Money Availability at ATMs in Italy

pamela,

I'd suggest that you contact your financial institution to review and possibly increase your daily withdrawal limit, at least for the duration of your trip. However, one point to note is that local ATM's may impose separate withdrawal limits. I suspect that in order to obtain €700, you'll have to make two withdrawals. As you'll need the funds very soon after arrival, three options you could consider......

1. Obtain about half the amount from your local bank prior to the trip. Exchange rates probably won't be that favourable, and there may also be a service charge. Withdraw the balance from a local ATM (Bancomat) when you arrive.
2. Set up a second ATM account and make two withdrawals to obtain the cash you need. I always suggest packing along a "backup" ATM card in case of any malfunctions with the primary card, so this method would have two benefits.
3. Obtain the full amount from your local bank prior to the trip (this is the least favourable option, IMO).

DeutscheBank will give you more than 1000 euro, as long as your bank has also allowed that large a daily withdrawal total. Their location is right on the main drag; don't go after store hours, since last time I tried that, the ATM was blocked by "street merchants." At other ATMs, you would be likely to make two withdrawals, which is fine, again as long it's within your bank's daily withdrawal limit.

They don't take credit cards? It must be a private apartment then.

My Italian bank has a daily limit of €500 from the ATM. However if I use my Italian bancomat (ATM) card at another bank (not my own) the daily limit is €250.
I also think the monthly limit is €1500.
Exceptions can be made but they must be pre-arranged.
I think that is the standard for most Italian banks.
I'm a customer however, and I don't know if I could withdraw the same amounts if I were using my US ATM card. It is possible that as a non customer I would be subjected to the lower €250 limit.
If your US bank allows you to withdraw up to $1000 daily (for example), then you could try to withdraw €250 three times at 3 separate Italian institutions, so that you have €750 (i.e. about US$850). However you need to check with your bank first, because they might put a stop to unusual overseas transactions, even if done within the limit you are allowed in the US.

We do have 2 debit cards for our bank with different numbers for my husband and I so that should work. Sometimes the simplest answer doesn't come easily!!
1. What "brand" of ATMs at the airport would you recommend using?

2. Does Deutchbank have an ATM at the airport?

What do you mean by ATM 'brand'? Why do you need to know the manufacturer of the ATM machine?
There are two banks at the Venice airport:
1. Monte dei Paschi di Siena (or MPS)
2. Banca Popolare di Vicenza (BPV)
I presume either one will work.

i guess they're referring to the ATM bank owner in Italy. You might be able to negotiate a decent rate at your local bank and withdraw enough to cover the initial hotel. Basically you're quibbling over a few dollars against the many thousands you are going to spend on your vacation. Better to have the peace of mind of knowing you can shop for necessities or just go to your hotel directly knowing you don't have to worry about money withdrawals and conversions.

Pamela,

You may want to contact the hotel, as some say they want the cash upon arrival, but in reality, you may pay it when checking out.

We do have 2 debit cards for our bank with different numbers for my husband and I so that should work.

• If you have 2 debit cards attached to the same account, then this will not help you, especially if you want to make 2 large withdrawals on the same day.

• As Ken mentioned, it's a good idea to have 2 debit cards (separate
  accounts) just in case you have a problem with one of them.

• I always try to use a bank ATM during business hours just in case...
  my debit card was 'swallowed' by an ATM in Greece years ago.

• Increasing your daily cash withdrawal limit (dcwl) is also a good
  idea. Years ago I forgot to do this & could only withdraw €200
  because my dcwl was only $300!

So you can't prepay this 700 EU, a night Hotel, with a credit card? Then Yes, take great big gobs of cash: You will need it.

For a little peace of mind I would get €1000 from my bank in the U.S. before leaving. Then you don't have to worry about where to find the best ATM, how many withdrawals you might need to make, one or more being refused, etc. You will pay a few dollars more up front, but you can order denominations as well so you can have some €5s and €10s for coffee, etc.

Or,

You probably have a connecting flight to Venezia from another city in Europe: if you have time, you and your husband could each withdraw the ATM's transaction maximum there, and do it again in Venezia.

Buy Euro here at your bank to pay your hotel bill, buy food, and pay transport. Google says $1.09 buys one Euro today. That's good. Your bank may add a few cents fee onto each Euro you buy. Ask for total cost per Euro.

ATMs in some areas may dispense 500 Euro, but in others only 250 Euro max in 24 hours.

I concur with Zoe. We recently went to Rome (among other locations) and had to pay around 700 euros for our apartment upon arrival. I bank with Wells Fargo and they have a service to get euros. I already had 160 euros from a previous trip, but I had an additional 1000 euros shipped to my home to ensure that I could pay foor everything upon arrival. There was no transaction fee and the exchange rate was 1.14.

I have a debit card with my bank as well as one with a credit union, so I can access money more easily. You will need to contact your bank and make sure you have an adequate daily limit to meet your needs (I raised both of mine to $1,000 per day per account) and to also inform them of your foreign travel. Many ATMs in Italy will only allow you to get 250 euros per transaction. If you try to enter a larger amount, you may get a cryptic message that says you aren't authorized to do that. Just start over and enter 250 euros and it should work fine. You can then do another withdrawal up to your daily limit.

Do check with your bank that they don't impose a daily limit. If there is a limit, it is likely to be on the account, not on the ATM card itself. So if you are both drawing money from the same account, the limit would kick in.

I rent apartments all over Europe, and leave home with enough eu to pay for my first apartment -- usually around 1,000eu. My husband and I split the cash between us, and I use a "neck wallet."

ALWAYS call your bank to let them know you're using your debit card in Italy or wherever, at least two weeks before departure. Make sure that your MONTHLY withdrawal limit will cover the expenses that you'll need for your trip.

I try to use my credit cards as much as possible in Europe, as they give a reasonable exchange rate, and I'm not having to constantly take time out for an ATM.