Euros for 3 weeks in italy

First, it is generally expensive to change Euro in the US. It is much cheaper and move convenient to obtain local currency by using a debit card at bank owned ATMs in the country even if your card charges a fee. Second, we spend closer to 100 to 200 Euro per day so for three weeks we would need something closer to 3,000 Euro. While credit cards are widely used, cash will get you discounts, and depending on where you are, credit cards may not be accepted and sometimes a fee is charged is use a credit card. We use cash about 90% of the time. About the only thing we charge are hotels when they will not give a discount for cash. Also during the last couple days of our trip we might charge a few more items as we manage our Euro in hand. We try to return home with 100 to 200 Euro for the next trip.

It all depends on a lot of things. Are you on a group tour? Are you on your own? Do you like eating in 5 star restaurants? Do you like shopping? And so on. :-)

I would suggest you get your Euros once you get to Europe. Most European bank operated ATMs do not charge a fee but your bank may charge fees and may limit you to only $300 equivalent per day so check with them. But spread over 3 weeks, should be no issue on the daily limit. ATMs in Europe dispense multiple denominations depending on how much you get at one time. Don't be surprised if you get 100 Euro notes. In my experience, I have never had any issues paying for anything with 100's in Europe (be reasonable though, don't pay for a single bottle water you buy from a street vendor with a 100).

If you get Euros at your home town bank, they will charge a premium. My bank charges about 10% over the rate you will get when you take Euros out of an ATM in Europe. On 1500 Euros, that is $150 which is enough for a couple nice dinners! The Travelex exchange booths at the airport are even worse and last time I checked wanted $136 for 100 Euro when the bank rate equaled $108. If you feel you must have Euros when you step off the plane, get 100 - 200 from your bank (if they offer that service) and ask them for small bills.

You could ruin a vacation very quickly if you were carrying 1500E and the money was stolen - highly recommend using ATMs in Europe.

As mentioned above - you can get Euros from your bank or AAA before leaving, but it WILL cost you more - they either add 5-10% or they increase the exchange rate a little. We always get about 200Euros from AAA just to have some when we land, but we use our Debit Card on a daily basis to take money out. We use Bank of America & if we use a BOA partner ATM/bank (there are many in Italy i.e.: BNL), there are minimal fees. We only use a Credit Card for bigger purchases or larger hotels . . . as mentioned above - they like and prefer cash and many of the best restaurants over there won't take a credit card. We are going to Italy for 3 weeks in October also. We will primarily use our Debit Card for ATMs and we are taking our CapitalOne VentureOne Visa as our CreditCard since it has a 0% Foreign Transaction Fee. You may want to order Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door from Amazon - that book is a MUST READ for anyone traveling to Europe & it has a great section on cash, ATM, CreditCards. There is also some good info on money on this website under the Travel Tips section.

I like 20's -- just like at home. 100's for hotel bills. And make sure you keep some 50-cent coins when you get change -- toilet money!

As the others have mentioned, the most cost effective way to obtain Euro is by using ATM's in Europe. Although you may pay a small fee for every transaction, the exchange rate will be the most favourable. The fees will likely be higher at your local credit union or banks, and they may have to order the currency in.

I'd suggest taking two ATM cards, in case of any "malfunctions" with the primary card (I've had that happen). Travel funds are normally drawn from your "primary" account, so you'll have to check with your bank to find out which account that is. Also, be sure to notify all your financial institutions and credit card firms that you'll be travelling so they don't "freeze" your cards when they detect transaction activity in Europe.

You'll have to decide whether €1500 is sufficient for your travel style, but I'd be "uncomfortable" carrying that much cash with me. Be sure to wear Money Belts while in Europe, and be sure not to access them where others can see.

So I read somewhere on this site that the first thing you do at the airport is head for the ATM? Should I actually wait and find a different one rather then the airport then?

I use em at airports if I'm at the airport and I need cash.

Before hitting up your bank for 1500€, read this:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/pay-credit-cards-vs-cash

American credit cards work throughout Europe (at hotels, larger shops
and restaurants, travel agencies, car-rental agencies, and so on);
Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted. American Express is
less common, and the Discover card is unknown in Europe. It’s a good
idea to bring an extra card as a backup (especially if you’re renting
a car and using your card to cover CDW insurance). I use my credit
card sparingly: to book reservations by phone (for hotel rooms and a
rental car), to cover major expenses (such as plane tickets and long
hotel stays), and to pay for things near the end of my trip (to avoid
another visit to the ATM). Cash is the best — and sometimes only — way
to pay for bus fare, taxis, and local guides. If you’ll be shopping a
lot or settling bills at pricey business-class hotels, you might use
your credit card more than I do — but you’ll still be better off using
cash for smaller purchases.

Then read this:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

Don’t buy foreign currency in advance. Some tourists just have to have
euros or pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but
smart travelers don’t bother and know better than to get lousy
stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive at your destination;
I’ve never been to an airport in Europe that didn’t have plenty of
ATMs.

And read this:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/card-fees

If you’re getting a bad deal, get a new card. Some companies offer
lower international fees than others — and some don’t charge any at
all. If you’re going on a long trip, do some research and consider
taking out a card just for international purchases. Capital One has a
particularly good reputation for no-fee international transactions on
both its credit cards and its debit cards linked to a checking
account. Most credit unions have low-to-no international transaction
fees. Bankrate has a good comparison chart of major credit cards and
their currency-conversicash-tips

I use a Capital One Visa with no foreign transaction fees. Pretty much the Interbank rate.

"Don’t buy foreign currency in advance. Some tourists just have to have euros or pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but smart travelers don’t bother and know better than to get lousy stateside exchange rates."

I don't completely agree with this advice. I always like to pack along a small amount of travel funds (€50-100) to last until I get settled in my first location. I only had to pay the "lousy" exchange rates the first time, and on subsequent trips I always have money left over so I use that. As I recall, the exchange wasn't too bad at my local credit union the first time I bought Euro, especially for a smaller sum.

jmlawniczak

You can use an ATM at the airport, just make sure it is a bank operated ATM. If it offers to charge you in your home currency instead of the local (Euros, Pounds, whatever), refuse and make sure it charges you in local currency. Getting charged in USD (or whatever your home currency is) can end up costing you a lot because the ATM owner will use a favorable rate for them and you will still get stuck with any exchange fees you bank charges on top of that.

Travelex, the exchange company that you see running the exchange booths at most airports, apparently got a deal in Europe to handle most of the ATMs at most airports, so you might not be able to find a bank ATM at the airport. Just be careful if you use one of those. I have heard good and bad from people who used them. My experience was that I canceled my transaction as soon as it offered me a "daily special rate" that was about 30 cents a Euro more than the standard exchange rate at the time.

Thank you, Mark