My husband and I are taking our first trip abroad to Italy in August. We have a few questions.
First - We will exchange our currency for euros when we arrive in Italy, however should we has some euros with us when we leave the states and how much should we excahnge at one time?
Second - we want to be off the grid when we are vacationing but know we will need to have emergency contact. Can we easily make calls on our cell phone or is it easier to just text?
Third - We arrive in Venice but our hotel is in Florence. We want to spend some of the day in Venice. I have read that we can store our bags at the train station. How do we do this? Are our bags safe.
Four - traveling from Venice on our first day in Italy - does anyone know how long the ride is from Venice to Florence? Can we catch a train in the early evening? What kind of transportation should we get the train station to our hotel in Venice?
As you can see we are true novices. We have to start somewhere!!! Thanks for any help you can give us. Anne
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Why not just plan to use your debit card at ATM's to get cash? The cost is much lower than exchanging currency. You will see ATM's everywhere from Airports to Train Stations to medieval town centers. Let your bank (both debit and credit cards) know you will be in Europe so you don't get a fraud hold on your card. Bring non-800 phone numbers for each bank in case you have a problem (800 numbers won't work from Europe). Bring some cash as a short term backup.
We bring a cell phone for emergencies. Ours is a T-Mobile phone that is quad band with international roaming activated. Make sure your cell phone actually works in Europe before packing it. Generally, I don't make $1 per minute calls with the phone - instead I pick up a PIN card at a newsstand and make calls home for a fraction of using my cell.
I would do whatever you can to spend a night in Venice before traveling on to Florence. Venice at night is magic. During the day (especially in Summer) it's likely to be too crowded to enjoy. I haven't stored bags in Venice but it's generally an area with lockers that should be safe.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16321 posts
Fast Eurostar (ES) trains go from Venice to Florence in 2 hours. They depart hourly.
You can see the schedule and prices on the Trenitalia website (trenitalia.com). You may need to write "Firenze" for Florence. These trains require reservations (included with the price of your ticket) and it would be a good idea to buy your tickets earlier in the day (when you go to the train station to store your bags) for your late afternoon or evening train. You can buy at the ticket counter (sometimes with a long line) or at th every easy-to-use machines.
Do you mean how do you get to your hotel in florence? I suggest you take a taxi from the train station There is a taxi stand just outside the SMN station. A taxi to most anywhere within the city costs around 10 euro, maybe a little more in the evening and with baggage.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23281 posts
...We will exchange our currency for euros when we arrive in Italy.....
From that statement do we assume that you intended to take US dollars with you and exchange them in Italy for Euros? If that is correct that probably the most expensive and less efficient way to obtain local currency. Follow Brad's No 1 recommendation. It has been stated many, many times on this site and in nearly all guidebook ---- using a debit card at ATM is the most cost efficient and convenient why to obtain local currency. BUT -- I personally prefer to have a hundred Euro or so in my pocket when I land so buy those locally at your bank or an Am Express office. And to head off another possible question -- don't even think about using traveler checks even as back up.
Posted by
Costa Mesa
348 posts
Everybody has covered your questions. I took 200 euro with me for taxis and any possible occurence. Bought it through the bank. Another option once you are there is a credit card that does not have a foriegn transaction fee of 3 % (call) THey still have a charge for changing euros to dollars though. But it is easier to walk around with your ID and a credit card %0 euro and no wallet and no purse. I happen to have an expired drivers license that was fine for ID with the credit card.
Since you are novices, keep asking questions on this site. There is great information available