Perhaps because so many of Washington's attractions (the Smithsonian museums, the monuments, even nightly concerts at the Kennedy Center) are either free or inexpensive, it may come as a shock to see the high price of lodging or a meal at a fine restaurant.

It makes sense to have some cash on hand to pay for incidentals, but it's not necessary to carry around large sums. After all, even some Metro fare-card machines accept credit cards now.

ATMs

ATMs (automated teller machines) are everywhere, from the National Gallery of Art gift shop, to Union Station, to the bank at the corner. Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) are the two most popular networks in the United States; call or check online for ATM locations at your destination. Be sure you know your four-digit PIN before you leave home, and be sure to find out your daily withdrawal limit before you depart. Keep in mind that many banks impose a fee, usually $1.50 to $2, every time you use a card at an ATM in a different city or bank. On top of this, the bank from which you withdraw cash may charge its own fee. To compare banks' ATM fees within the U.S., use www.bankrate.com.

You may be able to use your ATM card as a debit card, withdrawing money directly from your account to pay for a purchase. You can also get cash advances on your credit card at an ATM, although credit card companies try to protect themselves from theft by limiting the funds one can withdraw away from home. Call your credit card company before you leave and let a rep know where you're going and how much you plan to spend.

Small Change -- When you change money, ask for some small bills or loose change. Petty cash will come in handy for tipping and public transportation. Consider keeping the change separate from your larger bills, so it's readily accessible and you'll be less of a target for theft.

Traveler's Checks

ATMs have made traveler's checks all but obsolete. But if you still prefer the security of traveler's checks over carrying cash (and you don't mind showing identification every time you want to cash one), you can get them at almost any bank, paying a service charge that usually ranges from 1% to 4%. American Express offers denominations of $20, $50, $100, $500, and (for cardholders only) $1,000. You can also get American Express traveler's checks online at www.americanexpress.com, over the phone by calling tel. 800/221-7282, or in person at any American Express Travel Service location.

Both Visa (www.visa.com; tel. 800/227-6811) and MasterCard (www.mastercard.com; tel. 800/223-9920) sell traveler's checks at Citibank locations and other financial institutions nationwide. Visa checks come in denominations of $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, and $1,000; MasterCard checks come in denominations of $20, $50, $100, and $500.

AAA members can obtain Visa checks (in denominations of $20, $50, and $100) without a fee at most AAA offices. AAA has a downtown Washington office, open weekdays, 9am-5:30pm, at 701 15th St. NW, tel. 202/331-3000, not far from the White House. AAA members can also call tel. 866/339-3378 to order checks over the phone, which are then courier-delivered to your address, but you pay a $9.95 fee for this service.

Be sure to keep a record of the serial numbers separate from your checks in the event that the checks are lost or stolen. You'll get a refund faster if you know the numbers.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are invaluable to travelers. They are a safe way to carry money and provide a convenient record of all your expenses. You can also withdraw cash advances from your credit cards at any bank (though you'll start paying hefty interest on the advance the moment you receive the cash). At most banks, you don't even need to go to a teller; you can get a cash advance at the ATM if you know your PIN. If you've forgotten yours, or didn't even know you had one, call the number on the back of your credit card and ask the bank to send it to you. It usually takes 5 to 7 business days, though some banks will provide the number over the phone if you tell them your mother's maiden name or pass some other security clearance.

What To Do If Your Wallet Gets Stolen

Be sure to block charges against your account the minute you discover a card has been lost or stolen. Then be sure to file a police report.

Almost every credit card company has an emergency toll-free number to call if your card is stolen. The company may be able to wire you a cash advance off your credit card immediately, and in many places, deliver an emergency credit card in a day or two. The issuing bank's toll-free number is usually on the back of your credit card -- though, of course, if your card has been stolen, that won't help you unless you recorded the number elsewhere.

Visa's U.S. emergency number is tel. 800/336-8472. American Express traveler's check holders should call tel. 800/221-7282 and credit card holders should call tel. 800/528-4800. MasterCard holders should call tel. 800/307-7309. Otherwise, call the toll-free number directory at tel. 800/555-1212.

Odds are that if your wallet is gone, the police won't be able to recover it for you. However, it's still worth informing the authorities. Your credit card company or insurer may require a police report number or record of the theft.

If you need emergency cash over the weekend when all banks and American Express offices are closed, you can have money wired to you from Western Union (tel. 800/325-6000; www.westernunion.com). Technically, you must present a valid, government-issued ID to pick up the cash at the Western Union office. However, you can usually pick up a money transfer even if you don't have valid identification, as long as you can answer a test question provided by the sender. Be sure to let the sender know in advance that you don't have ID. If you need to use a test question instead of ID, Western Union may require the sender to take cash to his or her local Western Union office, rather than transferring the money over the phone or online.