Carrying cash and getting home late from the Vatican

I wouldn't take out that much cast at one time. If you lose it or it's stolen what will you do? If you need cash at the end of each stay get it out of the ATM the night before leaving.

I would probably walk to the Castel Sant Angelo and take a taxi from there if you find yourself too tired to walk back to your hotel after the Vatican.

Donna

I understand that Italian ATMs have cash dispensing limits of 250 EUR. My experience several years ago at the VCE airport ATM is a 300 EUR request was denied but my 200 EUR withdrawal worked.

If you committed to cash payments for B&Bs you may want to ask your credit union to temporarily increase your daily limit to $650 USD. That would give you the ability to with withdraw 500 EUR per day. Note that a "day" starts at midnight back home.

Given the "we're", they are at least two of you. It's a good idea to split the ATM. Credit Cards and cash between the two of you. (I'm assuming you have a back up ATM account/card given that you are cash dependent on room and board. I will also hide some cash in clothing left in my hotel room. Diversification is a sort of insurance.

Can you make partial payments as needed? So go out in the morning for a walk around. On the way back hit the ATM for 300€. Stop by the front desk to make a payment. Goes pretty much from your account to them. I'd do that rather than carry it around.

They assure me I can take out $500/day.

Many ATM's have a limit per transaction, typically €250 or €200. If you go over this limit, the error message is not very helpful, just "transaction refused", without a reason. If you hit this try a smaller amount, but you may then need to do multiple withdrawals which may cost you more.
I would stash the extra cash in your room, B&B's are basically honest.

Many ATM's have a limit per transaction, typically €250 or €200. If
you go over this limit, the error message is not very helpful, just
"transaction refused", without a reason. If you hit this try a smaller
amount, but you may then need to do multiple withdrawals

We've been in that situation with a hotel in the Cinque Terre that took only cash, and with ATMs that had limits on the amounts they would dispense. We did the same as you're planning to do: hit ATMs every day prior to our stay until we had enough. Now, my husband and I have separate accounts and two different banks so we were able to use our own ATMs for those those two accounts so it didn't take as long as it will if withdrawing from one. We also both raised our daily withdrawal limit should we luck out at an ATM which would dispense $500 euro or so.

Yes, our hotel required FULL payment upon check-in, and that was communicated in advance.

As you're in this situation for three accommodations versus our one, you might want to buy a good amount of euros before you go. This is against what I'd usually advise but best to have enough in hand for at least the first B&B while you try to stock up for the next two?

We kept the bulk of that in the hotel safe (yes, we trust them and have never had a problem) or you could split the amount between your separate money belts, if you're uncomfortable with that strategy.

Just like in the US, sometimes ATMs run low on cash and you have to lower the amount you request, regardless of what your home bank says. As far as carrying it around, do what you do at home. If you like carrying around hundreds of dollars on the street, do the same with euros. Personally, I never assume European hotels are any less secure than US hotels, so I only carry enough cash for the day on my person.

I was in Italy this May, and made ATM withdrawals in Rome, Florence, Bologna and Sorrento, each of them €350 to €480 with no problems. (Well, except that I kept finding the same bank which charged an extra €3 per withdrawal.) But clearly did not run into a €250 limit that others refer to.
I like Rocket's partial payment plan -- I have done that, just make sure you get a receipt in case there's someone else on the desk when you check out.

Aside from the money issue, if you will have a phone with you, you can always call for a cab. Ask the owner of the B&B for a recommendation. No phone? Ask the B&B to arrange one for you. Just make sure where you'll be able to meet it.

I would leave the money each day in the hotel safe if you have one but if not, I would carry it in a money belt under my clothes. I know someone who had $5000 stolen from a locked locker (not a hotel safe) I have carried thousands in a money belt. Certainly don't 'leave it in the room' if that means in a drawer, under the mattress or a suitcase.

I assume you need to accumulate a large amount.

All ATM's have limits on how much you can take out per transaction but none limit the number of transactions you can make. If you can only take out 200 per transaction and need 500 you simply make three transactions. It's simple.

Also, your bank sets your daily withdraw limit, not the ATM or Italian bank. You can request your bank raise your daily limit of how much you can take out before your trip.

Also, remember that 200 euros is NOT $200. If your withdraw limit is set to $200 per day and you try to take out 200 euros the transaction will be declined because you are over your limit.

Donna

What Donna said. Familiarize yourself with the exchange rate so you know how many € to ask for so as to not go over your $ limit. For example, according to Oanda, at the moment you can get about €418 for your $500.

Be sure to thoroughly read the RS Money Travel Tips and do not agree to DCC.

Ths summer in Italy, I rented 2 apartments, stayed in 1 B&B and 1 hotel. Only the B&B took cash only. Both apartment owners listed cash payment only, but took credit cards as well. Credit card was the standard payment method for the hotel.

Google taxi stand near vatican to find the one closest to where you will come out.

You can also use Google Maps to find the best way back to your B&B. Put in your starting point. Put in your destination. Click on directions. You will get a list of methods to use, how long they will take and detailed directions, including the walking part. There's always a walking part. Note that you can click on options to change the time you want to leave, the date, etc. That will tell you how late the buses or metro run.

In June I spent 6 nights in an apartment in Rome very near the Vatican. I found the buses most convenient, but the one night I was out late, I took a taxi home. Some advice: don't stay late in Trastevere on a Saturday night. I had to wait an hour for that taxi.