Discounts for Cash

I can set the daily ATM withdrawal limit on my bank’s website. Mine was $500 a day on our trip to Sicily and when I tried to withdrawal that much at once, my card got locked, even though I had set a travel advisory. I was using an ATM on a U.S. military base and it took about 20 minutes on the toll free line to get it straightened out. Later in the trip, using the same ATM, I had no problem withdrawing the daily maximum.

Do you have a AAA membership? If so, call and ask if you can withdraw euros in the denomination needed before leaving home.

Thanks for the feedback. My experience with getting Euros before leaving is that you get a bad exchange rate and it is better to withdraw cash after getting to Europe. I'll have to check with AAA to see what their rate is.

I think MaryPat meant Euro €.

I belong to 2 credit unions.

One has a $400 limit that has not changed in the 15 years I've been a member and absolutely will not up it for any reason. I've complained multiple times about how small that amount is, no matter what the exchange rate is. They don't care.

The other has limit so large that I've never reached it. You can guess which one I use to get cash.

I haven't experienced limits at cash machines associated with banks in Italy, but if those limits are per transaction but not per day it's possible that you could withdraw the cash in multiple transactions, from different banks IF your cash card allows that. See the link at the bottom for more advice on using cash machines on Europe.

What you definitely want to do is get the cash in local currency. Do not accept the DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) invitation. Here's why from the RS Travel Tip on Money:

Some ATM machines also offer DCC, often in purposefully confusing or misleading terms. If an ATM offers to "lock in" or "guarantee" your conversion rate, choose "proceed without conversion." Other prompts might state, "You can be charged in dollars: Press YES for dollars, NO for euros." Always choose the local currency.

And here's the link to the section on using cash machines: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips

I think MaryPat meant Euro €.

I did, I had the UK on my mind. I corrected my post.

Thanks all. I checked with my bank and I'm able to get a high daily limit. That will help

Maybe it's just me, but I would not feel comfortable carrying 3000 euros around in a foreign country, even when done in multiple smaller transactions. Have a strong plan, pickpockets and thiefs are adept at their craft. Is the hotel going to ask you for payment upon arrival, upon departure or in daily payments? Certainly use the hotel safe for keeping until the payments are made. Paying with a foreign transaction free credit card (like B of A Visa) would save about 3% off the top, as an alternative?