Pat, I don't use a debit card anywhere, nor do I recommend them. The reason is that a crook can empty your bank account if they're able to clone your debit card. The bank is not obligated by regulation to replace your stolen funds unless and until you are able to prove that they were taken via fraudulent activity. With a credit card, you can dispute a transaction, and are not obligated to pay it unless it's proven NOT to be fraudulent.