The tickets have arrived, the travel insurance is booked and you've got your new holiday clothes, but if you are going abroad, the next question must be what to do about the holiday spending money. Should you take travellers cheques, credit or debit cards or cash?

If taking cash, should you change your money before you go or when you get to your destination. Exchange rates vary on a daily basis and charges levied by banks and other financial institutions for handling currency transactions also differ.

York Trading Standards advise careful planning and shopping around can keep the cost of converting your money down and ensure you are not stranded should the worst happen by losing or having your money stolen whilst on holiday.

When travelling abroad the best advice is to take a combination of cash in local currency, travellers cheques and credit or debit cards. Take some local currency for immediate needs, but for safety, take most of your money in the form of travellers' cheques. Remember to check your travel insurance as to the limit of cover for any cash you take whether in foreign currency or pounds sterling.

The major advantage of travellers cheques is that most can be replaced easily if lost or stolen. However, keep a separate note of the contact telephone number and the cheques' serial numbers, and don't keep this information with the cheques. Travellers cheques are available in either pounds sterling or other currencies.

Credit and debit cards are a useful back up, especially in major cities, but don't rely on them as your sole source of money, as not every outlet will take them and not every place has cash card machines. Most card issuers will charge a fee if you withdraw cash on your card whilst abroad. Also card issuers generally apply a foreign exchange loading on top of tourist foreign exchange rates for converting the currency.

The secret to getting the best deal on your holiday money is to do your homework, be aware of all charges and shop around. Try not to have too much money to convert back when you return.

- For advice on this or any other consumer matter please contact City of York Council Trading Standards Consumer Advice Service. The telephone number is 551562, the fax number is 551590 and our reception is at 9 St Leonard's Place, York. You can e mail us on trading.standards@york.gov.uk