**For Italy and similar destinations, take a debit card for cash withdrawals, a credit card for purchases, and a modest cash reserve.** You generally don’t need to exchange your entire trip budget at home.

A practical approach is:

- **Bring enough local cash for your arrival and a day or two of essentials.** Buying a small amount before departure can be worth the convenience.
- **Withdraw more as needed from bank ATMs using your debit card.** Check your bank’s foreign transaction fee, withdrawal fee, and daily limit before leaving; the ATM operator may charge separately. With a suitable card, overseas ATM withdrawals can be cost-effective. [Visa’s travel guidance](https://www.visa.co.uk/cross-border.html)
- **Use a credit card with low or no foreign transaction fees for purchases where accepted.** Avoid withdrawing cash with it: that is generally treated as a cash advance, with associated fees and interest. [Bank of Italy’s payment guidance](https://www.bancaditalia.it/compiti/sispaga-mercati/strumenti-pagamento/index.html?com.dotmarketing.htmlpage.language=1)
- **Choose the local currency whenever a terminal or ATM offers a choice.** In Italy, choose euros and decline the machine’s currency conversion. Conversion into your home currency typically includes an extra markup. Declining conversion is separate from declining an ATM withdrawal fee. [Visa’s explanation](https://www.visa.com/en-gb/personal/travel/dynamic-currency-conversion)

For security, you and your wife should keep backup cards and some emergency cash separately. Ideally, bring cards from different banks so a blocked card or bank outage doesn’t leave you stranded. Know your PINs, check whether your banks require travel notifications, and keep their contact details accessible.

**I would avoid traveler’s checks as your main source of money.** Their replacement protection is useful only if you can readily spend or redeem them. American Express no longer issues new traveler’s checks, although existing ones remain valid and redeemable. [American Express](https://www.americanexpress.com/us/travel/travelers-cheques/)

There’s no universal best cash percentage: carry enough to cover the places that require it, and replenish it along the way. For destinations with limited ATMs or unreliable acceptance of foreign cards, research those restrictions before choosing the balance.