Credit cards are a handy back-up and can be used either at ATMs or over the counter at banks. MasterCard and Visa are the most commonly accepted in the Caribbean; other cards may not be recognized and US-issued cards are not accepted in Cuba at all. Remember that if you use your credit card to obtain cash advances , you'll pay credit-card rates of interest on the cash from the date of withdrawal; there may be a transaction fee on top of this.

If you want the security of travellers' cheques without the hassle of carrying large amounts of cash or waiting for exchange offices to open, consider using your ATM card - many ATMs in the region now take US and European debit cards (linked to Cirrus, Plus or Maestro) at a minimal fee - check with your bank for details. Make sure you have a personal identification number (PIN) that lets you access your account from overseas. A complete list of ATMs on the Cirrus and Maestro networks can be found at ; for those on the Visa Plus network, log on to

A compromise between travellers' cheques and plastic is Visa TravelMoney , a disposable pre-paid debit card. Load up your account with funds before leaving home and when they run out, simply throw the card away. You can buy up to nine cards to access the same funds - useful for couples or families travelling together - and it's a good idea to buy at least one extra as a back-up in case of loss or theft. There is also a 24-hour toll-free customer assistance number.

The card is available in most countries from branches of Thomas Cook and Citicorp . For more information, check the Visa TravelMoney website at