Has anyone been to Italy within the past 6 months to a year and found a problem using our magnetic stripe credit cards instead of the ones with the imbedded chip and pin number? I am especially interested in getting tickets at train stations and what problems we might have. Thanks
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32384 posts
Sarah, I was there last year about this time, and had no problems buying tickets at the Kiosks with a credit card. Although I have "chip & PIN" cards, the Kiosk processed the transactions using the magnetic stripe (it didn't ask for a PIN). The change to the new "chip & PIN" technology is moving inexorably forward, so I'm not whether this will be the same when I return this year. If you find that the Kiosks won't operate with your magnetic stripe card, you'll have to use the staffed ticket windows, as your card likely will be accepted there. Happy travels!
Posted by
NY, USA
500 posts
I was just in Italy last month. If you try to use a US based credit card in a machine at a train station in Italy you will not be successful. You need to go to a manned ticket booth. A non chip n pin cards don't work in most european self service machines like train and gas stations.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
My experience was different from Lisa's. Just three weeks ago, we used our US credit card in the train ticket vending machines in Rome (twice), Verona and Padova without any problem. (And it's a regular Capital One credit card.)
Posted by
A tiny island in Puget Sound WA, USA
166 posts
Hi Sarah,
I got back a couple of weeks ago and we used our credit cards with no problems at automated machines in train stations in Venice, CT, Milan and Spoleto. Worked like a dream, but I don't know when they will stop accepting our type of cards. Also, the first screen asks you what language so if you don't know a lot of Italian, you can use the English screens. Be sure to know the exact name of the station you want (Venice Santa Lucia for example, not Venice Mestre). We also had no problems using our ATM cards. Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, California, USA
81 posts
Thanks everyone. Very useful.
Posted by
Northern Virginia
26 posts
I was in Italy in May and was able to use my non-chip & pin card in the big (yellow I think) machines in Florence & Milan w/no problems. However, in smaller stations like La Spezia & Siena they only had the smaller (older?) machines which had signs on them saying they only accepted the chip & pin cards or cash. I was able to buy a ticket at the manned window in Siena w/my card. So it varies. I found it convenient to buy whatever fares I could online ahead of time.