Best credit card to take while in Italy and currency exchange

The country is almost irrelevant. I suggest that you look for some of the long threads discussing this topic, using the Search box at top center. There are so many criteria for "best" that you need to look at dozens of posts to get a full picture of your options. Time before your departure, personal credit, and bank usage can also affect your choices.

You should also look up entirely separate threads on ATM cards, since obtaining currency is an entirely different subject, also with many criteria. Our host also has some general cash and credit guidelines, blue menu top left corner.

Capital one. No international fees and you can earn points. My last trip my husband and I went on, his flight was free. Paid with my points. Capital one also texts me and emails me every time there is a charge of $25 or more and no annual fee.They have many cards to choose from. That is for credit card.

I would also look into opening a separate bank account just for traveling. Actually, open two accounts at two different banks just for travel. Obviously, you need a bank that will not charge you fees for the account. Get a debit/atm card for the account. When you go on vacation, put money into the account. While away use atm machines and withdraw the currency of the country you are visiting. The reason for the separate accounts, if for some reason your card is stolen/ copied all that is in the account is your travel money and it is not linked to any of your personnel bank accounts. Why two different accounts? for the same reason. if your card is stolen/lost etc. You have another card and account as a back up. I always do this. 2 years ago my card was copied. 2 months after I returned home from Italy I noticed a 40 withdrawal from the account. There was only 50 in there. Somehow, somewhere, I used a machine that had a skimmer attached and they copied my card that had a chip. I must not have covered the keypad when I entered my pin. It happens. When I returned home from vacation I transferred all the money in the account I did not use but 50.00.

Although most credit cards are accepted in Italy, I have heard that American Express can be a problem. I have never had issues with my Visa. Perhaps the most important thing to check is whether your credit card charges foreign transaction fees. I believe most cards have eliminated this fee, but it would be wise to check with your bank. And, of course, you need to notify your bank that you will be using the card in Italy, as otherwise it will be blocked. If you plan to use your card in ticket vending machines you will need a chip and a PIN. Otherwise, chip and signature works just fine. I would caution you that many restaurants and some hotels, particularly small family-run ones, don’t take credit cards. If you are using your credit card to pay and are given the choice of paying in Euros or dollars, always choose Euros, as choosing dollars (dynamic currency conversion) can cost more.

Don’t go to currency exchange businesses, as their rate of exchange is poor. I usually pay for everything in cash, withdrawing money from ATM’s. ATMs are everywhere, and the process works the same as it does here, using your card and your PIN. Check with your bank to see what your daily limit per card is, and whether you will be charged a bank fee each time you withdraw funds. If so, obviously it is to your advantage to withdraw the maximum each time to avoid fees. I prefer to use an ATM at a bank during banking hours, in the rare case that something goes wrong and the machine eats my card.

Some folks feel more comfortable having some Euros in hand when they arrive. If you are one of those people. You can obtain a pack of Euros at your bank or at AAA, but the exchange rate is far worse than you will get in Italy, so I wouldn’t advise getting a lot.

Enjoy your trip!

The trend is clear in that more credit card companies are eliminating the foreign transaction fee, often 3%. As for an ATM/debit cards, some financial institutions offer cards with no foreign transaction fees and no other fees when withdrawing local currencies. Use the Forum search feature to read discussions ad nauseam about "best" credit and ATM/debit cards.

Forget currency exchange while in Europe. Banks only do it if you have an account with them now (meaning you are a local resident). You will find currency exchange booths at airports and some rail stations, but they are few and far apart as well as providing an absolutely terrible exchange rate and should be reserved for an emergency when no other option works.

Make sure you have a Debit card with either the Visa or MasterCard logo on it to get cash with. And if possible, one that does not charge you fees for using it outside the US. There are multiple options including Capital One 360 accounts and Charles Schwab. You will get the absolute best exchange rate when using one of these to get cash from a bank owned ATM in Europe. The rate is set by the card network (Visa/MC) and is what you see when you check the rate on Google.

Same with the credit cards -- make sure you get one (or 2 so you have a backup) from banks that do not charge foreign fees. There are too many of these to list here, but easy to find online or through your bank.