First trip to Italy! Help! Weather?

Hi Kathie,

My husband and I traveled to Italy (first time) last October. We brought 100 Euros with us and got the rest at the Bancomat. They are everywhere in Italy. You will pay a fee of about 2.50 euros per transaction, but if you use your credit card, it will cost about the same. Don't forget to notify your bank and credit card company that you are traveling in Italy, otherwise, they may cancel your cards and freeze your bank accounts if they suspect fraud. We discovered that some hotels will give you a discount if you pay with cash, so don't hesitate to ask. Also, if your group wants to see the Sistine Chapel, make a reservation. Otherwise, you will be waiting in a long line. As far as seeing other sites in Rome, there are numerous double decker tour buses at the train station that will take your group all over the city. You will love Italy. Kathleen

Hi Kathie - My husband and I struggled with the exact same decision regarding how much euro to bring with us on our trip to Rome, Assisi and Florence in June. Whether to rely on ATM's for daily cash withdrawals? should we do half euro on hand and the other half from ATM's? After a lot of thought about this and getting different advice from lots of experienced travelers, I realized that we needed to do what made us feel the most comfortable. We dedided that we did not want to take any chances that we could not access our money via the ATM's for whatever reason (can't find one, it ate the card, it won't accept the card, etc.). I just knew that any hiccups in accessing money would make me so nervous and upset that it would spoil my trip. I didn't want to spend a single minute dealing with ATM card disasters. So, we decided to order all of our euros (based upon our budget) from our bank before we left. We paid a flat $10.00 fee, but the exchange rate was higher (we considered it the price we paid for feeling secure about money). We bought Rick Steves money belt and my husband became the steward of our funds. We also brought the ATM card and the credit card. Each day before leaving our hotel, we counted out what we thought we would need for the day and then split that between us. The rest, along with the ATM card and the credit card, went securely into the money belt comfortably around my husband's waist under his pants waist band and neatly tucked in shirt. It would perfectly for us.

Bottom line - you'll get lots of different advice on this. But ultimately you should decide what will make you feel the most secure so that you can enjoy every single moment of one of the world's most extraordinarly countries.

It's reasonable to be nervous abut cash but be assured that ATMs are everywhere and easy to use. I would want to have a debit card and a credit card that can access cash just in case. With 9 of you going, it's unlikely that cash would ever be unavailable.

The risk of getting a lot of Euros before you go is a punishing exchange rate and the chance of losing a lot of cash. The most I would buy before leaving the US is what I need for transportation on landing and the first night's hotel.

As an earlier poster said, call your bank and credit card company to make sure they know you'll be in Europe.

Kathie, I think the previous answers have some sound advice - especially do what makes you comfortable. For our trips, we have had three different ATM cards that could be used in Italy - so I have some built in back-ups. Also, to make sure we had enough to pay for the first nights in cash, I increased the maximum daily withdrawl allowed on my accounts. I addition, if all else failed, I spoke to my main bank and knew how I could get Euros of all my back ups failed. I was unable to find a cost effective source of Euros in the U.S. before departure. And lastly, in my opinion, money belt, money belt, money belt.

I am also going to Italy for the first time for an art retreat/seminar, but not until 2009. All of this has been very helpful. I do not understand how a lady can "tuck" a money belt with passport and money into her pants/jeans/slacks. Cash yes, but would think the bulk of passport a bit cumbersome.
What about the neck type?
Would also like to hear about clothing and the merits of a 21-22" carry on suitcase virsus checking a bag through to destination.
Thanks for any advise. DD

i am also leaving for Rome this Friday; and have some of the same cash questions. I plan to take about 150 euros in cash, and then use the money machine for more when necessary. I also plan to have rick's book on hand.

Wow....you guys are really fast. Thank you so much for the advice. I'm sure I'll have more questions before we leave. THANK YOU!

Kathie ~ I have just ret'd from a 2-week stay in Italy where I was visiting family members and friends in Piemonte and the Veneto. The current situation with the weak dollar and the crashing of several U.S. banks has led to fear on the part of many European banks, and this I found to be esp. true in Northern Italy. I brought limited Euro along with me and then dollars which I intended to exchange as needed. Three banks in the city of Torino would not exchange the dollars ~ they blantantly stated that they did not want them due to the bank scare. I am fluent in Italian, so there was no misunderstanding linguistically speaking. My friend was able to exchange some of her dollars in Venezia ~ of course, they exist only by tourism. Perhaps since Tuscany also has an ongoing stream of tourists, you'll not have difficulty exchanging there. The weak dollar presently amounts to receiving a little over half as much Euro for dollars ~ it's truly depressing. I'm in your area, so send me a private e-mail message if you would like to ask any questions about life in Italy. Glad to help.

Hi Kathie. I just got back from a trip to Lake Como. I've always found the first few hours in a foreign country to be the most stressful, and having to worry right off the bat about where to get some "real" money just adds to it. This time, I had about 90 Euros left over from a previous trip that I was able to use as starter funds. It made me feel a lot more at ease knowing I could get from the airport to the train station to Varenna and settled in to my hotel before I had to start hunting for an ATM machine. For me, it would be worth the little extra expense to get a few Euros before I go.

Deb in Arkansas

I always purchase some Euros before I leave, for what others have said, peace of mind. I don't want to get off a plane, jet-lagged, and start looking for money. Lately I have found that I have Euros left from previous trips that I just bring home and use the next time. In the "old days" I used to try to spend all of the foreign currency before I left the country to come home. Now, especially with a common currency in Europe, I no longer do that. Also, I do have several Euro travelers checks that I carry for emergency. I think I have actually carried them with me for the last 5 years and never used them. I don't think I would buy them in the future, but since I have them I bring them. Another fall back, just in case.

As far as weather goes, check out weatherunderground.com. If you select the trip planner tab, you get a window to put in the city you are going to and the dates of your trip and it will give you the history of weather, temperatures in that location.

Kathie,

I normally have funds left over from previous trips, so usually have about €100 to start with. I don't pay cash for Hotels unless they insist on cash, or unless they offer a discount for cash. I prefer to use a credit card for that.

You didn't say which city you'll be flying into to begin with? Be sure to do a bit of research on your transportation options from the airport (especially with a group of eight!). With only one week for exploring Venice, CT and Rome, you'll have to plan very carefully, so that you don't waste any time.

Happy travels!

Diana......

You asked about the money belt vs neck bag. I used the neck bag on our last trip to Italy. Drove me nuts chafing my neck. I finally devised a method to loop and secure it around my bra....LOL. Yes, the waist ones are bulky. My husband complains about it every time we go. But better bulky and chafy vice losing credit cards, cash and passport.

Kathie,

Have you found the search feature on the upper right of your screen? There are tons of answers to all of your questions in there. Have a great trip!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your help. I appreciate it so much! You've not only answered my question, but alerted me to things I haven't even thought about. THANKS!

I don't get cash ahead of time. I stop in the airport and pull my daily withdrawel limit from the ATM. I pay cash for all the little stuff and use a credit card when I can. As was said before, I only pay cash at hotels if they will charge me less or don't take credit cards.

Plan a stop at your bank to notify them of your trip. Sometimes unexpected ATM activity will freeze your account until you call the bank. Also find out your daily limit (converted to Euros) and when it resets so you know how much you can take out each time and how long you need to wait before you can get more if you need it.

Definitely plan some group coffees, lunches or dinners together before the trip. Make the other travelers do some homework about lodging/sites/destinations and report back to the group. Let the group make some decisions about itinerary, lodging and sites to visit. It's miserable when no one contributes and insist you show them a good time, invariably someone won't be happy with the arrangements and will blame you.

Hi Kathie,
Well I am just finishing a trip with my 2 daughters.
We started in Paris (I had been there 10 years ago) and then on to Nice. In Italy we have been to Venice, Florence and Rome. Of the 3, I do like Rome the least. The public transport system (at least buses is difficult to figure out for me). The Metro is better though.
Rome is much more spread out, so really need public transport here more than in the other Italian cities that I visited where you could walk to everything.
We have however had a great experience in every city and have done or eaten at many of the things rec. in Rick's books or on this helpline.
I did take Euros with me, and they lasted me til Florence, when I finally had to go to an ATM...which was almost across the street from our hotel. They are very convenient and cheaper. I am paying hotels in Italy in cash because all have offered me a 10% discount...be sure to ask!
Linda

i went to italy in may and took about 200 euros with me that i got from my bank beforehand. i liked it just b/c that way i had no worries the first day. i was able to pay for the train into rome, and my hotel and dinner all before i had to think about finding an atm. that said, the atm's are easy to find and easy to use. i was in europe for three weeks and used them several times in italy, germany, ireland and england with great ease. in my opinion though, it is more convient to hae some euros with you to take care of immediate expenses.

FYI on planning. I spent 3 months planning my trip and got extremely frusterated and stressed out at times. you must remember to relax and that this is a vacation! when you are at your wits end and feel there is no solution, take a deep breath and a break! everything will work out! Rick's books are very helpful. I feel (others will disagree) that the more u plan (hotel reservations, exact days u will arrive and trains you will take)the less hassle you will have and the easier you trip will go. Have an amazing trip!

With Rick's books you will have no problem. ATMs are everywhere, but I always like to have cash on me. How much you take is up to you, but you will get more for you money using cash. Enjoy, if you are anything like me, I am ready to move to Italy. Relax and you will be fine!