Money questions

Don't get Euros until you get here. ATMs are absolutely everywhere. Look on the back of your ATM card, it will have a series of logos (The Star, Exchange and Cirrus are among the most common) and if you find an ATM with logos matching them it'll be no problem.

Most larger places take credit cards, local shops don't. I would always carry at least 50-75 euros in cash so I wouldn't have to worry but it usually won't be a problem.

Use your credit card for store purchases, hotels/inns and some levels of dining. Use cash for everything else. As David notes, ATMs are simply everywhere. Don't worry about bringing a few Euros home. So you have $50-$60 in Euros. You put them away and save them for the next time you go to Europe. It's also great show-and-tell for the children and grandchildren if you have them.

Remember to advise your bank to raise your daily withdrawal limit. As an example, $200 is only 120€ and you dont want to make ATMs a daily routine!

Hi Leslie--I'm not sure where you are going specifically, but in a major city like Rome, ATMs are as common as they are here, one every few blocks. You'll also be able to use your debit card nearly everywhere. Local merchants don't want to take credit cards because they have to pay a hefty fee; sometimes they will accept your card and then pass that big fee on to you, so you can get a discount if you can pay in cash. Don't take a lot of euro with you; plan to use your debit card and stop at ATMs for cash because you will get a better exchange rate that way. Make absolutely sure you contact your bank before you go so they won't refuse the charges.

Also check with your bank and see if there is a specific bank here in Italy (like Intesa Sao Paulo) that your bank has a "relationship" with. That could save you on ATM withdrawal charges here in Europe and other additional charges...

Italy is a cash society and if you pay in cash you can often negotiate a lower price at smaller vendors.

Keep your credits cards/ID/and big money in a money belt! VISA and MC are most accepted. Just to be sure you check as you enter restaurants, as many smaller restuarants take only cash.

Leslie, also check into the rate that the credit card company will charge you just to convert your purchases.
Capital One card (much discussed on this board) offers the lowest rate...I didn't want a new credit card, but after checking out Capital One, I opened an account just for travel outside the US! Get the no annual fee card and save money, and earn miles to use for future trips!

We also changed to Compass Bank. They offer "no fee" ATM use. Remember each time you use your ATM card, you incur a charge of $1-5! At Compass Bank, there is no fee, and if we do get charged, we simply mail off the receipts to Compass and they put the money back into our account.

Travel smart...the little fees can add up quickly! Do a bit of homework before your trip (allow 1-2 months to do this) and you will have more money to spend on things you want and less on fees!

"Ditto" the above. ATM's are all over the place even in small towns. Do check to see what your bank charges for cash withdrawals. Wells Fargo charges (as of last summer) $5 per transaction so we always up our daily withdrawal amount before we go on a trip. Make sure your PIN is 4 digits. We also took out a Capital One c.c. for travel.

It is very common to use also use a check card, the kind that withdrawal directly from your bank account. When you pay with the card you have to say if you want "bancomat" (what we call a check card, but is also the Italian word for ATM) or "carta" meaning to use it as a credit card.
I have an ATM card with 5 digits and it works fine, and I have an ATM card with 4 digits and it works fine too.

"How common is it to find credit card machines at the local shops"

Depends where you are going! Almost all shops in the big cities andn tourist towns will take credit cards...and...most in the small towns do (even our little, local supermarket does take credit cards) however...if you are out of a tourist town and use one for very small purchases they will not be so pleased and may look at you funny (i.e. here I use my card everywhere...even a few dollars at the store or for a coffee - I wouldn't do that there)I alwasy use a credit card in Rome, etc. for meals ('cause they are so darn expensive!!) but would never use it at our local pizza place where the bill (for 3) comes to around 20euro.

ATMs (as said) are everywhere. Even the post office has an ATM (all I have encountered take my debit card no problem.

Like Claire my wife also uses a "bancomat" (or debit) card. They are not visa or MC but are treated as such! Visa & MC are accepted almost universally. AMEX on a lesser scale due to their fees. ATM's ARE everywhere and you'll have no problem getting access to your money.

As in the previous post, we primarily pay cash and in small towns that is the preference!

In previous years we were always paying the taxi driver in "coin" as we headed to the airport for our "return to US" flight... as we knew no back in the States would exchange coin... I suppose they were used to it as not one ever complained!