Euros VS Debit/CC or Cash Passport

I just returned from a trip to France and one of the payment options we used was the Travelex cash passport. We got it because the last time we were in France we had trouble buying train tickets at unmanned train stations (the ticket machines only took chip and pin cards). The Cash Passport worked fine and I liked knowing I had it as a backup and you can check the balance online. The exchange rate is lousy though.

Bring about 200 worth of cash with you, but rely on your debit card to withdraw cash from ATM machines once in Europe, and use your credit card for purchases when applicable. Check to see what fees are attached to both of your cards. Maybe open a bank account with a low fee debit card just for your travel fund so that you aren't attached to your personal banking account and so that you do not pay hefty fees (if they currently exist). Also, look for a no fee credit card (such as Capitol One), but do not use this credit card for cash advances.
I have never used the Travelex Cash Passport card, so cannot give you my experience with it. But, can tell you that in researching it, the "cost" of the card was not worth it. Pay attention to their exchange rate and fees, as these will most likely be terrible. Or, you can look at the cost of the passport card as a convenience fee and go with it if it makes your life easier.

The answer can be different for different people. If you have a bank with low ATM fees, getting cash as you go makes a lot of sense. Some credit cards offer no foreign transaction fees (typically 1-3%) and if you have one or can get one, it may make more sense to use your CC. Many people like bringing some cash in hand on arrival, but buying euros in the US costs 5-10% more than an ATM. So don't buy more than $100-200 worth. The Travelex card reportedly has very poor exchange rates, so expect to pay 5-10% more for that. Using debit cards for purchases is not recommended. Just use them for the ATM. Also check with your hotels, some will offer discounts for paying in cash.

First, I would never carry all cash. I would also never use a Travelex card. I use a local credit union and an online bank. The local credit union charges nothing for foreign transactions on the debit card. The online bank charges 1%. If you are concerned about not linking your travel funds to your regular account, open a new account just for that purpose. What happens if you lose your Travelex card or just run out of money? With my accounts, I can easily use the other if one has a problem, or I can transfer money between them.

If you decide to use a Travelex Cash Passport, do not use it for hotels. Hotels may put a "hold" on more than the cost of the room which will leave you with less available on the card than it should. The hold may stay in place after you check out. As Douglas advised, use the Passport for ATM withdrawals and then pay cash. Personally, I use my regular debit card for cash withdrawals from ATMs and use my regular credit card for hotels when a cash discount is not available.

Travelex Passport has a poor exchange rate, but until US banks start issuing chip and pin credit cards, it is worth having Passport for those places where chip and pin is required. This includes train station ticket machines and unmanned gas stations in France.

In Germany, Belgium and France last spring, we carried about $500 in US cash in our money belts ($250 each) for emergencies, hit the Deutsche Bank ATM at Frankfurt airport with my BAnk of America debit card (no fees - they partner with each other); and used my Capitol One Visa for most over the counter purchases (no chip) everywhere I went. I tried to carry only about $$150 Euros a day for incidentals and "vendor" food, and was able to swipe the Visa card in the express lanes of toll booths. Couldn't however use it to swipe at gas pumps, but merely had to take it to the clerk to manually enter it. I would NOT carry a ton of cash at any time; only what you need for that day in a front pocket ($40 - $50 Euros) and any excess in your money belt or a safe back at the hotel. Europe is like the US: ATMs everywhere. You will not have a problem getting to cash if you treat it like you do at home.

Id agree with some of the posts - do the combo (but skip the cash-card due to fees). Carry 150-250 Euros cash for a couple days use in places like mom/pop restaurants and snacks - and save the Credit Card for bigger expenses like Hotels or a Fancy dinner. Chase Bank has Chip cards now so you can get one upgraded like I did if you already had a normal Chase card laying around (they just send you a new one with chip). also no international fees on some (like BA Rewards version). As for ATM - just use for ATM withdraws at large bank ATMs and then back in the money belt. Not for purchases. Schwab checking ATM card also has no fees or international fees - so thats nice! ends up saving me 75-100$ in fees for a 2 week trip between ATM and CC fees in the past.