credit card? yes or no? yes or no? yes or no? yesnoyesno....

I've been thinking about it for a while now. Should I get a credit card?
Will it benefit me? Will I be sucked in its pitfalls?

I want to use it for 2 big main reasons. London and Maryland.
London, so I can afford to travel around and buy stuff and go out eat and ofc, drink.
Maryland, I plan to move there next year and I might will need to obtain information for my future landlords or/and employers about my identity and history and whatnots.
(I saw my mom go thru that to be on the safe side and it did work for her very well. So...*shrugs*
And also to buy few things for my apt there (new tv, dvd player, laptop & of course, to pay for the transportation of my storage from california & arizona).

I never had a credit card before.
I know that I do have some old debts in the collection agency. That will take time to drain my own debts pool where I am swimming in, but not up to my ears nearly drowning. It's more of up to my chest/shoulders and I'm swimming okay there. I still just want to stop swimming thou. Ya know what I mean?

Anyway, I tried to find websites & forums in the internet related to credit card questions n answers and such. There were not much.

I just need some feedbacks, opinions, warnings, or/and suggestions.
Should I get one or not?
and Why?
and Which credit card company is the best to use? (low apr, annual fee, and all that crap too)