Best way to change money

All Airport Money outlets in Italy give awful change rates hidden behind administrative fees, just use your ATM card to get Euro.

Rick Steve's advice on money: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

By "money outlet" do you mean one of the currency exchange desks?? NO! Follow the advice e given in Rick's books, or in this site. Use your debit card at a (preferably bank owned) ATM machine. You'll only want to bring enough American cash to take care of any necessities at your US airports, or on the way home after you land. Maybe a couple hundred USD.

I prefer to have a bit of the local currency in my wallet when I arrive- a couple hundred GBP or Euros. I get these from my bank before leaving home. All other local cash comes from bank ATMs.

Use an ATM. Relax: it's not complicated.

It has been stated on this site over and over and over. The cheapest and most convenient way to obtain local currency is a debit card at a bank owned ATM in the country you are visiting. Even if your bank charges a fee it is still cheaper than money exchanges at the airport or at your bank in the US. It is simple.

I have read the info piece about money and still would like real time information please. What is it about the money piece that you don't comprehend or the real time information that you need?

Thank you for all of your input. I apologize about being dumb about what seems to be something that shoukd be easy. I do understand about atm's but also have read about thieves that hang around them and thought I might ask more experienced travelers what they do. Sorry to inconvenience you all and I value everyone's ideas. 😊

Anything is possible. I have never seen a thief or anyone else for that matter hanging around an ATM. Often you will find a bank of ATMs in a small lobby near the front of the bank and you have to use your debit card to gain entrance. Obviously that is a preferred location. If it is on the street I will try to use it mid-day when there is a lot of foot traffic walking by. My wife provides a little cover but not much is needed. Really very little to be concern about.

PS One other thing I try to do is to always use an ATM right after someone used it. If it worked for them it should work for me. Joe, the OP has been on this site for several months and should have seen this question since it is asked nearly daily. Just wondering if there is some other concern that has not been stated or addressed earlier.

Just use common sense as to your surroundings when withdrawing cash from an ATM and otherwise.

absoluut5 - I don't know if this still is so but at a few of the ATMs (also known as cashpoints & bancomats) in London, you can withdraw Pounds and Euros. We did this at Victoria Station in 2014 - withdrew pounds for our time in London and then Euros prior to traveling by train to Paris. I don't know if Brexit or anything else impacted this - maybe someone else does. You won't have a problem, especially starting in Great Britain. Just know your daily limit in dollars and how to convert to the currency you want. (If you can only withdraw $350 daily, then you'll only be allowed 300 Euros/day. If you're denied, it's probably because you're trying to get too much. Also know your PIN. I usually withdraw dollars in the US a couple of days prior to leaving just to assure the card/PIN work. Then if I have problems I know it's because I'm overseas. This info should help if you have to call customer service. Above all else, look confident - don't want thieves to target you. If you're truly worried, order the money but I believe I would be more concerned about carrying that amount of cash around with me.

Absolut..., Don't use the the money outlet at the airport or mall (usually Travelex). I get money from AAA before I go. In Massachusetts' AAA, at least, there is no fee and the rate is reasonable if not right on. Or order through your bank. When I'm in Europe, I like to take my time finding an ATM, as I travel solo, and want to pick and chose the location, time, etc., not have to hurry to any ATM to get money. It also gives me back up cash incase there is a problem with my card. I also often ask the reception desk at my hotel where I can find a reliable, safe ATM...so far they have never steered me wrong. Do what makes you feel the most comfortable and makes your trip less stressful. Wray

I'd be less concerned about the safety of withdrawing cash from an Italian airport ATM cash machine than withdrawing cash from a big American city. After the various airport terrorist attacks Italian terminal security is almost militarized. An airport is probably the safest place to be in terms of robbery or muggings. A mugger would not get too far after grabbing your newly dispensed stack of Euros at an airport ATM.

Italian train stations may be a different animal.

I just returned from my first trip to Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, and several smaller cities in Tuscany and Umbria. I took $200 USD cash for an emergency, plus 2 credit and 1 debit cards (all Visa cards). I had no Euro upon arrival. I used a bank owned ATM in the Rome airport - inside the security area - to get 250 Euro, then used only bank-owned ATMs (some inside but most on the street) to get 400-500 Euro every 3-4 days. I never felt concerned or unsafe, I just used common sense on time and location of use. Usually I asked the hotel desk clerk who directed me to a safe and reliable location near the hotel. I will say that the international use of an ATM is a little more complicated than the ones I use in the US, but I eventually figured out each one's minor variations in directions. Each one I used allowed me to select English as the first step after inserting my card. It was as simple to get cash from an ATM in Volterra or Orvieto as in Rome or Florence. I believe Great Britain will be no issue, but have never been to Croatia. Good luck and don't stress out over the issue.

I neglected to mention that - even well before the most recent bombing in Manchester - there were armed Italian soldiers at every major tourist site in Rome, in the Termini train station, and in many of the main piazzas. I felt very secure knowing that they were deployed to keep tourists as safe as possible.

Thank you so much for your kind response. I appreciate your advice. 😊

Thank you so much for your kind response. I appreciate your advice. 😊

I have found a bank-owned ATM at every airport I have arrived at - Roma, Milano, Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, Zurich. Never a problem, except he time in Warsaw that the ATM imploded, but that was at a train station.

I have seen beggars at ATMs, which is pretty optimistic of them, since the machines don't dispense coins, and most people aren't that generous with larger bills.

Wray,

I checked several of my local AAA and one near my mom's house when visiting (in a different state) -- none offer cash any more.

They all used to carry the handy pack of approximately US$100 of the most popular foreign currencies as well as offering to provide larger amounts if you ordered it. No more. All any offered was their travel pre paid debit card anymore. No one could tell me if this was a recent change for them.

If your local AAA still offers foreign currency at a great rate, then you are lucky.