote for a good credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Get a good sign on bonus, it almost free money. Almost.