Cash machines/Conversion rates in Italy

If you enter "currency conversion" in the Search box at the top right of this page you will get a lot of information.

It's possible that your ATM card did not have the necessary logos on it. I'm referring to the Cirrus and Plus logos. You could have had a limited ATM card. Most debit cards today are very easy to use at ATM machines in Italy. Check the back of your card. Also, your PIN number could have been too long. It's limited to four digits in Italy.

Using a credit card is the worst method as you are borrowing money from the bank as opposed to withdrawing your own cash. Often, the interest on the loan begins as soon as you remove the cash from the machine.

It will cost you a lot more to obtain Euros from a bank here as opposed to simply withdrawing the Euros from an ATM in Italy. Still, depending on the bank issuing your ATM card, you will not get away without fees and charges. The fees vary from 1%-3%.

Hi Suzanne. It's definitely more expensive to purchase euros in the U.S. As of today, a currency conversion place near me is charging 1.40 so it would cost $140 to purchase 100 euros. That's about what it was 5 years ago when I travelled to Italy. I plan to convert $200.00 or so just so I have enough money to pay for the cab when I get into Rome and get a bite to eat, but then I will get the rest of my money out of ATM machines as needed. I didn't have any trouble 5 years ago using my ATM card but it might have something to do with your bank. You might call them & inquire. Taking cash advances off of credit cards is definitely more expensive. ATM withdrawls are the way to go if at all possible. Good luck.

A few weeks ago I got some euros from my bank before I left; paid $1.37/1 euro. Also got euros from the European ATM's; paid between $1.34-1.36. Not much difference. Both had a 3% fee and a $3/transaction fee. Frankly, it would have been easier and cheaper to just have gotten them all here before I left. If I thought the rates would have been so similar I would have.

I have a related question...my debit card has a PLUS logo but credit card does not have any network logo. Both are VISA. Will I be able to use both cards to withdraw cash from ATMs in Italy? Thanks!!

Welll... after reading all the responses and Rick's
blogs on cash machines in Italy ... I'm still confused. I have 3 ATM cards with the Plus and Star
logos on the back, but now I'm hearing that almost all ATMs in Italy honor only cards with the Cirrus logo on the back to get cash. Only my VISA credit card has this. I was planning on putting money into my ATM checking account to get cash while in Italy, but now am not convinced that it will work. Does anyone have any firsthand knowledge about ATMs in Rome,Florence, and Venice? Last time I wound up using my Visa to get cash and paid hefty fees for cash advance. My husband won't go for getting another c/c .. Capitol One which I know would work everywhere. Aloha & Mahalo for your input!

My debit card is a WaMu Mastercard with only the Star logo. It's worked in all but one ATM in Rome and Florence without any trouble. When the one didn't work, I just went to a different one across the piazza and it worked there. Don't use a credit card for sure! The cash advance fees are outrageous. Take several cards between you and try various ATMs.

Kim, You'll have no problems, Visa is a network.

STAR network is ONLY available in the US/Canada. See

http://star.via.infonow.net/loc/

The most common networks in Europe are PLUS and Cirrus -- the Visa and Mastercard networks. I think it is very safe to say that a branded Visa or Mastercard would include their respective network even if it is not listed on the card. But if it is something other than a Visa/Mastercard card then it will need a symbol for either Plus or Cirrus. I have a Chase Visa card that does not have a network symbol on it but works just fine as a credit card in Europe.

I have never had a problem getting Euros out of an ATM/Bancomat in big or little towns in Italy. I use my US ATM card which also doubles as a debit card and the Euros come right out of my checking account funds at the conversion rate applicable at that time. Also, never been charged a fee. A bit off topic, perhaps, but check and see if using your credit card will get you a fee for each purchase. I learned the hard way to use my Capital One CC over my others since it was the only one not to charge a fee each time I charged something.

I used a Capital One Credit Card and opened a Capital One savings account. I had an ATM card for the savings account and used it with no fee's while in Italy. One caution: make sure you open that Capital One account NOW because for the first month (maybe longer-don't remember), they put holds on your deposits. I'm just leaving this account open as my travel account - adding funds as I can. :-)