Help! We are getting ready to depart for Rome and we’re not able to get any euros and I’m not about to pay 1.27+ transaction fee for euros at the airport if I can avoid it! We were planning to hop in one of the €48 taxis from FCo to our hotel, at which point I plan to find a local bank and use the ATM. Wondering if I need to bite the bullet and exchange currency at the airport or if I need cash to take that cab!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6215 posts
The fixed rate is now 50 euros
I believe all legal taxis are required by law to accept credit cards so do be sure you are in the official taxi line
Posted by
Spokane, WA
86 posts
There are ATMs at the airport.
Posted by
OP
melbourne FL
60 posts
Thank you all! We’ll just hit the airport ATM.
I mistakenly thought I could walk into my local bank and buy some euros on the spot, apparently it takes 2 to 4 days for the euros to arrive at the branch!
And when people said the exchange rates at the airport were bad I didn’t believe them, but they are charging 1.27 Plus a $12 fee— outrageous!
OK boarding now!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23340 posts
Local banks even in major cities do not do currency exchange. Too much hassle for the volume. If you are going to use a credit card for the taxi, make sure the credit card machine is working by asking BEFORE getting in the taxi. Credit card machine do malfunction from time to time and sometimes on purpose.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
7579 posts
Yes, nearly all taxis take credit cards. Oh, wait a minute....try...Oh, my machine is broken, do you have cash?
At least make it clear to the driver that you only have credit card. Confirm the fare. No cash, no ATM card (little white lie)
Also, verify that you have a Rome cab (with the logo), there are Fiumicino cabs at the airport, they are not obligated to the set rate of 48 euro.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15260 posts
Credit card machine do malfunction from time to time and sometimes on
purpose.
In Italy, when they malfunction, it's always on purpose (for the purpose to get a cash payment and not report it for tax purposes).
And don't ask the taxi drivers at FCO to take you to Ostia, where the fare would be only around €20-25. They won't take you. They take only people going to the city center for the full €50.
Posted by
11218 posts
We always get euros at European airports when we arrive. Why wait to go downtown to get it?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19113 posts
Do you have Wells Fargo in Florida (Alabama has them; I suspect FL must, too)?
I just checked with their website. Their markup for euro is 4.4% right now ($1.0742/€ at Wells). I believe they set it at 5% based on the morning's rate, but the markup changes during the day as the official exchange rate goes up or down.
In my experience, major branches have, at least, Euro on hand. When I got Czech Koruna a few years ago, it was at a minor branch and I had to order it a few days in advance, and the markup is higher for off-currencies). They only sell foreign currencies to WF customers.
But it sounded like you were ready to leave for the airport and didn't have time to go to a bank. Nex time, plan ahead.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6215 posts
OP has apparently already left for Italy
Posted by
OP
melbourne FL
60 posts
Thanks all for the replies…yes we are here and it’s great! But HOT!!
Exactly as you said—they all take CC but good to advise them before you hop in. The machine is often “broken” but when you tell them “no euros” it magically works.
I agree with Rick that cabs in Rome are easy to get and economical. Some do require masks FYI