I concur. Yes, there really are places in major cities that don't take cards, or at least not American Mastercard/Visa cards, and I like to know I've got the cash in hand to get to my lodging or get a quick snack en route. Often I have foreign currency left from the last trip, so I start with that, but if it's not much, I'll pay at home to get a bit more before I leave. The cost isn't as great as the headache of scrambling for currency the minute you arrive.