Pre-pay cards are the latest way to pay for things abroad and providers claim they are a convenient way to budget and avoid steep credit card charges.
The cards have been designed specifically with travellers in mind
Travelex says its new Cash Passport is a hybrid between travellers cheques and a credit or debit card.
It is pre-paid, so travellers decide how much money they want to spend while away and load it all in advance with euros or dollars.
It certainly avoids people losing out when retailers convert their credit card purchases into pounds rather than charge in the local currency, known as Dynamic Currency Conversion.
The firm's Carole Harbord claims it is cheaper than using a credit card too.
"It does work out cheaper," she told BBC Radio 4's Money Box.
"We have looked very closely at the costs and this card has been specifically designed with travellers in mind, whereas credit and debit cards were designed with the domestic market in mind.
"And there is no surprise when you get home, open your bank statement and find out what you have actually spent," she added.
Using the card to withdraw cash costs £2.50 each time, but there is no fee added for any purchases. So for example, spending 25 euros costs exactly that.
Lost or stolen
Travelex is not the first company to offer this service. American Express, Western Union and CASH2GO have also launched similar products.
Simon Calder of the Independent has used similar cards before and he said that in some cases they can be extremely valuable.
"I had a bag stolen in Colombia by some villains who spent the next few days assiduously cleaning out my account," he told the programme.
"With a pre-pay card this just could not happen. There is no access to your bank account and as with travellers cheques you get your money back if it is lost or stolen."
But he said the cards do have drawbacks: "It is when you start using it like a normal credit card or debit card when things get difficult."
"For example, I stayed in a hotel last night. I couldn't pay for my stay in advance with an American Express Travellers Cheque Card but I could pay for it there."
In conclusion he said: "It is certainly very good if you want to limit the amount that you spend but quite honestly, I think most of us will be happy taking our credit or debit cards."
BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 6 May 2006, at 1204 BST and repeated on Sunday, 7 May, at 2102 BST.