ATM machines at airport in Rome

• An ATM is called a BANCOMAT in Italian. So, if you see a machine with ATM written all over it: it's not linked to a Bank, it caters to foreign tourists and you'll pay extortionate fees because that's how they make money.
• the daily limit is set by your Bank; a Bancomat may have a limit per transaction around € 250, but you can easily bypass it making two separate transactions.
• you don't need to go around Rome with more than € 250 in cash, and you shouldn't.

I regularly wait until arrival at the airport to obtain local currency. The first place to assess the limit of an international withdrawal is with your bank before departing on your trip. In some instances I am able to set this limit online myself or by contacting the bank. Then, yes, there may be a limit by the Cashpoint as well.

Seek cashpoints that are affiliated with reputable banks. Avoid currency exchange type ATMs in order to minimize fees. You should have no problem obtaining euros at the airport. Don’t forget to do a quick mental conversion of dollars to euros before deciding on your withdrawal amount.

Thank you for the quick response and good advice. I will check with my bank on their limit to withdraw. I will look for the bancomat. I am going in 5 weeks but I want to get all the information that I can. thanks again. Jim

Getting Euros from an ATM on site is the least expensive way to get local currency and many people do just that. However, we (and many others) think it is better to have some Euros in hand before arrival. There is the hassle of trying to find a machine, the stress of hoping it works (they do occasionally malfunction), and doing it all while somewhat jet lagged. For those reasons many of us get two or three hundred Euros from our local bank before leaving. It will cost a little more, but the extra amount it cost to have money in hand when arriving is money well spent, and the extra cost relative to the overall cost of the trip is not that much.

In any case, be sure to notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling. Otherwise they may see a foreign transaction, suspect fraud, and shut down access to your cards.

Solo travels for many years. My personal rule is to only use ATM 's physically connected to a bank. If there is a skimming device or if the ATM eats your card, that could ruin your time.
I also have 2 checking accounts with my credit union,which means I also have 2 debit cards. I can transfer money to each one if needed. I also put a $300 limit per withdrawal on each debit card.
And last but not least I always have some euros on hand, to last until I find an ATM that is more secure than in an airport.

Recommendations from TC & ..bruja are more inline with what we do. Much prefer to hit the ground with a hundred euro in my pocket. One less think to worry about especially since many airport ATMs are tired to currency exchanges rather than banks and will often have additional fees. When using the ATM read the screens careful because the extra fees, if charged, should be disclosed prior to punching the "Give Me My Money" button. Once I am settled in the hotel, I will find an ATM. Since the ATMs primarily serve the locals, ATMs are everywhere. I rare look for one because I always see them when walking around. Also, you should be carrying two debits tied to different accounts. Try both cards the first couple of days. Don't want to have a back card that doesn't work. Finally, DO NOT panic if your debit card does not work in an ATM. Move on to the next one. From time to time the cards do not work. You can panic if you have tried three or four and the card still doesn't work.

If you ask for a certain amount, like 300€, and its unable to complete the transaction, try again for a lower amount. They do sometimes have lower limits than your bank, or that machine may be running low on cash.

Everybody has their own method for travel. Personally, I like to go with a little local money in my pocket. For customers, my local bank will provide foreign currency for a good rate without fees on a walk-in basis. They stock a lot of different currency and generally, you can specify what dominations you want. It means you can hit the streets with smaller bills instead of something bigger. I'd prefer to pay a taxi with a 10 euro note rather than a 50. Other pluses are that I don't need think about finding an bank machine when I'm jet lagged and my money is already safely tucked away. Not everybody lives in a place where the banks are so accommodating but this works for me.

AAA will often have a 100 euro currency packet of smaller bills. The fee of about 10% is buried in the exchange rate but a fair price for the convenience. And you local airport probably will have an currency exchange booth. I don't know why some many object to the 50 euro note. It is very common. And I have never encountered a problem using a 50. Sometimes I will be asked if I have something smaller and just answer no. They are not going to turn down a sale.

When paying a taxi I have practice of holding on to my payment tightly and verbally saying, "this is a 50?" or 20 or whatever before I let go of it. It has never happened to me but there are reports of taxi drivers quickly grabbing your bill, burying it in his roll and claim that you only give him a 20 when it actually was a 50. I make sure we agreed on the bill amount prior to letting go. Having said that -- in all my years of travel I have only found two or three driver that I thought might be a little under handled if given the chance.

I also never use a Bancomat unless it's not only attached to the bank, but actually inside the bank's doors!
A lot of banks have a glassed in area just at the entrance, and that's where the machines are.
You are less likely to have some thief come into the bank with you to try and get your money, than you are out on the street.
I've found that my accounts seem to have a daily withdrawal limit of about E250.
I also only use the machines when the bank is open...you may be able to get help from an employee if the machine eats your card.
Always bring two cards attached to different accounts in case one card is lost, you're locked out of your account, or you are robbed.
Do bring a couple of hundred euro with you so you have some cash on arrival...it's always a good idea.
You might be delayed in transit, the machines could be out of order.....you need enough for some food and a taxi or transport to your first accommodation.
I've been to Italy countless times and this is my strategy.

Oh, one more thing...if the machine (and any credit card machine you may use in Italy) offers to convert the money at the dollar rate instead of Euro, say no.
I can't remember what this is called, someone on here will know....it will cost you much more.

When are you going to Rome?

hey hey jamesj
i get $100-200E here in the states before i go. think i paid about $20-30 for them and i asked for small bills, (5, 10, 20E) it was all worth it to have. many years ago, first trip to rome had 2 ATM's, one out of order and other line was sooooo long with everyone getting off plane was first place they went, ATM's may have their own limit to withdraw plus run out of money the other ATM was in a terminal further away. you do the math
going to paris got my euros here, and the ATM's were now travelex that charges a "big" fee. so happy i had euros in my pocket, walked by them with a big smile, first in line for taxi to town with euros to pay. waited couple days later to get out of bank machine.
life was so easy peasy and no stress. you decide what's important to you, after paying for my vacation, the few bucks i paid for euros here was so worth it
aloha

Hi, ATMs are present in the terminals and indicated on the following maps with the sign similar to a B (Bancomat)

I want to thank all of you for the info. I am going on March 7. I have been their before but this time is a little different because I have to pay the balance of the pensione in Euros when I arrive. So I will need Euro 300 right away. I will check with AAA and I will make sure it is a bancomat. My debit card is a Capitol One so there are certain places it is accepted.

Thanks for everyone's imput.
Jim

I have to pay the balance of the pensione in Euros

Sounds like a tax cheater, you'd better read carefully the reviews about such places.