My mom told me when I took my first vacation at 13 to always take traveler's checks when traveling and I always have. It's the same as cash but more like "insured cash" because it's replaceable, unlike actual cash. It was part of the pre-vacation ritual: pedicure, manicure, hair stylist, dry cleaner's, bank for traveler's checks.
wouldn't you just love to beeeeeeeeeee me? "-)