[throwaway201103]

In the US it's easy to get a zero-fee credit card. Most have rewards programs.

The personal finance advice I've heard is not "don't use credit cards" it is "don't carry a balance on credit cards."

Carrying a balance will eat you alive on interest. As will fees for late payments or going over the limit. If you have the self-discipline to not do those things, there's no reason to not use a credit card.