With the worldwide availability of ATM machines, I no longer use traveler's checks. They can sometimes be a problem especially if you use them to pay for hotel bills. Say you're checking out and on your way to an airport ...you end up with more currency because of the change you get and have to exchange it where the rates aren' too good. Also, in places in Asia, it got hard to change them anywhere but a bank which is a pain to find one open sometimes. With an ATM card you don't have to worry and you get a better exchange rate.