Yes, don't use credit cards at an ATM anywhere if you can help it. Some banks, such as Chase, now charge a minimum $15 fee for ATM cash advances, plus 23.99% APR or more accruing from the moment you withdraw the money. Even if you pay off the bill before the month is through, the fees make credit cards one of the most expensive ways, if not the most expensive way, to get cash abroad.

Using the ATM card linked to your checking account is generally the cheapest way to withdraw cash in a foreign country, with two exceptions: Bank of America and Wells Fargo now charge a $5 fee for each foreign withdrawal, which can add up big time. Most other banks charge you only $1-$2 to use another bank's ATM, and in most of the world the ATMs themselves don't assess an additional fee.