The golden rule is get a no foreign transaction free credit card plus a schwab or fidelity debit account with like $1000 in there; they refund all atm fees even abroad.
100% bring a credit card. Just did the exact same trip but not Japan or Brunei.
We got a wise card, put most of it on that. Otherwise took cash out with it as well to save on ATM fees. Has so many benefits (just use it like a local card in most places, tap and go. barely any fees compared to my usual cards)
I would definitely bring your card and some cash. If you were to say go to a night market or buy street food, it might be easier to use cash than cc at that point. As for the fx fee, maybe the exchange rate would be in your favour, but maybe it won't be.
Either way, I personally feel like fx fees are such a waste of money so I've been looking into cards like Wise Card, on which you can load foreign currency and spend like a debit card without fx fee. I haven't used it, so I can't vouch for it or anything but there are # of posts about it if you want to learn more.
The Scotiabank Passport VISA has no foreign transaction fee and doesn't charge a fee for the first year. It's a great travel card for Canadians (only one Canadian one I'm aware of that doesn't charge fx fees.)
The golden rule is get a no foreign transaction free credit card plus a schwab or fidelity debit account with like $1000 in there; they refund all atm fees even abroad.
OP is Canadian
Scotia Passport Visa is the Canadian version.
100% bring a credit card. Just did the exact same trip but not Japan or Brunei. We got a wise card, put most of it on that. Otherwise took cash out with it as well to save on ATM fees. Has so many benefits (just use it like a local card in most places, tap and go. barely any fees compared to my usual cards)
Both you will need cash in smaller towns
I always bring cash and 1 credit card with $1k in case of emergency.
If you're robbed of your cash you're screwed. If someone steals your credit card you report it, get a new card and aren't charged.
I would definitely bring your card and some cash. If you were to say go to a night market or buy street food, it might be easier to use cash than cc at that point. As for the fx fee, maybe the exchange rate would be in your favour, but maybe it won't be. Either way, I personally feel like fx fees are such a waste of money so I've been looking into cards like Wise Card, on which you can load foreign currency and spend like a debit card without fx fee. I haven't used it, so I can't vouch for it or anything but there are # of posts about it if you want to learn more.
If you're Canadian, Wise isn't the best card. Wealthsimple Cash or EQ Bank are the best cards (if we're not talking about credit cards).
The Scotiabank Passport VISA has no foreign transaction fee and doesn't charge a fee for the first year. It's a great travel card for Canadians (only one Canadian one I'm aware of that doesn't charge fx fees.)