I use my credit card as much as possible. My wife gets cash and says everytime we travel and she uses her card, the number gets ripped off and she has to get a new card when we get back. I haven't had the problem, but I don't use it at the small shops like she does.

We're going to Canada in March. I have a Schwab checking account. I'll see about getting a pin number to use at worldwide ATMs.

On phones and ATT... last year when we went they offered a plan where you pay $10 a day for any day your phone pings a foreign cell tower and all services are the same as at home for both roaming and data use. It's the data use in foreign countries that can get you in trouble by my understanding. Prior to adding that feature, we just turned cellular data off when in Canada and used the phones as little as possible. So much better to have it available!

International Day Pass: https://www.att.com/offers/international.html