In Italy... Lack of small bills is killer...

Buy a drink at an expensive hotel

Why don't you go into a bank and ask to have the large bills exchanged for smaller denominations?

Unfortunately, sometimes the game is to keep insisting...Americans don't usually play these kinds of games, along with bartering, etc. If you keep saying that's all you've got...and you're maybe willing to walk away, that often works. It's annoying, but it's Italy. That's why you should drink the Italian wine - it helps you to see the beauty of the rest of the Italian experience LOL! You can try exchanging a large bill at the bank whose ATM just gave it to you...if you're willing to look pitiful and just flat-out grovel. Also, try getting weird amounts from the ATM - instead of €300 that could be 3 x €100, or 6 x €50,00, try €270 or something else...you should at least get a €20,00 out of that. You just have to insist - that's what I've read from the locals, both native and not. It's just not in our nature, so it's difficult.

One of the truly annoying things about Italy that makes no sense. In line behind hundreds of people paying entrance fees and I was told they have no change. Really??? Did not any of the people ahead of me pay? It happened over and over...can anyone explain this? Is it a joke or are they just too lazy to make change? One of the great dilemas of Italian travel! It becomes like a game...you try any larger bill and horde your smaller ones because you know the next 10 places will only take exact change. (I really only remember it being a huge problem in Rome)

I'm in Italy right now in Florence and have not had any problems even with 100 euro notes. Are you in a large town? Many merchants have readers to validate that the bills are ok and then just take them. I suggest you just smile and tell them you have nothing else. I've found they will generally find change somehow even if they have to go to another merchant to get it.

Jason-I'm a little bit alarmed about your post since this hasn't happened to us before in Italy. We are headed to a very remote Italian village in the Alps (NOT associated with a ski area) for several weeks this summer. We think only one or two people in the town speak English and there is only one grocery store... Should I be concerned about hording small bills in Milan before we head to the Alpine house?

On our two week trip to Rome and Tuscany two years ago we never had this problem. Judging by the various responses, it seems like it might be the latest "cheat the tourists" scam.

Never had a problem with 20's. Merchants usually prefer as close as possible but if it looks like they'll lose out on a sale they'll find a way to get change.

Probably the attitude or demeanor you are presenting, just chat them up, we never have a problem when they see us as friends and NOT as tourists. As for "People a little less friendly than the French, Germans and Austrians" I refer back to my first sentence. If you want to see less friendly people go to Switzerland---Enuf said!

Most vendors would normally ask for smaller denominations but we have not had any problem if all we have is a big one (usually 50 euro, haven't seen a 100 euro bill in a while). We go for 90 days at a time once or twice a year. On our last trip a few months ago, we took out more than 10,000 euro from ATMs and we paid cash for just about everything. Of course, I don't buy something for a couple of euro and pay with a big bill without asking first if the vendor has change. I don't speak italian either except for a few polite words but I am friendly, speak softly and with my hands. Enjoy the rest of your travels.

quote from Jerry: "If you want to see less friendly people go to Switzerland---Enuf said!" We spent eight weeks in Switzerland in 2007 - Lake Geneva, Appenzell, Pontrisina/St Moritz and Berner Oberland and used the train system extensively with the Swiss Pass. We found the people friendly and helpful. Love, love Switzerland! We spend our time in Europe in Paris and/or Venice these days. Our next trip is Venice for three months for the holidays.

Interesting. You don't say where you are, but we've never had trouble. Especially in markets. Perhaps you are in a small, rural area? We've never asked to just break a bill. We just purchase items and pay for them the best way we can.

NEVER had that problem. I try not to break a 50 for a 2.80E purchase, but no one ever has hassled me over a 20 and flat out refused and certainly not lesser notes. I suppose small merchants may truly run out of change, but it'd be rare. On a slightly similar topic: one thing I think some Americans have a harder time getting used to is using coins. Seems many Americans collect change at home and never use it. In Europe, coins are widely used and for small purchases, you should be using 1 and 2 Euro coins (of course there is the dilema of getting those coins out of a 50 note...)

Jason, in which cities/villages have you had this problem? We were just in Italy for a week and half and had no problems whatsoever having cash of any denomination accepted and changed. But, we used the regular courtesy, as we would in the US, of not expecting a small gelato shop to change a 50E early in the day, etc. The problem you mentioned of using a 5E or 10E bill for a 2.80 purchase is surprising. We found Italians delightful and super friendly two years ago and this year, too. We were glad to be enjoying their lovely country, and they seemed genuinely appreciative. We are far from fluent in Italian, but we attempted the basic greetings/phrases, which always brought delight.

We also never had a problem but again would not go to local deli with a $50.00 bill in US and buy pack of gum. I Think as others have said, it you have a 10 or 20 euro and buying something for a small amount and person will not give you change, just be polite and say no thank you and move on.

We've been in Italy for a week now, in Ostia, Rome and Orvieto and we haven't had this problem at all. I mean, we don't try to use a 50 euro note to buy a piece of candy from a sidewalk vendor who's just setting up shop, but I wouldn't do that in the States either. And I can't see how this would figure into any "scam".

Jason, I feel your pain! Living in Rome for years we had numerous issues where vendors, restaurants, and even a Museum refused to make change. We went to the Palazzo Barberini one day with only 50's or 100's euro notes and they refused to break the bills - so we could not go in! In the grocery stores we often had to wait - in a LONG line - as an eldery customer dug through her purse for 53 cents in change! Often, as you paid for your groceries, the cashier would ask if you had the change. In one of our favorite restaurants we had to pay with a credit card because they could/would not break a 100 euro note. In most of these places, we were regular customers and spoke some Italian. Thus they would "ask us" for the change. For many obvious foreign visitors, the locals KNOW you may not have change, understand their request, or perhaps know the difference between a 5 or 50 cent piece. Thus, they just make the change automatically. We got used to carrying our coin purses and having change available. We laughed at ourselves when we returned to the States for a visit as we'd find ourselves counting out change that no one wanted. Habits die hard! That all said, we would recommend to all friends and visitors to BREAK your large bills at EVERY opportunity. I never got in to a cab with large bills, even when I was headed to the airport.

Just returned from Italy last week. Never had a problem with making change. In fact, at the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit in Piazza Barnaba, the guy selling tickets let us in for a reduced price because he didn't have smaller bills/coins to give us the correct change. The price of the tickets was 32E for 4 people. I gave him 40E and he gave me back a 10E bill. I called it to his attention and he just waved us through.

I felt your pain and vented to the RS masses a few months ago..................it wasn't as bad as a 10 euro bill, but it was bad enough for me to gripe about it. http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/59168/what-is-the-easiest-way-to-change-your-atm-50-euro-bill.html

I'm highly intrigued by Ron's comments. Like others here, I have never had this problem after multiple trips to Italy. But, why would shops insist on small bills and coins? If that's what most customers give them, they obviously have small denominations in abundance. I can tell you first hand, it certainly is a LOT easier to count large bills at the end of a business day than a bunch of small bills and coins. Perhaps most Italians pay by card no matter how small the transaction is?

"Perhaps most Italians pay by card no matter how small the transaction is?" Italy is still very much a cash society. We tend to pay for anything under about 150 euro in cash. I can remember the (lire) days when coinage was in such short supply that small amounts of change were given in the form of sweets (candy).

Geez, just one more thing I have to make a note of before my trip to Italy! My head is going to explode! Did someone suggest that banks in Italy won't make change either??? Obviously, that would be the easiest place to go to break those large bills.

Just wanted to add that I've not experienced this problem either and I am visiting small towns in the Abruzzo region right now. I break my 50's when paying for something over 20 euro like a dinner meal and haven't had any issues. My problem is ending up with a bag full of coins and trying to count/sort them quickly while at the cash register.

As the lowest Euro banknote is €5 (= $ 7,10), it is comprehensible American tourists have a hard time dealing with coins. The situation you described is quite uncommon, of a supermarket refusing a € 50 banknote. Maybe if you were buying a € 0,90 chocolate bar... I always deal with this issue asking for x30 or x80 when withdrawing, as that guarantees at least one € 20 and one € 10 bill. Some places have only € 20 bills and then I ask x40 or x90

I think the problem is all the fees that occur when taking out money from ATM. I know I would try to take out the most so I would not have to do it often. And 50 euro bills come flying out. I guess instead of taking out 300 euro, in the future, I could take out 280. My situation in the grocery store was a purchase for 15 euro (wine) and they would not take my 50 until we had over 25 euros. Which to me is BS.......especially when the cash drawer is overflowing with all sorts of bills.

I didn't have this problem in the 10 days I spent in Italy. In fact, one time I had to buy a bottle of water for E1 after just getting E20s from an ATM in Vatican City and I felt so bad that's all I had but the guy just smiled and gave me back the change.

Just finished 16 days in Italy and the only thing close to this that I've encountered is when I paid for a museum ticket with a 50 euro note. The woman grumbled about it and then I saw that she had to take it into another room to do a "", since I guess it's too large a note to keep in their till. But this was never an insurmountable problem for us. They might ask if we had something smaller and sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't. When we didn't, it wasn't a problem. There are enough real problems to worry about without adding this to the list, IMHO.

Just returned from Italy. We had this problem as well, even the hotels were very limited on change. Noone wanted to take big bills! We found a walk in bank (in Greve but I saw them periodically). You may have to buzz in and check bags to get to the bank counter but they gave us rolls of 1 euro and 2 euro coins in exchange for our big bills. This allowed us to tip properly and pay for small items more easily when necessary.

Reminds me of my trip 25 years ago. Couldn't get my head around the thousands of Lire charged for everything. Not wanting to insult the shop keeper I'd offer a bill that I KNEW would cover the purchase. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that they'd have to give me a bazillion in change and that pissed them off. (Live and learn;-) Looking forward to our trip next month. Hope I can cope better than I did so long ago. I'll try to get some lower denomination bills before I leave home so I can hit the ground running. Thanks all for your helpful insights! Bev

As long as you're not trying to pay for a very inexpensive item with a large bill, always insist that that's all you have. You might get a disgusted look, but there's nothing you can do about it except smile. I call Italy, "The Land of No Change"; it's become a point of humor for me.