- The obvious weakness of ATM cards is that you are extremely dependent on that little piece of plastic. For that reason, don’t rely on them completely; always have at least one hundred, and probably two hundred, dollars in cash or travelers’ checks on hand. If you have this much, and lose your card, you can survive until you get another one sent from home. That said, you could avoid such an emergency by bringing at least two cards that can access your account, and only carrying one at a time.

- Visit ATMs during the day, and keep an eye out even then. Don’t get fixated on the little buttons and forget to watch your back.

Credit and charge cards
Credit cards can be very, very handy for those with, uh, cash flow problems. I strongly recommend getting one before you go, even if it’s only one of those Citibank cards that are handed out like party favors in student unions all over the country. The whole problem of credit cards as a way to get sucked into debt slavery is not the issue here; if you are in trouble in Europe, these can be a lifesaver. As a last-ditch disaster aid, a credit card is the next best thing to a hundred-dollar bill in your shoe. For an example of this, rent the movie The Sure Thing.

- If you lose a credit card, only look for an hour or two before calling the company and beginning the cancellation/reissue procedures. If you know one has been stolen, call immediately. Credit card companies are a lot better about taking your money than refunding it.

- Many credit cards can be used to withdraw money from ATM machines. Just request a PIN from your credit card company and you have another way to get hold of cash in an emergency. Expect to get nailed with hefty fees when you withdraw this way, however.