How much cash to bring

I would bring just a small starter amount 50-100 euros

Most everything is tap and pay
For more while in Italy just use a bank ATM

If you don't have any euros I wouldn't pay the fees that usually accompany changing money before you go. Checking locally it looks like 100e will cost you at least $127.40 plus whatever they can add on versus the actual current $117.30 rate so an extra 10% mark up.

You can visit an ATM once you're there and get euros out once you're there and need for cash between the plane and is minimal. I like to pay for things in cash so I always used to get money before we left but those days seem to be behind us.

The usual warnings: Use an ATM attached to a physical bank to avoid ATM charges and always decline any offer to convert the money "for you" rather than use the bank rate (this goes for credit card charges as well).

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Changing money at home in the US is expensive because of exorbitant charges, but if you change no more than 100€ then it won’t be so bad.

If you don’t have euro available from a previous trip or someone you know who has some left over from a trip the best rates will be with your local bank/credit union, or, AAA, if you are a AAA member. Local banks and AAA near you may not have euro currency available on hand, so you need to go there and order a week or two in advance.

Once you are on the ground in Italy, you can use any bank ATM (Bancomat), and that is the cheapest option. Your ATM card will work in Italy too, however your bank is likely to charge you up to $5 per withdrawal, therefore minimize withdrawals by pulling larger amounts of cash in the minimum number of withdrawals you need. The law in Italy requires all merchants to accept digital payments (cards or phone) regardless of amount, however sometimes, for small transactions, it might be more convenient to just pay cash. Also just in case the card machine doesn’t work. You will need a 1 euro coin in many public bathrooms, and those turnstiles not always have card machines, so keep that in mind. In other words use cards and phone payments when you can (I always do for sizable transactions, like restaurants or hotels, but keep small change handy for an espresso or bathroom (I like to use restrooms at coffee bars but I buy an espresso or sparkling water first, since their bathrooms are for customers)

I guess I'm the odd man out period I use cash wherever I can and almost virtually never use a credit card. I don't want to tap a $1.20 Coke, I don't want to tap a $1.50 metro fare. I don't see how anyone can keep track of their credit card purchases with all these under two dollars to five dollar charges. I am very meticulous about accounting for every charge on my credit card and I would think this would be overwhelming.

About 2 years ago I started a European trip in Edenbourgh and there it was almost virtually paying with cards. As I worked my way south to London, Amsterdam and Paris it got considerably easier to use cash.

Janet, it’s the XXI century! It’s ok to use cards for sizable transactions.

However I also use hard cash for small transactions, like at a coffee shop. If I use a credit card the merchant has to pay up to 3% in bank commission. On a €1.20 espresso that is 0.04€. Since the profit margin on a cup of espresso in Italy is very low (about 0.20€ a cup), not like Starbucks here that charges $3 for an espresso, paying with a credit card at an Italian coffee bar would take away almost 20% of the barista’s margin. So, when you pay cash for an espresso the barista is not too happy, therefore unless I’m buying a bunch of things together, I pay cash, because I want the barista to be happy and make me a good coffee.

We did a tour of Sicily almost 10 years ago and I don’t think we ever used more than 100-200 euros. Even on the RS Village Italy last year, maybe tops was 150 euros. We had 50 or so leftover from a previous trip. Got the additional 100 euros from an ATM. Probably brought most of it home.

As I remember, our first trip to Italy and the airport ATM either was out or didn’t work. Feeling very panicked, tired, and in a foreign county, never wanted to have that happen again. The extra $5-10 dollars is worth it in the big scheme of things to buy 100 or so Euros from home.

I always take about $300 US dollars as emergency funds. This is in case my wallet is pickpocketed with my credit cards.

I always carry that cash in a neck wallet under my right arm.

Years ago in Norway, for some reason, I was unable to get local cash from any ATM machines. Not sure what the. problem was.

I usually get about 100 Euros from an ATM as soon as I land at my destination. I use BANK ATMS.

I don't see how anyone can keep track of their credit card purchases
with all these under two dollars to five dollar charges.

I use Apple Pay, then I can see a list in the Apply Pay App (just click the card in your wallet)