Money ?s - Would love to hear response from people who have traveled "solo"

Have you read articles here? https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money

If I don't have the local currency upon arrival, I just saunter on over to the nearest bank-affiliated ATM and withdraw currency as necessary. I have never exchanged dollars for foreign currency before leaving leaving home. A few dollars are carried on me and in an emergency when no ATM has cash, I could convert at an exchange booth...have never needed to do so. as the ATMs at the many different arriving airports have always had cash.

Before you leave, call your bank and your credit card issuer to let them know your plans so they don't cancel your credit or debit card when they see a transaction in Italy. Ask what's the maximum your bank will let you draw from an ATM in one transaction, or day, and try to get it increased if it isn't enough. Use ATMs to get cash, with as few transactions as possible to minimize fees. Look for ATMs attached to staffed bank branches, preferably during open hours, so if there's a problem you can get some help. There will be ATMs at the Rome airport to provide the cash you'll need right away for transportation and such. I wouldn't buy euros in the US before you leave, you'll get a lousy exchange rate, but if you do keep it to a minimum. The rate you'll get from Italian ATMs will be better.

I haven't been to Italy but I think your daily figure seems quite reasonable, not counting hotel costs. But it's not clear whether your figure includes train fares or not. Others will have better answers, you might clarify the train-fare question for them.

I'd suggest carrying all your cash and cards in a money belt or neck wallet whenever you're outside your hotel room. If you do this right they will be safe. Keep in a pocket the cash you expect to need for a day, or maybe half a day, and replenish from the belt as needed, in a bathroom stall or some other private location.

Before you go, make sure that you have a credit card that does not charge a foreign exchange fee and link your ATM card to a bank account with no fx fees. I've used Capital One credit card for every trip in the last 10+ years and this year opened a checking account with Capital One Bank specifically because they don't charge these fees. There are many other options besides Cap One if you research them. If you are taking high speed trains, purchasing tickets and reserving a seat in advance saves money. On regional trains, it's not necessary. Don't waste your transportation budget upgrading to 1st class on trains. You can get an idea of train fares by going to the trainitalia web site. I confess that I wait till I arrive at the destination airport to get Euros from the first bank (NOT money exchange) ATM.

I think your budget of $100 - 150 is easily enough to have a wonderful trip without having to scrimp!

How much to take in euro from the US: Some people prefer taking none, relying on ATM on arrival. Others take a whole bunch, thinking that it will be difficult to get some there. Some people use cards for every thing they can, avoiding cash like the plague.

I like to have enough cash on hand that I can get by (food, coffee, restroom, taxis, dinner, sundries) for at least a day or two without an ATM (bancomat in Italy). Then each time you do make a withdrawal, take out the max you can (200-300 euro) to minimize the number of transactions. You don't have to carry that around with you each day - just enough for what you might spend that day. Some days you spend nothing, others, a lot on sundries, gelato, tickets, restrooms, water, gelato, etc. If you're trying to plan how much money to have in your account, I like to have enough to cover an unexpected flight home, or to pay for hotels if your CC gets lost or doesn't work.

I think a big factor for you is that you are traveling alone, and don't have another partner's debit card on which you can survive if your's doesn't work. What you could do as a back up, is make sure that you have a PIN for cash withdrawals on your credit card. Thats only if debit doesn't work.
Also, make sure you have a telephone number for each card for emergency help that you can call from Italy. The 800 number won't work from Europe.

Are you a man or woman? Age? These may or may not make a difference to you, but they have for me. I do go ahead and travel First Class, has proved safer for me, please PM me if you want details.

$100 - $150 a day sounds ok, and I do buy Euro here at my bank Chase before I fly out. Yes there are ATMs at the airports, but there are also long lines at those ATMs. I choose Not to stand in them. I like hitting the ground running. I buy enough Euro for maybe three to five days, enough time for me to locate an ATM inside a bank alcove also containing the main door, I use these ATMs only during daylight business hours.

Google says that $1.11 will buy one Euro today, the bank will add a few cents fee to each Euro, ask your bank how much their fee is before you buy the Euro, even buying Euro here for two or three days will give you enough of a breather when you land. This is how I do it, it works for me. I could never stand in those ATM lines, and I need time and space to run around with Euro already on me.

You can carry your daily allotment each day, I use a Rick Steves neck wallet, wear it long and tuck it inside my panties, and wear a light scarf to hide the ribbons on my neck. I lift the neck wallet up and unzip it under my shirt, and remove what I need, I already know what I put in each compartment so a quick glance helps. Then I stuff the neck wallet back inside my panties. I do this facing a counter.

Breakfast: often included in your hotel. If not, a typical Italian breakfast of one cappuccino and one brioche/croissant will cost you less than 5 euro if eaten at the counter (in tourist places prices are higher when served at the table).
Lunch: sitting down at a restaurant will cost you no more than 30 euro on average for a full meal including wine. If you eat on the go, like a sandwich, just budget 10 to 15 euro. Some cheap trattorias can serve you a full meal at the table for about 20 euro. Pizza at the table is also cheap.
Dinner: at a restaurant same as above for lunch. About 30 euro, including 1/2 liter wine.
Admittance at museums/sights is under 10 euro, even a major venues, like the Uffizi.
The train fare is a bit more on high speed trains. You will need high speed trains from Rome to Naples (for going to Positano) and to go to Florence (from Rome or Naples). You can check prices on www.trenitalia.com. Use the Italian name of stations: Roma Termini, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Napoli Centrale. Rome to Florence for example is 45 euro one way in the standard class (at full BASE price).'
The other destinations (Sorrento, Positano, Siena, Cinque Terre) are reached by Regional commuter trains or buses from their closest major regional capitals. Those are very cheap (for pricing see Trenitalia site above).

You can get euro at the ATM of any airport. If having some for the first day makes you feel better, maybe change $100 in the US, but they don't give you good exchange rate in the US, so don't go much above that.

Alert your bank and credit card that you will be using ATM card and credit cards overseas, or they'll stop it if they suspect fraudulent use. If you travel alone, it's a good practice to have 2 ATM cards (with two different bank accounts) in case one is not working or is lost. You don't want to be stranded overseas without access to cash.

Last year, in the spring of 2015, I spent 17 days in Sweden and averaged $70.00 per day including local transport, entry fees, meals and souvenirs. I don't usually buy souvenirs, but did on this trip, but perhaps not like serious shoppers... I, too, was traveling solo. This did not include transportation on trains between locations that I had purchased before arriving in Sweden. In the cities/towns, I took several taxis, a ferry, and tram, but mostly I walked and walked. My breakfasts were all included at my hotels. I visited three cities in Sweden, staying in Stockholm on both ends of the trip. I did not watch my money closely (even though I always keep a record of what I spend), as this was a trip I had dreamed about from the time I was a child. So, to answer your question, I think $100.00-$150.00 would provide you with a lovely trip as I easily had one for much less.

For this solo trip, I went to AAA and obtained ap. 400.00 SEK. AAA's exchange rate was right on for the time. I obtained SEK for backup incase my ATM didn't work, but due to the nature of Sweden, I just used my chip and signature Capitol One card the entire time. I never went to an ATM and spent the Krona on the taxi to the airport at the end of my trip! You're going to have a great time!

I almost always travel solo. My last two trips (2 months in France/Paris and 5 weeks in Central Europe) were solo. On both of them I averaged between $120-140/day and that included rentals/hotels and my airfare (pro-rated) along with everything else - food, transport, sightseeing, souvenirs, etc. I stayed in nice hotels and apartments, maybe not 1st class but clean safe and conveniently located. I used a combination of rental cars/trains (France) and trains/buses (everywhere else). I didn't skimp on sightseeing or meals, just did a lot of research on what I wanted to see and do and how best to do it the cheapest way. I think $100-150/day not including accommodations is more than reasonable, it's downright generous.

As for money, I took €200 in cash with me (purchased here from Wells Fargo) and used ATM cards for most everything else - I only used my credit card for the rental cars and one hotel, I used cash withdrawn from ATM's for everything else. You can often get hotel discounts for paying in cash and cash is best for local small purchases also (markets, museum entries, meals).

I guess it mostly comes down to what your style of travel is.

I travel solo and I agree with Sandra that I think your projection of $100-$150 is fine, probably more than I would wind up spending excluding transportation.

I know many go without having any Euro but I am just not comfortable with that. When I started traveling to Europe I would get 200 whatevers (euro or pounds) just because that seemed like a nice figure, lol. I KNOW I did not get a good exchange rate at my local bank but I did not care. I felt I was paying for peace of mind and to reduce some anxiety. I don't like to have to deal with an ATM when I am feeling fuzzy from jet lag and pressured to get money to get myself in to town. Now, I just make sure I get some money at the end of a trip to carry over for next time.

I keep out about 50 Euro from my stash and put it deep in my purse for my day money. The rest of the money I put in my RS money belt (worn under your clothes). On a day when I go to the ATM, I go first thing in the AM, try to go to one near my hotel, stash it quickly in my purse and hoof it back to my room to rearrange my money, lol.

Have a fabulous time!

I travel solo and spend about €100-150 per day, including hotels, meals, transportation, sightseeing. I also like to have some euro when I arrive.

Roberto's advice about prices is perfect.

I just got back from 7 weeks in Italy, mostly solo, and I averaged 75 Euros/day. That included cash paid for about 12-15 nights' lodgings (others were prepaid or paid by credit card.) It included most food (very rarely used cc); most regional train tickets (high speed trains purchased in advance); most venue entries; snacks/gelato/groceries occasionally; and limited shopping. I didn't bring much stuff back, but most of the things I bought were paid by cc.

So...depending on how much you prepay, your budget is about right for on the ground expenses. It won't cover lodging, as you said.

I agree with others about getting your cash from bank ATMs in Italy. There are banks everywhere. I had consistent success with BNL banks, one withdrawal failure at Deutsche Bank, but really anywhere will do.

Over a hundred years ago, Lord Salisbury described the Daily Mail as a paper for people who can see but cannot read. So it's never been a reliable source. Here's an article from La Stampa in late July with a video showing an ad-hoc camp outside the station. The station itself looks unencumbered.

http://www.lastampa.it/2016/07/21/italia/cronache/como-lultima-frontiera-per-la-svizzera-profughi-inchiodati-su-un-prato-fw9iN5g3jum5r1lOULoXNN/pagina.html