The most common transition is the straight cut.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I could be wrong but I believe a fade out signifies a long passage of time or end of something significant in the mind of viewers.

RJSchwarz

Whenever I use a straight cut there is no seperation between scenes, it looks very confusing

Rob - UK

I use straight cuts between scenes all the time. Most
movies I see use them and I'm never confused.

But if you feel straight cuts look confusing, then you
should keep using fades. I don't think there is a right
or wrong answer. It's a choice made by the filmmaker.

Straight cuts can be confusing IF you have not set up the locations correctly with establishing shots. If the locations are established initially there should be little confusion when you return

Some movies go a bit further with transitions. In Highlander they have one where the camera rises from the roof of a parking garage and into the dark and then out of the ground in medieval Scotland, very nice. In Bill & Ted they have one where Death tosses a robe onto the camera, thus making it go black. Simple but effective. I guess what I'm saying here is a little attention during planning can really make transitions something more. Assuming the scenes aren't reordered during editing that is.

RJSchwarz