how much U.S. cash should I bring to Italy?

Rick recommends bringing about $200USD. I usually bring about $300 with me. ATMs are located at the public arrivals area past baggage claim.

Thank you

OK, I am curious.... what is the US cash for?
(I usually only have about $20 on me at any given moment.)

The cash is in case of an emergency. The emergency could be in case your cards are lost/stolen/demagnetized, your bank's computers or the ATM network goes down, or a meteorite could crash to earth and destroy your bank's computer center. About six months ago an undersea earthquake severed a major underwater communications cable serving parts of Asia. As a result, there were reports of Asian travelers in Europe having sporadic problems withdrawing money from ATMs. This could easily happen in the Atlantic Ocean as well. When I landed in Beijing last January my credit union blocked my ATM card even though I notified them in advance. I was able to use my emergency cash to keep moving until I was able to make a phone call to them, without cash I would have been screwed. Not carrying an emergency wad of cash in one's travels is like playing Russian Roulette....one must always be prepared.

do you know what is the maximum amount that one can withdraw from the airport ATM in Milan?
I know that Rick Steves recommends withdrawing large sums (to put inside money belt).
My bank told me that in the U.S. they have reduced the amount that one can withdraw to $500.
Thank you

It depends. In addition to the limit your bank imposes, the bank that owns the ATM machine has it's own limit which may be lower. But 200-300 euros is a good assumption.

As a frequent traveler to Europe, for work, I never take more than $20 US. It really doesn't make sense from an currency exchange point of view. It may have made sense years ago before the Euro and before the horrible exchange rate with the Euro (today's fx rate is 1 dollar = 0.683 Euros). Using just this rate, your $200 equals 136 Euros--and that doesn't account for the service fee or 'retail' exchange rate at the aiport.

I've never had a problem using an ATM--you just have to look for your Bank's card emblem on the ATM machine. Trust me--your bank gets a much better exchange rate than you will at the American Express kiosk. ...and remember that visa and mastercard debit cards work just like credit cards (even in Europe).

I also don't recommend the use of travelers checks...

**I'm adding this on. Do check with your bank before you leave the country. They may check for fraudulent transactions that end up with them blocking your debit card--if you start making transactions that are not part of your normal spending pattern. I always call them to thell them I will be out of the country and the dates. Also ask them about daily limits and see if any can be raised given your trip...

The cash were talking about here is just in case of an emergency.....you don't exchange it unless you need to. If you're stranded because the ATM machines aren't working, most people wouldn't care what the exchange rate was;)

w.r.t. ATMs, make certain that your card will work in Europe. My sister tied her ATM only to her savings account (where she had placed her vacation funds) and could only access a checking account at the banks in France. Cash (in case of emergency) to be exchanged at whatever rate is better than no cash at all.

Get ready for a bit of a shock at the current exchange rate. We just got 100 Euros, state's side as money to deal with transportation to the hotel and first day walking money. Ouch!!!

In hind sight, which is always 20-20, and if you can, I'm thinking that it wouldn't be a crazy idea now to get ALL the money needed for the trip, exchanges usually waive the exchange added fee if its over a certain limit yet you'll have to know what that day's exchange rate is, and then get the cash discounts at the Hotels. The dollar seems to be in free fall.

We tend to keep $100 on us while traveling...not so much to cover any emergency while we're away...but to pay for items at our connecting flights in the US on the way home. We never produced any US dollars while in Switzerland or Italy. It could be different elsewhere..but I doubt it. The ATM is the way to go. No language barrier or anything...and in Florence we felt super safe..the guard at the door of the bank had a machine gun!!! Having never seen police with that kind of weaponry walking the streets in the US..it was quite fantastic!

We will be in Florence, Siena and Rome next month. Do the museums all take credit cards or do we need cash?

Elinda,

I wouldn't bother taking any U.S. dollars, except for what you'll need for transiting airports during the trip. I normally put my home currency away as soon as I land, and never touch it during a trip.

For "emergencies" it would probably be more prudent to visit an ATM as soon as you arrive and make a large withdrawal in Euros. Put a portion of the funds you receive in your Money Belt, and use that for "emergencies". It will be far more useful than U.S. dollars and will be usable immediately even if the ATM phone lines are out of service.

Note that your travel funds must be in a chequing account at your home bank, with a four-number PIN. It's always a good idea to have at least one "backup" ATM card, in case the primary card "malfunctions". I had that happen on a trip to France and Italy this spring, but fortunately I DID have another card.

You also might want to review your daily withdrawal limit with your Bank. This might differ slightly in Europe, as the Banks there determine their own limits. Don't forget to tell your Bank and Credit Card companies that you'll be travelling!

Happy travels!

I do the same thing as Becky & Ken--I carry about $50-100, primarily for use as I travel through the U.S. Once over the ocean, it goes into my money belt and never gets taken out again. In a pinch, I have money that can be exchanged (if Michael's asteroid hits), but that's not really its main purpose.

We are leaving in a week, just went to a local bank state side, the exchange rate was 1.62 today ! Just got $ 200 worth for the first time we land, and emergencies. OUCH is right. Is it less once we get there? Or just better to use a credit card throughout the trip, and forget the ATM altogether. Thanks!

Gee,, all these times I went to Europe without American money for emergencies, , just keeping a cushion of about 200 euros in cash in my moneybelt or safe.. hmmm...

Why bring foreign currency for emergencies.. since you would need a bank willing to exchange it,, and it would not be accepted everywhere in emergency anyways( for instance, you are at a gas station in the country side in Italy,, they want a card, if your card doesn't work,, offering someone euros is going to be way easier then offering "play money" to a stranger to help you out.

Once my card would not work at a train station in France, a couple helped me by buying my ticket on their CC card, but I paid them the cash in euros,, bet they wouldn't have wanted to help me if I only could offer Canadian money..

Pat, that's pretty much what I was curious about. I don't think any of the pickles I'd get in to over here would be remotely solvable with US dollars. heh.

Deborah, it's not awesome, but you weren't ripped off so badly. The euro has been hovering around $1.48 USD lately, so you only lost about $20 in that transaction. Just wait til you get over here to get the rest of your vacation funds from an ATM though!

I will take the maximum euros each time I get money at the ATM, but if I take a taxi from Malpensa airport to my hotel in Milan, I will use 70 euros for that taxi. Hence, I will be using most of the money that I get in the airport. (Maybe I will take the train or the bus to the hotel, and then a taxi from the train or bus station.)

I will need money in euros for meals and for visit to museums. I imagine that I will be needing to access the ATM often.

As I said, I wanted to take some cash as emergency if the ATM will not accept my card. I understand that the exchange rate (at the bank or hotel) will not be as good as that in the ATM, but I wanted to know how much US cash you more frequent travelers take (and keep in the money belt or hotel safe) for emergencies.

For me it's too risky to wait until I arrive at the airport in Europe to get Euros. Because of my work schedule my vacations always begin on a Sunday so I arrive across the pond on Mondays mornings. The airport ATM machines are almost always out of money from the weekend, and don't get refilled until later in the day. So I almost always have to use this emergency cash to get me started until I get to the city center. I once ran into an American couple in Germany who were stranded at their hotel for an entire day when they wanted to checkout. There was something wrong with either the bank computers or the ATM network, so they couldn't use their debit or credit cards for several hours, thus couldn't settle their bill. They missed their train and lost valuable vacation time waiting for the problem to clear up. Had they had an emergency stash they could have used that and been on their way. The exchange rate won't be favorable but most hotels will accept dollars. Heh.

Deborah,

I take the approach that there's no point in worrying about the exchange rates as "they are what they are" and I'd rather focus on enjoying the holiday.

I'd definitely suggest that you use ATM cards for cash withdrawals as these usually provide the most favourable exchange rates. If you use a credit card, you'll be paying interest on purchases or cash advances. For purchases with a credit card, not all tourist facilities in Italy accept these (ie: some Hotels will reserve via credit card but expect payment in cash).

Cheers!

I wouldn't carry more at one time than you can afford to lose if you should get pick-pocketed, etc... I usually carry about 250 Euro depending on what my needs will be for the foreseeable future.

I always take the Milano Shuttle (bus) to the central station for about 9 euro. You could then take a cab from the station to your hotel saving euro to spend elsewhere. The buses are outside of uscita (exit) #2. You can buy the tickets from a window or the drivers outside. The ride takes 40 minutes and deposits you on the right side of the station and the cabs are in front.

Buon viaggio,

RB

Okay, not to discourage those who chose not to bring much US currency with them, here is one good reason why some backup greenbacks are a good idea.

Last year in Greece, we arrived at the airport and went straight to the ATM near the train station that takes you into Athens. Only problem, and it was a doozy, was that our new cash card had NOT been activated by our bank, even though we gave them all the facts ahead of time and they guaranteed it would be usable in time for the trip. Card was refused at the machine. After several frantic calls, we got it straightened out, but they still put a delay on the card usage for three working days, essentially costing us all cash transactions in Athens over the weekend we were there. Anyone who has been to Athens knows the major sites do not take credit cards, only cash. I had enough cash to exchange for our transportation into Athens, but very little left and therefore not enough to get us into any of the major sites there.

As for the Malpensa airport - don't know how others feel about this airport, but the last time we flew into it, we were literally ON the train to Lake Como FIFTEEN MINUTES after we walked off the plane.

I timed it.

That was after retrieving our bags, going through customs, getting money out of an ATM, and buying the Express tickets, then waiting for the next train to arrive.

Asked me which is my favorite airport at which to arrive in Europe???