Credit Cards Not Charge Foreign and ATM Fees

You want to use a DEBIT card in an ATM.

Using a CREDIT card at an ATM triggers huge fees with most credit cards ( imposed by the credit card issuer)

You have posted your question in the "Italy Review" section. You probably will receive more and better answers if posted in the correct section -- Destination Q &A, under Italy. Also use the search function in the section for extension discussions of credit and debit cards.

Also, review this section ---https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

I have had good luck with Bank of America's Travel Rewards and Premium Rewards credit cards. Neither card has foreign transaction fees and both are contactless. I have used both in Europe. I set up the Premium Rewards card in Apple Pay so I could use my phone and not pull out my credit card for each transaction, small or large. FYI, I tethered my phone with a neck strap in my purse so I wouldn't loose it. I could also wear it around my neck when I needed to follow walking directions.

As for an ATM card, I set up a separate checking account just for travel with a minimal balance in it at Fidelity. It isolates that money from my other accounts. Their ATM card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. However, the Fidelity Visa card does charge FTFs, so I don't use it overseas. I do take it as a back up in case my other credit cards fail.

From previous threads over the years, people recommend Capital One or Schwab. As a former Schwabbie, I will never use Schwab for anything, but that's personal. I don't know anything about Capital One. I just found it easy to use BAC since my checking account is there and I've used them for years.

Go to the "Money Savings Strategies" in the Tips section. Lots of discussions on credit cards, atm's etc there.

I suggest that you just talk to your bank or call the information number on the back of your current credit card to find out how your current card works.

For MasterCard and Visa, I find that there are no extra fees when you use those credit cards. If the price is €10, you will pay "€10" in your credit card statement. There is no separate extra transaction fee. Where the credit card company makes the money is the difference in currency exchange rate, plus the invisible-to-you commission that the credit card company charges to the vendor.

I have used different credit cards back to back on the same day and I find that the currency exchange rates between them are comparable. The currency exchange rate fluctuates minute by minute. Even if you use the same card back to back, you will find that the exchange rate will be different when you get the bill.

Where you can save some money is if you have one of the credit cards that give you a rebate. For example, I have a Tangerine Worldwide MasterCard which gives me back 2% on restaurant meals, groceries and gasoline. I can also substitute one of those vendor classes for hotels. The way that works is that the credit card company is taking some of the money they earn from the invisible-to-you commission that they charge to the vendors and rebate it to you. The same thing applies to any points, airmiles or other bonuses that you may earn on a credit card.

Just as an aside: as a result of a lawsuit, in Canada, vendors now have the right to charge that previously invisible commission back to the credit card user. Not too many vendors are doing it, but there are a few that are starting to do so.

Edit: You should also read up about Dynamic Currency Conversion. All you have to remember is that if any vendor give you a choice of paying in Euros or USD, always choose to pay in Euros. If you opt to pay in USD, there will be a extra currency conversion and possibly an extra transaction fee and you will end up paying much more.

I use the Capital One Venture card for Visa. It has a 2% travel awards points for every dollar spent. I also have a savings and checking account with Capital One, and I use the checking account ATM card (Master Card) for cash withdrawals. Neither charge a foreign transaction fee. Note that most ATMs in Europe only allow cash from checking accounts, so plan accordingly. If you have a wallet application on your smart phone, load your cards on that and you can use the phone in most places to tap and pay. Pay in the currency of the country you're in. Capitol One's currency exchange rate is roughly the same as what shows on the XE website on the same day, so no extra fees there.
Most ATMs will have English as an option, you may need to click on the British flag icon to choose English.

Our USAA Visa card and our Amex Platinum both do not charge foreign transaction fees. We have used both all over Europe with no issues, FWIW.

I use Charles Schwab debit card (checking account) for ATM transactions. It has no foreign transaction fees or ATM charges worldwide.
I use Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance, lounge access, $300 direct travel credit, and points that can be redeemed for travel or cash. Fee looks scary at first ($550) but by the time you get the $300 credit that is down to $250. New sign up bonus is worth $600 currently.

Charles Schwab has debit cards with no foreign transaction fees, as does Discover but kinda hard to find in Europe.
For CREDIT CARD purchases, not atm withdrawals, I use my Capital One Quicksilver.

For over 20 years I have been using a credit card from CapitalOne that has no annual fee and charges no fx fees. A few years later, I also opened a checking account (again, no fees) and use the associated debit card for ATM withdrawals with no fx or transaction fees. In 11 trips to Italy, I never had a problem where either card was refused. Make sure that you only use bank owned ATM’s.

Like @KathyH and @Philip, I have used Capital One cards and banking in Italy when I've visited and lived there over the past 16 years. I currently have the Capital One 360 ATM card and the VentureX card. Never had a problem and the exchange rate is competitive.

If you already have an Amazon Prime CC or a Costco Credit Card, you probably already have a credit card that doesn't have foreign transaction fees and the Costco Card gives 3% back on travel expenses charged to the card including airline tickets! Get an ATM card from your bank, not a debit card to use for cash withdraws, they usually charge a flat fee peer withdrawl ($5-10) and give you the best exchange rate. Check with your bank or credit union.

I use the Capital One Venture X card, have a standard (no annual fee) Capital One card, and a Capital One bank account (debit card). I use the latter exclusively for international travel. None levy fees for foreign transactions.

We travel with three credit cards being American Express, Mastercard and Visa. In addition we carry 2 - 3 ATM/debit cards from separate banking institutions. If one card ceases to operate for a variety of reasons we have back up cards. When out and about, we carry one credit card plus enough cash for the day. The ATM cards are used only to acquire cash from an ATM machine or they, along with the remaining credit cards are secured either in the hotel safe or by other means back at the hotel. If we are transiting on a specific day, the unused cards are deep in the bowels of carryon luggage which we do not let out of our site.

This is our first time to visit Europe and we don't speak their languages.

I believe you will find the majority of the people you will be interacting with on your tour will be able to understand English. It would be worthwhile to maybe learn a few phrases in French for your own use and to get you in the spirit for your tour. Also, make sure that you have Google Translate downloaded on your phone. That has come in quite handy over the years. We had a great conversation with a man in Turkey last year, he using Google Translate for Turkish to English and we vice versa on our phones.

We’ve also been very happy with the Capital One Venture Visa and the Capital One 360 checking (with debit card). Both have been seamless, and our Apple Pay is tied to the Visa for contactless transactions. We keep the 360 account for travel, and transfer funds from our “brick and mortar” checking account as we need them. No fees ever, and immediate messages if fraud is suspected.