Hi Yiannis, I don't think you're right. Tony made no mention of the Post Office (either credit card or PO counter). He did indicate that cash is king and a credit card is used for back up only, whereas I believe it's better to use the correct credit card and you get a better exchange rate for doing so.
Hi Waspman - sorry, was not too clear.
I have a credit card and debit card with HSBC - their new Advance account scheme, I pay Ł12 a month and get for that charge, Annual travel Insurance, Card Guard, Car breakdown/recovery (not homecall though but for any car you are in a 1/4 mile or more from your home), a few other discount things and NO CHARGES for using the cards abroad for cash, unless you don't pay it back of course!!
We always take a wad of currency and only use Cards if we run low!
No method is perfect and you can lose cash or be robbed I suppose - then - cards don't always work - it's a chance you take!!
We find if you take cash, Pounds, or Euro's - it's just so easy to do things.