Cash vs. plastic when traveling to Rome and Positano

1. Yes, most definitely! Don't access the Belt where others can see.
2. I always like to get out of airports as quickly as possible. My usual method is to travel with €50-100 and then use an ATM when I get settled at my hotel.
3. Many hotels in Italy provide breakfast with the room. The amounts you quoted should be perfectly adequate for lunch and dinner.
4. I prefer to use larger banks, preferably those with an inside lobby. Check with your bank to determine which ones will provide the lowest fees.
5. Normally your funds will be drawn from your "primary account". Check with your bank on which account that is. When travelling I tend to have a limited amount of funds in my primary account, and then transfer money to it as required. That way if there was a problem, scammers would only get the small amount I had in the account at the time.

One other point.... I always make it a practice to travel with at least two ATM cards on different accounts. If there's a problem with my main card (ie: machine eats the card or whatever), I have a backup. I've had that happen in the past.

Absolutely to the money belt in Rome. We carried our passport, too. DH always likes to have cash, so we had 400 euros on our way over and $200. We would use the big bank indoor ATM.

We did not use our money belts or carry passports in Positano. What DH did was buy one of the credit card holders that have a little belt loop. They are small and flat. The one I found is smaller than the one in the RS store, I think it's an Eagle Creek.

As far as meals, that's probably an average price with minimal drinks. Ours probably comes closer to $200 per day. We typically don't eat lunch on vacations, more a snack between late bfast and dinner. I guess we splurge on dinners.

This is a duplicate post. Check your other thread for answers.

Donna

Check with your bank and credit card companies regarding charges on foreign purchases and withdrawals. Many CC companies now don't charge additional fees including AMEX, Capital One, and specific Visa and Master Cards - check to make sure. Similarly, most banks still will charge an FX fee up to 3% on ATM withdrawals. Capital One and many credit unions do not.

On a three+ week swing last fall, I got my initial fill up of euros from a UniCredit Bank machine in terminal one at FCO. They are on both first and second floors and there is also the one for BancoPosta in the terminal. I never had a problem locating a BANK ATM even in small towns. Even with banks, you've got to be careful. After entering withdrawal info in an ATM on Sardinia, a screen appeared stating an additional transaction fee of over 3% would be added to the withdrawal; cancelled the transaction, walked to a different bank 100 yards away and incurred no additional fees.

Lastly - dynamic conversion - though seen infrequently at ATMs, merchants will ask if you want to charge your purchases in dollars. Never use that option. It will result in an unfavorable foreign exchange rate. Always pay or withdraw in euros!

Hello:
Last February we visited 7 cities including Venice, Florence and Milan and for us worked better the plastic than the cash, don't get me wrong cash is always cash. Few years ago i applied for a credit card that doesn't charge foreign fees and believe me is excellent, we paid all our meals, trains and other things and worked perfectly fine and the best part?when i recieved the bank statement the currency exchange was extremely good on our favor, personally i don't recommend to bring to much cash for me credit card NO debit card is a lot better. Good look and have a wonderful trip.

I have always been a die-hard cash person, especially in places like Italy where a "cash discount" is often a thing, even in big cities like Rome. Money belt DEFINITELY of course and never access it in places where people can see you. Your budget seems reasonable enough though :)