Money

It's always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: Carry a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler's checks. Exchange enough petty cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and transportation to your hotel before you leave home, or withdraw money upon arrival at an airport ATM.

Like other large American cities, Boston can be an expensive destination. At the high end, it's nearly as costly as New York. At the thrifty end, an abundance of reasonably priced establishments cater to the area's large student population.

ATMs

Nationwide, the easiest and best way to get cash away from home is from an ATM (automated teller machine), sometimes referred to as a "cash machine" or "cashpoint." They're widely available throughout Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Even the smallest towns usually have at least one ATM. The Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) networks span the globe. Another widespread system, the NYCE network (www.nyce.net), operates primarily in the eastern United States. Look at the back of your bank card to see which network you're on, then call or check online for ATM locations in the Boston area.

Be sure you know your personal identification number (PIN) and your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. If you have a 5- or 6-digit PIN, double-check whether it will work; you may need to change it to a 4-digit number. Also keep in mind that many banks impose a fee every time a card is used at a different bank's ATM, and that fee can be higher for international transactions ($5 or more) than for domestic ones (where they're rarely more than $2). On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee. At Massachusetts banks, a message should appear -- onscreen or on a sticker near the keypad -- to warn you that you're about to be charged. To compare banks' ATM fees within the U.S., use www.bankrate.com. Visitors from outside the U.S. should also find out whether their bank assesses a 1% to 3% fee on charges incurred abroad.

Credit Cards & Debit Cards

Credit cards are the most widely used form of payment in the United States: Visa (Barclaycard in Britain), MasterCard (EuroCard in Europe, Access in Britain, Chargex in Canada), American Express, Diners Club, and Discover. They also provide a convenient record of your expenses, and they generally offer relatively good exchange rates. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at banks or ATMs (provided you know your PIN), but high fees make credit-card cash advances a pricey way to get cash.

It's highly recommended that you travel with at least one major credit card. You must have one to rent a car, and hotels and airlines usually require a credit card imprint as a deposit against expenses.

ATM cards with major credit card backing, known as "debit cards," are a commonly acceptable form of payment in most stores and restaurants. Debit cards draw money directly from your checking account. Some stores and most U.S. post offices enable you to receive "cash back" on your debit-card purchases as well.

Traveler's Checks

Though credit cards and debit cards are more often used, traveler's checks are widely accepted in the U.S. International visitors should make sure that they're denominated in U.S. dollars; foreign-currency checks are often difficult to exchange.

You can buy traveler's checks at most banks. Most are offered in denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and sometimes $1,000. Generally, you'll pay a service charge ranging from 1% to 4%.

The most popular traveler's checks are offered by American Express (tel. 800/807-6233; tel. 800/221-7282 for card holders -- this number accepts collect calls, offers service in several foreign languages, and exempts Amex gold and platinum cardholders from the 1% fee); MasterCard (tel. 800/223-9920); and Visa (tel. 800/732-1322). AAA members can obtain Visa checks for a $9.95 fee (for checks up to $1,500) at most AAA offices or by calling tel. 866/339-3378.

Be sure to keep a copy of the traveler's checks serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that they are stolen or lost. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Prepaid traveler's check cards are reloadable cards that work much like debit cards but aren't linked to your checking account. The American Express Travelers Cheque Card, for example, requires a minimum deposit ($300), sets a maximum balance ($2,750), and has a one-time issuance fee of $15. You can withdraw money from an ATM ($2.50 per transaction, not including bank fees), and the funds can be purchased in dollars, euros, or pounds. If you lose the card, your available funds will be refunded within 24 hours.