RE: money issues

Hi Christy. Frank's advice is spot on. I also like to land with euros in hand. I order them through my bank (B of A) and pay a small fee but to me it's worth it. After a long flight from the west coast, the last thing I want to do is fumble around the airport trying to find an ATM machine. We use a combination of cash (euros) and credit cards when we travel. Someone on this forum had difficulty using a credit card to purchase train tickets in the automated machine. This was due to the fact that his/her credit card didn't have a "chip" in it. I know that Europe is increasingly using credit cards with chips embedded in them. While I don't think this has been a huge issue for anyone on this forum, you might ask your bank if they can re-issue your credit card with the embedded chip. I did this a few weeks ago with B of A & they sent me right out a new card. You can use the card in the U.S. with no problems as it still has the strip on the back. It was free and I figured it was better to have it and not need it than vice versa. If your credit card issuer doesn't offer the chip embedded cards, I don't think it will be a big deal...but if they do, you might as well get one.

One small point. You and your husband shouldn't carry all the same cc and debit cards. In the unlikely event one of you lost them or were robbed, then all your cards would have to be cancelled.

All of this is excellent advice! I also always get off the plane w/ a few hundred euro. Make sure you make photocopies of your passports! Leave one copy home w/friend or relative, and each of you carry each other's copy with you. I had a group of friends who left them in a bag in the rental car, and the bag was stolen. No copies at home or anywhere. This is extremely unlikely, but I'm careful.

First, take a deep breath. We have been using debit cards for 15+ years and never had one not work. Have had a couple of times when it would not work in a particular ATM but then worked in the next one. The first time it happen it caused a huge panic because it was first time we were totally dependent on the debit card. Now we take it in stride if it does not work. However we have developed the habit of using only ATMs attached to banks during banking hours. The theory is if something happens to the card, the wife can guard the ATM while I go into the bank to solve the problem. The theory has never been tested so don't know if this idea works or not. But assume that ATMs attached to banks will be in better working order. I always use the ATM after I have seen someone else used it. Again, if it works for them it should work for me. Be sure to notify you card issuer's security department when and where you will be traveling. And, of course, have the call back number if something really goes wrong. I fall into the camp that likes to enter the country with a couple hundred Euro in pocket. Finding an ATM at an airport is one less thing to worry about and sometimes the ATMs are not that easy to find. Go to your local bank, AAA, and get a hundred Euros or so. Will pay a fee upwards to 10% but look at it as a $20 insurance premium for one less hassle. Traveler Checks as back up are worthless. We always carry about $200 in US, new $20 bills,($100 each) as back up but have never had to use it. We tend to hit the ATM about every three days and will withdraw 500 Euro but that varies depending on what we are doing. Sometimes you may hit a limit on withdrawn that is set by the ATM - sometimes 250, 300 Euro. So you make two withdrawals or hit two different machines.

Christy, all of Frank's info is great, you will be fine, but let me add one thing: be sure you know the pin number for each of your cards. I know some of you are laughing in disbelief at this, but TWO times I have had friends come to Europe with me without being able to make an ATM withdrawal for days until they finally got it figured out.

For piece of mind, do take a few hundred euro with you. Your ATM card will work just fine, but sometimes even after notifying a bank about travel, the bank has placed a hold on the card and it can take a day or two to reactivate it. If you have cash on hand on arrival, no need to hit the airport ATM. But do try it soon to make sure everything works fine and before you run out of cash. If you pay for your hotel with a credit card, then daily cash is just for dinners, admissions and trinkets. That's probably no more than 100 euro per day, depending on what you eat and where you go.

Thanks you guys for all your advice!

Since it hasn't been mentioned, call your bank to find out what your daily withdrawal limit is. Make sure it is the maximum the bank allows. Few people in the US have need to take several hundred dollars out of an ATM at one time and so are unaware their limit may not be very high.

And remember that individual ATMs will have their own internal limits that you can withdraw, separate (and lower) than what your bank's limit is. This means you might have to hit more than one machine to exhaust your daily limit. Sometimes you can just use the same machine twice in a row. (I prefer to use ATMs that are physically attached to a bank office. It reduces the chance that there is a card skimmer in place.)

One thing that's not been mentioned is to call your bank and tell them that you'll be traveling to Italy, and the dates you'll be gone. With so much international fraud on the internet, banks are now very security conscious with credit cards and ATM cards. I too will take $200 in Yankee dollars, but try not to use it. Every time you exchange money at a bank or even American Express, they knock your tail off on fees and exchange rates. You can order some Euros through most national banks in the U.S., but they're at ridiculously low exchange rates. I only use bank ATM's in Europe, and they always require 4 digit number security codes. You've just got to make sure there is a large balance in your checking account. If you carry a laptop or notebook, you can also move your funds around, and even pay your bills online from anywhere in the world.
Don't fret on using on your ATM card. It'll work out find.

Regarding the ATM withdrawl limit, I requested that my limit be increased for the dates of my trip and B of A agreed. I'm not sure if every bank will do this, but you might inquire.

Definitely ask your bank to raise the daily limit you can withdraw, but that will not affect the ATM's own per-transaction limit and possibly per-day limit which are independent of what your bank does.

Agree with all of the above excellent advice. Three further tips (fine points): 1. If your card is tied to more than one account (checking and savings), you will usually not be able to choose which account your card accesses while in Europe. It will be checking. So be sure there's enough money in that account. Of course, if your card is tied to only one account, no problems. 2. When you find out your daily limit in dollars, convert it to euros using www.xe.com. The ATM's in Italy (called bancomats, by the way) will not ask how many dollars you want, but only how many euros. Particularly at first, when I'm still thinking in dollars, it's very helpful to have learned how many euros I can ask for without going over my bank's limit (as said, you may still run into a machine's limit; if your transaction is rejected, try it again with a smaller amount). 3. If the bancomat only has Italian on the screen, don't panic. When you insert your card, you should have the option to choose English. As for how much to withdraw, that depends on whether you are putting major expenses like hotels on your credit cards or will be paying cash. If the latter, withdraw the maximum every day or two, so you can start "stockpiling" cash to pay the hotels. If the former, get a few hundred euros to start, and then you can see how often you need to replenish them (you'll quickly get a feel for how much you're spending). In the places you're going, bancomats are very prevalent, so there's no need to think too far ahead; when you need money, just get it.

My opinion. 1. Have enough Euros before you leave home. Arrival is stressful enough w/o having to deal with atm first thing. 2. I would have on hand at least enough to pay for 2-3 days of anticipated expenses in cash. 3. take the max each time. My goal would be to avoid the need to keep hitting the bancomats every day or night, rather than to avoid carrying large amounts of cash. PS My trip to Italy last year I was advised and observed that few if any locals use credit/debit cards for ordinary transactions like we do in USA. It is very much a cash economy so you need a lot of cash to get through a day. Even for larger purchases, you are more likely to get a better price for cash than credit due to tax reasons. So don't assume you can pay with card in every shop, bar or restaurant. Even if they take cards, they may not want to deal with it for small transactions. PSS I had credit card rejected when checking out of first hotel, due to computer unable to communicate with my bank in US (yes, I had told bank I was going to be in Italy). If I had not had enough cash on hand to cover bill, I would have had problem.

Traveling to Europe is really simple these days compared to earlier times. I no longer even think of money issues when traveling to Europe. I get off the airplane with a few pounds or euros left over from the previous trip, hit the ATM/cash point at the airport for more cash and go. You have your cards, you know the pins, they will work. No sweat. It is good advice to let your issuer know you'll be in Europe. As to how much cash you need each day, that depends upon your own spending requirements.

Hello. My husband and I have been overseas five years in a row. We have always used our "Capital One" credit card for all our charge purchases. There are no transaction fees with Capital One. We also get European or Australian currency at "Travelex". You can go to their "Travelex" site and order the money on-line and delivered to you home. We actually go to a Travelex business near our home. There are also "Travelex" counters in the airports. We get currency for whatever country we are going to. Then when we return, we turn in the money we didn't use. The problem we found in Italy and Greece, is sometimes places don't take credit cards. A lot of places in Rome and Athens only took cash. MANY smaller hotels in Italy only accept cash. Make sure you ask upfront before you leave home. We paid for our River Palace Hotel in Rome, before we left home. It was a wonderful hotel in a great location. I contacted the hotel by e-mail and paid with our "Capital One" card. The hotel even made taxi reservations so we could go to/from the hotel with a particular taxi service. We were picked up right after we exited with our luggage. We were only in Rome for one week, two years ago. We were surprised that many restaurants didn't accept credit cards there.

Thanks to everyone for all this valuable advise.... this question is concerning phones... I don't need to be in constant contact with the folks back home.. just thinking we might check in once or twice, and maybe communicate with our hotels... so would it be just as wise to buy a phone card once we get there or should I buy a cheapy Italian cell phone ( wouldn't the set-up be in Italian?)...Seems like an awful lot of trouble to trade out my SIM card in my phone for just a week...

Personally I don't have a need for a cell phone but those who are wedded to cell phones will be along shortly. Skype or Face Time works very well for staying in contact since wifi is widely available and generally free. If you need to contact hotels, which we never do, then use a phone card. You can buy a lot of calling time for 5 Euro.

Regarding phones, some of it depends on your carrier. I found purchasing a local phone and dealing with SIM cards (and recorded, foreign-language instructions for everything) way more trouble than it was worth. Only did that once, and decided, 'never again'. If your phone is GSM, check with your carrier; you should be able to use it in Europe, simply purchasing an international plan for the time you're gone and getting the phone activated for int'l use. For Verizon, if you don't have a GSM phone (most of theirs aren't), they have a loaner program which worked great the times I've used it. Call to see if it still exists. As an alternative, I got a free GSM non-smart phone from Verizon at upgrade time, using it only for travel. When I return, I reactivate my regular phone. Their int'l plan costs a few dollars a month, which you pay only while you're traveling, and it's 0.99/minute to call the US. If you choose not to get their plan, it's about 25 percent more per minute to call the US.

We use our Capital One card for all charges in Europe. There aren't any transaction fees with Capital One. We also got debit cards through Travelex and some cash for each country. We go to a Travelex location near our house. You can also go through Travelex on-line. That procedure has always worked out for us, with no problems, using the ATM's.

Dear Christy the best way is to bring some euro cash from Usa and then day by day you withrow cash with your atm card. In Italy Visa and Master card are accepted almost everywhere but we in Italy do not take credit card for a very small amount like you do in Usa. For example before you board a taxi ask always if he accept credit cards, not all of them do accept CC, same if you go in a cafeteria for a coffee and a little snack, credit card is not really accepted for a small amount Viviana Rome Italy

Thanks to everyone, this is such helpful info,,,, looking so forward to this trip..Got my new backpack this weekend, so as Rick recommends, we will be traveling light!

Hi Christy, You have received some great advice. On our last trip, we used our main debit card once fine in Ireland. The next time neither my wife or my card would work at several different machines. It was July 4, so the bank at home was closed.
We always carry a second debit card from a different bank. That back up card worked, so we were fine. When I called the bank, they said there was a concern about fraud in the UK. They had on record that I was out of the country but froze the card anyway. They called me back in about an hour with the problem fixed. Having the back up card from another bank solved the problem. If the second card had been from the same bank, it wouldn't have worked either. I also carry credit cards in my money belt that I don't intend to use just in case.

Great advice covering more than original question! New advice- since I don't withdraw cash using either debit or CapOne cc in US, I always do that before traveling. That way I can work out some problems here. Go on and program your cc phone number in your telephone. Should you need to call them ASAP you'll be glad. If you have AmEx know where the closest office is...they can advance emergency card and cash. (All lessons learned the hard way) I also open a "dummy" free email acct (Susaninitaly@gmail or similar) right before going and email all my impt info, including a picture of my passport, to that account. That allows access and I can kill that account when I get home.
I don't think you can over-prepare for a trip: then there's no need to worry!