Credit Card vs Debit Card

It is best to use a regular credit card or cash loaded debit card to pay for stuff and a regular debit card tied to your checking account to get cash at an ATM when needed.

If you want cash (and you will need some cash for small items, even if you use your credit card for larger items), then get cash out of an ATM using the same debit card you use at home to get money out of an ATM.

Getting an extra ""cash loaded" debit travel card" is unnecessary and will probably be more expensive than just using your normal card.

• Make sure you have told your bank you will be using your cards in Italy (both credit and debit cards).
• Do not use a credit card in an ATM, unless it is an emergency.
• Make sure each person carries cards from different accounts. That way, if somebody looses all their cards and you have to block accounts, you still have useable cards.

Historically "pre-load" cash cards have been a very bad deal with hidden fees, no protection like a debit or credit card because it is considered a gift card by the federals -- fewer regulations. If lost with all of the cash on the card nearly impossible to replace.

The best rate and most convenient way to obtain local currency is a debit card at a bank-owned ATM in country. Bare none!!! Nothing works better. So take at least two debit cards tied to two different accounts and use a debit card ONLY for obtain cash and a credit card for other expenses. We use cash about 90% of the time but others make heavier use of credit cards. Either way works pretty well.

Just say no to special "debit travel cards". High fees, and I've heard reports that many don't work all that well in Europe.

Use your regular Visa card for many purchases (see if it charges international fees, if it does and you have time consider signing up for one with no fees, these are easy to find. Many capital one cards, for example). Not everywhere will take credit cards, for example small, casual restaurants, farmers market type vendors, many taxis, street kiosks where you would buy water and a quick snack and others. So you will also have to be able to access cash. An ATM card is best for this.

One advantage to credit cards is that if your card or its info is stolen you can cancel it easily and you aren't liable for the charges.

We used to pay cash for most everything, even hotels with cash from ATMs. Now we use credit card (no fee) for hotels, more expensive meals out, but depending on total and cash we have on hand. Cash from ATMs for smaller purchases, entrance fees, coffees, markets. Online purchases (trains, advance admission tickets)-credit cards. Train tickets at station- credit card or cash at windows, debit card seems to work better at kiosks. We rarely withdraw more than 250€ from ATM for 2 of us, but plan ahead so we always have some cash.

If at all possible, open a checking account to use as a travel account and get a debit card for it.. One where there is no monthly fees. Transfer the amount of money you think you will need while on vacation. Use the debit card from the travel account to withdraw cash from the atm. On return home, any money not used transfer back to your primary account, but leave 50/100 in it to keep the account active. This way if your card is copied or compromised, it's not attached to your primary checking account where all your money is.

It happened to me several years ago. By the time the thieves were able to make a duplicate of my card and use it, all that was left in the account was $40. I noticed a $20 withdrawal from the account and called the bank to cancel the card.

Following seems knowlegable and consistent with my understanding of US fiancial rules: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/050214/credit-vs-debit-cards-which-better.asp

My sense is that credt card protections are more favorable to the card holder than that of debit card protections. But if you follow the loss/theft reporting rules, debit card liability to US card holders can be minimal.

With pre-paid debit cards, read the fine print about fees. Fees for the card and/or to upload, usage fees (by transaction or monthly), and of course the foreign tranasaction fee.

And then there is the possibility of loss: https://www.creditcardinsider.com/credit-cards/prepaid/

Prepaid Debit Cards Have Little or No Theft or Loss Protection. If
you load $500 onto a prepaid debit card and you lose your card then it
is as if you just lost $500 in cash. You are out of luck. Recovering
the funds will likely be impossible.

Some of the major advantages of pre-paid debit cards apply to people with poor credit and/or and inability to control their spending. The pre-paid card forces you to not over spend and anyone with the cash can get a pre-paid card. Some of the better credit cards are very senstative to credit scores.

I guess I try to stay away from "you must do this" advice. First some questions you need to find the answers for:

What credit cards do you have? What are the Foreign Transactions Fees? Some cards charge 3%, others none, obviously zero fees are better, have at least one of those, then any type of backup.

As others said, forget the pre-loaded cards. You pay to load, pay to use, pay to get any money not spent back, plus limited protection for fraud.

For a Debit card (from your checking account with the bank); What fees do you pay? Some banks charge $3-5 if you use an out of network ATM (that can be an issue in Europe) plus then 3% for a Foreign Transaction fee. Others charge essentially nothing. Regardless, best to have a zero fee debit/ATM card, plus again a back-up. As others mentioned, make sure your banks know you are travelling and that your card will work over there.

If all you are stuck with is high fee cards, then even Cash Advance on a Credit card may be as cheap for getting cash.

We were just in Italy. I have 3 bank accounts (2 banks and one Credit Union).

I verified the ATM fees with all three
Also, I verified the VISA 'foreign transaction fees' with each of my providers.

The Credit Union had no ATM fees, so we used it exclusively for ATMs.
One of my VISAs had no foreign transaction fees, so we used it exclusively for charges.

Simple math.

(we brought the other cards with, as backup)