Hi Liam:

I'm not sure I would agree with you that it is necessary to carry a lot of cash while on the road. Sudan is kind of 'the exception that proves the rule', so to speak. There are only a limited number of countries that the Americans have imposed financial sanctions (i.e. they are blocking banking transactions) on, and it is easy enough to find a list of those countries at one of the American government websites.

Below is a map showing all the locations I have stayed in during the past 3 years... I have never had a problem using a bank debit card at an ATM at any of these locations.

My own strategy is to carry two credit cards (MasterCard and American Express) and one debit (ATM) card, along with a small amount of either Euros or US Dollars - but no more cash than is necessary to keep me going for 2 or 3 days. That strategy has worked well through more than 80 countries so far.

Using a debit card to withdraw cash (in local currency) from my home bank account at a local ATM is, by far, the least expensive way to travel so far as surcharges and bank fees are concerned. The ATMs will usually impose a small transaction fee ($1 or $2), but that is a 'fixed' fee, not a percentage fee, and the ATMs have - by far - the best exchange rate available. Credit cards, on the other hand, typically impose a percentage fee on the currency conversion, and that percentage varies between a low of 1% (American Express) to a high of 2.5% (most MasterCards).

Michael

Places where my debit (ATM) card has worked at local ATMs