September - Positano Area - Ease in ATM EU

I've never had any trouble getting cash from ATM or using cards anywhere in Italy, in much smaller places usually. In summer, I could anticipate some ATMs being out of cash in high volume areas, but by mid to late September I would not worry about that.
If you will have another stop before Positano, I'd get some case then to be extra safe.

Hello diane,

The general advice is to always look for ATMs (called "Bancomat" in Italian) attached to physical banks to avoid the fees that freestanding ATMs charge. But other than that ATMs work to get cash from American banks even if it is expensive. Years ago I had issues with daily limits and only being able to withdraw lower limits but hopefully these are issues mostly in the past.

In Italy last September and zero troubles paying with a credit card but was surprised to find everyone preferring tap payments post lockdown procedures. I have two cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees but ended up using my "back up" card for nearly all daily purchases because it had tap and the other didn't.

American cards use chip and signature versus chip and PIN and this can confuse some waiters and shopkeepers if they don't deal with American tourists a lot but 'tap' removes all those concerns. Sometimes in Italian restaurants you will also encounter places that haven't sprung for all the mobile card readers and you'll need to go to the register and use the one terminal but that's the same for everyone paying with a card. European shops and restaurants will never 'disappear with your card' like they do in America they will always want to do the transaction in front you and preferably you'll never let go of your card.

Also never, ever let someone "convert the price to dollars" for you when you buy things or use an AYM. The conversion will always favor them - usually wildly favor them - pay in euros.

Hope that helps,
=Tod

No issue using cards. I noticed that my preferred Chase credit card did not work as 'tap and go' so I had to insert it in the slot of the POS machine each time. Not sure if it was because I have a defective card pin. But it doesn't make a difference, tap or insert, the card will be accepted. There is no need to have a PIN entered. Sometimes I had to sign other times they didn't care if I signed the slip (or the digital display). Note that if you have an American card the POS machine may display a choice F1=charge in Euro F2=charge in US Dollars. ALWAYS SELECT TO BE CHARGED IN EUROS, otherwise you are likely to get an unfavorable exchange rate.

For ATM use the BANCOMAT attached to banks. Many souvenir shops and airports have machines saying ATM (not Bancomat). Those machines are operated by EuroNet and charge higher fees. Don't use them. Go to a bank Bancomat attached to a bank.

Hard cash is useful for small transactions and in case the machine/card malfunctions.

Thanks to ALL of you - your kindness and getting back to me has been wonderful!! Have a great day!!
diane