I'm bringing something new on this trip; a Travelex Multi-Currency Cash Passport, which is a Prepaid Currency Card.
"The Travelex Multi-currency Cash PassportTM Card gives you access to your money at millions of ATMs and retail stores worldwide where MasterCard® is accepted. You can load up to 9 currencies on the card.The Travelex Multi-currency Cash Passport card is available for purchase and reload online and at your local Travelex store."
I ordered this card online at the Travelex website and loaded it up with Euros and UK Pounds for the trip to Europe. There is no charge for buying the card. I picked it up at my local Travelex card where I received a PIN and a secondary, back up card with a different PIN but linked to same account. They are both CHIP protected to stop Card Skimming. Added advantages of using a Prepaid Travel Card are that you can use it as a credit card or to withdraw money from an ATM. So, you don't have to carry all that Foreign Currency on you all the time, and you can lock in the rate if you think your own currency might drop before you take your next overseas trip. It seems fairly easy to reload online, and you can withdraw the money from a local ATM if you have unspent funds when you return home.
Of course there are a number of Financial Institutions that offer Prepaid Currency Cards now, and I didn't do alot of research to see which offers the best deal. However, these cards are just another tool you can use when you are on the road. I like the idea of having a back up card perhaps back in the hotel safe in case you lose your wallet for some reason.
Further information: Travelex Multi-Currency Cash Passport
