Help, This will be my first trip and I am trying to plan it on my own. I have read way too many reviews of hotels and most are not good at all. My plan is to stay in Rome for 4 days, Florence and Venice for 2 days. Any information on nice hotels as well as the were I should be looking in order to stay close in order to travel around each city my bus.
Sincerly
Ester
I have read way too many reviews of hotels and most are not good at all.
That's hard to believe - the law of large numbers gravitates toward the mean, or average, although the "bad' reviews seem to stick out way more in your mind. Look on www.booking.com and sort by review score (there's a bunch of other criteria to sort by as well). I'm sure you'll find a lot of nice hotels (or at least suitable) at every price range. The maps that go with the listings will help you best locate where you'd like to stay.
That seems a little over the top. Check any of the Steves' recommended hotels in his guidebooks. And, please define "nice."
A good investment would be to buy the Rick Steves Italy book or take out the RS guide books of Rome, Venice and Florence from your local library. Look at the hotel sections and look at each hotel website. Start booking a hotel as they book up fast in Italy. Venice has water buses, Florence, no need for public transportation, you can walk every where you need to go and Rome has bus service and the metro which is easy to use as it is not that large. Read the comments on this website as many people recommend hotels for all 3 cities. Do include travel time and getting to and from the hotels and the trains to get to each city. It takes time on the train from Venice to Florence to Rome. Go on the RS scrapbooks and look at the 10 day Venice, Rome and Florence tours to see what there is to do and see in each city. It is a wealth of information. I will say this, it is a short time to spend in each city. Are you spending only 2 days in Venice and 2 days in Florence? Each city has tons to see and do. Now I know you did not ask but I would either stay the whole time in one city or if you must, go to two cities only. The travel time between each city will eat into your sighseeing time. And I know you want to see it all as it is your first trip, but you will be frustrated because it will take you time to get from place to place and you will not see that much. You must also make your reservations for some of the museums in Rome and in Florence. If you don't have a reservation to see the David or go to the Vatican you will not be able to get in. Read the RS guide books, they will give you a lot of information as to how to plan your time. Each city is amazing and worth spending time in. Have a fun and safe trip!
I planned our first family trip of 20 days in Italy using the Rick Steves book and Frommers. Had no problem finding nice hotels. I didn't find it difficult to plan the trip on my own and we had a great time. Since then I have used booking.com or tripadvisor to find hotels in cities that aren't as common in the books. Its a lot easier to complain than to give a good review. No bus needed in Florence unless you venture to Fiesole or Siena. Obviously no bus for Venice.
It's hard to recommend hotels without knowing your budget, your minimum requirements (A/C, private bath, level of luxury) and whether you are traveling solo or not.
There's no one central place in Rome. If you are close to a metro station, that's good.
As long as you are on the Duomo side of the Arno, you'll be within a 10-15 minute walk to the train station and all the major sights. There are good choices at all levels.
Venice is more problematic. Are you flying out or taking the train? With only 2 days (2 or 3 nights?) you may do better logistically to stay nearer the train station. Getting around on the vaporetto (water bus) can be excruciating slow and water taxi rates are exorbitant. If you tell us what time you are arriving and what time you are leaving, we can be more helpful.
We will arrive on Sept 4th stay in Rome until the 7th, plan on taking the train to on the train to Florence on the 8th, stay 2 days them onto Venice for 2 days. I was looking at reviewed on travelocity , that may be my problem . Any recommendations or tip would be greatly appreciated.
For those 3 cities, I used Cross_Pollinate.com and have had good choices. This company is owned by an American couple who live in Rome and also own the Beehive hostel. The lodgings mostly are bed and breakfast type places, apartments or rooms. Type in your requirements at the top of the page and good options will appear.
For example, last year we stayed at Casa di Annusca B and B in the Oltrarno area of Florence. 78 Euros per night. Amazing breakfast in a beautiful flower garden. Clean, nice rooms, modern bathrooms. Neighborhood is walking distance to most attractions. We would stay there again. We have used C_P for at least 10 years.
Venere.com is pretty good for finding hotels in Italy. You can only review the hotel on their site after you've stayed there and Venere sends you a link. Same with booking.com and hotels.com.
I find that the TripAdvisor hotel reviews are useful - BUT you have to be savvy about them. Anyone can write a review and some of them are bogus. Also some people's expectations are not in line with what they chose. And some give bad reviews because the staff wasn't friendly or the breakfast was lame. I also ignore reviews that are more than a couple years old - what was then well may not be what is now.
One thing is that in September, I would not book any room in those cities that didn't have AC.
Will you be travelling on your own or will you be travelling with family And Friends?
You should count nights, not days. You have 3 nights in Roma, that's less than three days of time available for activities.
Are you aware that the Pope is planning to make Mother Teresa a saint during your time planned for Rome? I believe the date is September 5.
Cynthia
The RS books for Florence and Rome were great resources for our last trip. We stayed at the IQ Hotel Roma in Rome, which, though not quaint or historic, was clean, comfortable and close to Termini Station, which offers easy access to trains, buses and the subway. In fact, we're going back again this fall and are staying at the same hotel.
I used Trip Advisor to help with hotel selection this trip to Florence, and have my fingers crossed. We stayed at the Four Seasons last time, but that was a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. Have never stayed at a better property if your budget allows.
Most of our trip are normally all inclusive to a beach destination, this will be my first trip that requires planning in every aspect. My plan is to arrive in Rome on Sept 4th. 2 adults who have never been to Europe , I am very nervous that we will find it difficult to get from rome to florence to venice by train.
Stay in Rome until the 8th. Plan is to take the fast train from Rome to Florence, is there a particular city should we get off at, 2 day stay then onto Venice on the train again what city. I have the main train station names so I am looking at hotels or B&B that are close.
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated most B&B seem to be under $100 which is definitley in our budget. Hotels are a bit more . I don't need fancy or very expensive but do appreciate a nice clean and up-to-date place to stay.
Hi Ester, first . . . relax.
I am very nervous that we will find it difficult to get from rome to florence to venice by train. The trains are very easy. A really good investment is the RS Italy book. Any of the RS books on Italy will explain the little you need to know about the trains. They haven't changed the trains for a while so even an older edition from your public library will suffice. Rome and Florence are both simple street level stations. There are overhead boards showing the platform (binari) numbers for arrivals and departures (just don't look at the wrong one). It will be easy to find your train. In Venice, you just need to find the exit (uscita). You'll want the Rome Termini station, the Florence Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station and the Venice Santa Lucia station.
I am looking at hotels or B&B that are close. Everything in Florence is close to the station, the main sights and many hotels. In Rome, don't be too close to the station. The sights are spread out, so nothing is ideal and there are good areas to stay in that aren't at all close to the station. If you are taking an early morning or evening train to Florence, you can take a taxi without getting bogged down in traffic - not really expensive. In Venice, some areas are cheaper than others. Venice is small and the main sights aren't close to the station. Stay most anywhere and you'll be fine.
under $100 which is definitley in our budget. Look at hostels. Try hostelworld.com Most have double rooms, with or without private baths ("en suite"). Usually all the dorm rooms have private baths, so you won't be sharing with many others.
Follow Chani's advice, it's good stuff. I used to say to not run yourself ragged, that 3 cities in 8 days was borderline crazy. But then I put myself in the mindset of first-timers with the excitement of finally seeing what they've been reading about all these years, and with the Freccia trains (2 hrs Venice/Florence, 90 minutes Florence/Rome leaving pretty much every hour), I thought, whythehell not?!
It almost sounds like you've already booked the air, which per upthread states that you would be in Rome during the Mother Teresa canonization. That could possibly hike hotels more than the usual already-exorbitant rates. If you haven't done the air and can reverse the trip, starting in Venice and ending in Rome, so much the better. If not, then scour for a good hostel. As you said, I do think on the average that you may have a difficult time finding a decent hotel for under $100/night. $150, maybe. And yes, B&B's may be more to your liking cost-wise.
Back to the trains. Start looking on the Trenitalia site now for discounted fares. Can't remember without checking, they let you book ahead either 90 or 120 days in advance. However, remember that the caveat for the discounts is that there are no changes that can be made. You book it, you ride on that train at that time. We did it no problem, printed out all the pertinent info online, had our hard copies with us.
I've used TripAdvisor for hotel and B&B reviews, and they haven't steered me wrong yet. I do book through the actual hotel site rather than a third party, however.
Finally, all-inclusives are fine but there's no thrill in planning, which is half the fun here. Embrace it!
First of all, relax! You are a lucky person going to Italy :) I just booked my stay in Rome at the Beehive. We are only staying one night but it looks nice and was recommended here. I cant help with the bus I rented a car last time and will do the same this time. Have an awesome time , we will be there end of August as well
You can book Trenitalia tickets 120 days ahead. Click on the British flag icon (it may be an Italian flag with a drop-down menu listing languages), the page will translate into English, EXCEPT for the calendar and clock, so check your dates and times (use the calendar icon).
Because you're going to major cities, you could also look at Italo:
This line goes to far fewer places in Italy but it does service Rome, Florence and Venice, and rates can be competitive. The website is also reported to be very user friendly.
One more thing about using the Trenitalia website - even in English, you have to put in the Italian city names - Roma, Firenze, Venezia.
Got my Rick Steves book yesterday , great information looks like although I originally though to stay in the Termini Station to be central to everything the area sounds like it is not the best neighborhood. What would be a better neighborhood to look for hotels. There are several good deals right now on several sights.
dsep402, we've stayed near Termini - not directly across the street from the station but within a few block - and didn't find the area objectionable at all. It can have its advantages.
Last month (April 2016) we stayed in Florence at Hotel la Scaletta http://www.hotellascaletta.it/ Very nice hotel in IMHO. Rick use to recommend this hotel and we actually ran into him here when we first stayed in 92. It has a great view of the skyline on the public terrace and very helpful in recommending restaurants.
In Venice try Rio Venezia Hotel, they have different levels of accommodations. The location is great, very close to St Mark's Sq and you will want to spend your evenings there enjoying the orchestras and then an easy walk back to your hotel. You will get lost in Venice, which is a good thing and since you're there for a very short time you need to stay close to St Mark's
Have a great trip, Italy is our favorite and we love Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre . .. We saw what we needed to see in Rome (1992) and left, I have no desire to go back. I personally find other parts of Italy much more interesting but you have to go at least once to see the main sights.
Me again, I have been viewing hotels in Rome and there are thousands. I have found a few excellent to very good in the area outside of Vatican city for a very good price . I have searched based on several filters which has me everywhere on the map and still don't know what area is going to be the best to be somewhat centered to the attractions. Or maybe there is no one place to be centered. Please help with what would be the best area to stay in for first time visitors that would make it easier to access the bus routes and train station and walking distances. The more I look at the more I get nowhere. First time planning as you may have guessed.
thanks
Ester
Some 3 star suggestions ...
Rome
http://www.innurbecolosseo.it/EN/index.asp
http://www.hotelsantamariatrastevere.it/en/
Florence
http://www.hoteldeimacchiaioli.com/
Venice
http://www.hotelalcodega.com/
http://www.violinodoro.com/
Im also in the process of planning our first family trip to Europe- incl. Venice, Florence Rome & CT in early September. I'm interested in the feedback you are receiving here! I've learned (from these forums) to get a little educated on the area you are visiting, decide what your priorities are: neighborhood-- do you want to be smack in the thick of tourists, near night life, in mostly walking distance to what you think you want to see, have restaurants, markets, just outside your door -- or be away from the action) how far of a walk to the bus/train, etc. Then, the typical filters, room size/AC/WiFi/Non-Smoking/Smoking, etc.. Because we are a family of 4 and want to have the option for a little privacy, we are mostly renting VRBO/AirBNB apartments w/1 bedroom. I'm in the process of figuring out Florence and Rome. I will say that the more research I do, the more excited I am about going. The RS forums have been a huge help!
ehotchk--
There's the rub. You want to be near attractions, but not on top of them. And for you, those four areas are going to be 'Tourist Central' in early September. However, I think you probably do want to stay more-or-less in the middle of things--especially in an apartment--because it's really nice to take a break from wandering around in the crowds for a little while, maybe dropping off stuff you bought and then possibly a catnap in the apartment without having to walk a half-mile to do it.
We were in Florence a year ago early March, and while there weren't too many tourists at that time--mostly locals & students--it was great to relax at our 2nd floor walkup on Piazza Santa Maria Novella, open up the French windows wide and listen and watch the hubbub on the piazza below. Very cool.
Two things before booking--get the address and check Google street view for an idea of what you're getting into. It's helped immensely. Also, research where a nearby grocery store is to stock your apartment, especially if it's for more than 3-4 days. Grocery stores and laundromats (lavenderias) were attractions onto themselves!
Enjoy your planning!
Hi Ester,
I planned our first trip to Italy in May 2012 and we have been very fortunate to go again in 2015 and 2016.
The trains are easy and convenient once you get the hang of it.
I don't know your budget. We were in Florence for two nights last week and we stayed at Hotel Il Bargellino and the cost was about $100 per night. It is near the train station and close to main sights, clean. Breakfast not included. A couple years ago we stayed at
Hotel Orto De Medici which was a bit more expensise, not as close to train station. Included breakfast and was modern. Both experiences were good and really you are out enjoying the city both day and night so little time spent at hotel. Most of your traveling each city is by walking. Perhaps an occassional bus in Rome. Although they do have the sightseeing buses but I have not tried these as its fun to walk everywhere. I live in the suburbs and get much enjoyment traveling to cities and being able to step outside and walk everywhere. Have a great time.
I am trying to stick to a max of $150 per night so I must have many options. I am having the most difficulty determining which area to stay in. Is the downtown/center of Rome the most convenient area to stay or is that going to be more expensive not just for the hotel but the restaurants as well. Or is the area just outside of the center just as nice and I can save a few bucks.
When moving onto Florence , is it best to stay in Pisa or Sienna?
I would do
4 nights in Rome
3 nights in Florence
2 nights in Venice.
Also possible
4 nights in Rome
4 nights in Florence (of which one day to San Gimignano (countryside) or Sienna (Small hill town)
Should I be in your place, I would choose San Gimignano rather than Sienna, leaving it more time for another travel.
Lucca would also be a nice option.
I would also leave Venice for another time as it would not give you enough time to visit the Venitian Laguna, the true Venitian spirit.
I highly recommend the Rick Steves "Italy" book for your trip. His suggestions for hotels, restaurants, places to visit, and how to get around are right on target. There is enough information in that book to fill all the days you will be in Italy. Although we do research on line and read many travel books and magazines, we always count on Rick Steves books to tell it like it is! What's great is that they are updated regularly (not like many other travel books). My husband and I are very experienced world travelers, yet, we still use Rick's books. Regarding where to stay in Rome...The comments about the central station area being seedy, are really not true. We have stayed in that area a couple of times and found it very pleasant and convenient. Have a wonderful trip!
The Rick Steves books are good, as others have advised here, however I would pick only one or two choices from them. The experience of sitting down at a restaurant with my guide book only to have the couple on the next table bring out theirs made me feel I was taking my travelling a little too 'safely'! Anyhow, they are a great starting point and I must have at least a dozen diferent ones at home.
Rome - Hotel Villa San Pio
Florence-Relais Tiffany Small, perfect location
Venice- Hotel L'Orologio A little over budget, but the Florence Relais Tiffany is well under your budget. You will spend more on a night in Venice than almost anywhere else in the world. (Apart from going airBNB their is not much getting round this.)
Worth bearing in mind that Venice can be done as a Day trip from Florence using the fast FrecciaRossa trains. Otherwise you could leave early from Florence, have one (expensive) night in Venice yet two full days.
Two nights is one full day. That is enough to 'see Venice' if by that you literally mean opening your eyes and looking around. But it is simply not enough for Florence; you are likely to leave frustrated and hating the city since your trip will be all logistics and you won't have time to even scratch the surface of what florence has to offer i.e. its Renaissance art heritage. I'd really recommend picking two here, maybe 3 nights in Venice and 5 in Rome, or 4 in Florence and 4 in Rome and finish the trip where you fly out. If it is Rome, then arrive in Rome and proceed immediately to the other cities so that your last nights are in Rome and you don't waste your second to last day rushing back to Rome to be there for your flight the next day. This is doubly true if you plan this rush rush trip of all three cities. The first day is wasted anyway and jet lagged if you are flying from the states or Australia so use it to get to your furthest point. With so little time in any place, I wouldn't worry much about the hotel.
My early plan is for a first trip in mid-October from San Francisco to Venice for 2 days, then train to
Florence for the major part of the trip (1 week), then train to Rome for two days, and then home.
I know the trip should be longer, but I have about 2 weeks, and I'd like to spend most of it in Florence.
Is mid-October okay?
Is Venice to Rome better than Rome to Venice?
What about local train tickets vs. advanced tickets?
Any suggestions regarding accommodations and museum tickets would be appreciated.
My party will be 3 seniors.
Happy that you are staying in Florence for one full week. You will love it.
In October, weather Should still be ok, maybe a little cool in Venice though. This year however weather is a bit strange and changing.
lcolem, it would best to start a new thread with your questions instead of piggybacking on Ester's. As threads get long, it can be really confusing to sort which answers are for which poster!
Will start Florence in October thread. Thanks.
Dsep402... not sure if you have finalized your trip yet... but just wanted throw in a few cents since I got back from my solo Italy trip fairly recently.
Rome: 3-4 days is pretty good. It does tend to get quite crowded and hot... hence it is hard not to get overwhelmed!! Pace yourself on what attractions you want to cover and take a few long breaks in between enjoying the dolce vita! I
Regarding lodging in Rome.. I stayed at an Airbnb very close to the termini station. I found the location extremely convenient. Especially getting to and from the airport and other major cities. Also, pretty much every other main attraction is easily accessible from the termini station.
Regarding Florence: I loved loved Florence! 2 days in Florence sounds reasonable but remember that apart from the art, meuseums and history, Florence is great for shopping! They have beautiful leather goods, shoes, etc. So If you like to shop, I would give your self a good chunk of a day!
But once you have had your fill of the city, I would recommend venturing out into the Tuscan area for a day or two. Via Rick Steve's podcast, I was introduced to agritourismos and I would highly recommend them! lovely farm homes with delicious food and wine and breathtaking landscapes. I did not rent a car, so the folks who ran the agritourismo ( which was about an hour from Florence) picked me up and dropped me off at the village train station.
I would recommend giving yourself 3 days in the Florence /Tuscany area. Here is what the Florence itinerary could look like:
Day 1: Arrive in Florence in the morning. Explore the art/city during the day. Head out to a Tuscan village in the evening.
Day 2: Spend the entire day exploring the Tuscan area. (San Gimignano, Chianti area, etc. )
Day 3: Head back to Florence in the morning. Go shopping or further explore Florence until late afternoon/early evening and then catch the train to Venice.
You can then spend the evening and the entire next day in Venice.
Either way you plan your trip, remember to be flexible enough to change, make a note of key holidays and just relax and enjoy a glass or wine or gelato... especially when things don't go as planned!
Have a fun trip!
I have extended my visit to Italy. Now 4 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence and 3 in Venice. Traveling to Florence and Venice by train.
I increased by budget for the hotels since my original was too low. In Rome I am staying at a small hotel near the Spanish Steps that is just beautiful and recommended by Rick Steves.
My questions is if anyone had to choose is it to go to Florence or Siena?
Do I purchase my train tickets prior to my trip and if so how much sooner?
If you have confirmed your travel dates, I would book the trenitalia ticket on the high speed trains as soon as you are able to. Check the rates on the Trenitalia website. The website is not very easy to navigate but I got a super economy (non refundable) business class ticket from Florence to Rome for 29€.
But remember, super economy and economy tickets (as well I think) are non refundable. Don't wait to long. They get very pricey and sell out pretty quickly.
Now that I have made my hotel reservations for Rome and Florence, I am working on Venice. Very expensive so I am still shopping. I did purchase 2 of Rick Steves books and have been readign them all week. I do need some truley honest opinions. Keep in mind me and my fiance hae never been to Europe so we are not experience travelers. I have travel for work but alwasy within the US.
We are traveling from Rome to Florence then to Venice via train. Fly out of venice onteh 14th. I have read that you can not purchase train tickets prior to 21 days of the date you will travel. Is that correct, or can I buy them now to get the best price?
My 2nd and most important questions : I understand the the train station neighborhood is not recommended area to stay in . As an inexperienced traveller will that be the most practical or will I just add cost everytime we go into the site seeing areas.
Much appreciated
"I have read that you can not purchase train tickets prior to 21 days of the date you will travel. Is that correct, or can I buy them now to get the best price?"
That is NOT correct - buy them now for best prices!
While the train station area in Venice is not the best, it's acceptable if that's where you get a nice hotel at a good price.
In Venice last April, I stayed at Albergo Campiello [www.hcampiello.it]. It's very close to the San Zaccaria stop for both the vaporetto and the alilaguna from the San Marco Airport. It's about a block from St Mark's Square, and a little difficult to find at first as it's located in a tiny square down a little alleyway. The street Riva Schiavoni is painted on the side wall of one of the buildings alongside the alleyway. My room was small with a private bathroom/shower/WC. Skip the continental breakfast. Check out the Rick Steves book for info on a discount.
I understand the the train station neighborhood is not recommended
area to stay in
Which train station in which city? I wouldn't have any issue staying near Termini (Rome), Santa Maria Novella (Florence) or Venezia Santa Lucia (Venice).
Question on train tickets. yesterday when I went online to trenitalia I got web site raileurope which is in english and allows me to do multi city ticket puchase and offer 3 types of comforts. today when i went online and typed in trenitalia I got their direct website , thought I was loosing my mind . The Italian website does not allow me to choose a multi city purchase and it only offers super economy . are they both for the same company. Is my ticket valid if i use the rail europe?
You've confused two different things.
Super Economy, Economy, and Base are the three kinds of fares. Super Economy is totally non refundable and non changeable; if you don't take the EXACT train on your ticket, it becomes scrap paper. Economy tickets can be exchanged and you do not lose value, but if the new ticket costs more you must pay the difference. And Base fare tickets are refundable and exchangeable, but these are full fare, so there's no need to buy them ahead. Super Economy and Economy sell out; if you know your plans, they are worth the saving.
The class of service is different from the fares. Fancier classes of service have more space, nicer upholstery, etc. Some feel the nicer classes are worth the extra money, and some do not. People can get quite heated about this on both sides. To see what the different classes look like inside, see The Man In Seat 61's Italy page here: http://seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#What%20are%20Italian%20trains%20like
Yes, on Trenitalia you buy each ticket as a one way. Just buy every segment you need separately; no need to try to find "multi city" fares, as unlike airlines, there's no discount.
There are two train systems on the your route - Trenitalia and Italo Treno. I'm not sure if Rail Europe sells for both - that could account for the difference in class you're seeing. Just be careful of which station in Rome your train uses so you don't go to the wrong one. High speed trains can use either Roma Termini or Roma Tiburtina.
To buy your ticket, you can use Rail Europe, Italo, Trenitalia, Captain Train - whichever one gives you the best price and works with your credit card for the trains you need. All of them sell valid tickets; just be sure exactly which train your ticket is for.
both sell ticket for the fast train ( frecce) that is what I am purchasing for my trip in September. the trenitalia website only offers you the super economy ticket , what class is that? Are we going to have enough room with our luggage etc.
The plan is to make the reservations to go at that particular time.
The raileurope allows you to choose the class to be a bit more comfortable although a bit more expensive.
Earlier this month I went from venice to rome on trenitalia, on a frecciargento super economy ticket which was second class. There was space above our seats for luggage (about the size of airplane overhead storage) and we were able to fit all of our luggage, including a small rolling luggage. All large luggage had to be stored at the front of the car.
It was comfortable for the ride, no complaints. I was pleasantly surprised to find usb ports for charging electronics at our seats. Not sure if that is new or if i never noticed it on our earlier trips..
Hello, looking for information regarding the Italo trains vs the Trenitalia trains. The Italo trains have better rates , I was wondering about the comfort level for the lowest level. The available times I am looking at have either lowest level of high level of comfort all the mid comfort levels are not available on line for the times I am interested in.
Much appreciated Ester
The link I posted to The Man In Seat 61 shows the interiors of the various trains; he starts with Trenitalia, so scroll down for Italo. Here's his page again: http://seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm#What%20are%20Italian%20trains%20like
The man in seat 61, thank you that was so helpful to actually see the inside of the train. From 1 day to the next the train ticket price doubled, but that was my error waiting too long to book.
One week to go before we are off to Italy, this may be my last question. The Rick Steves book indicates that there is no need to convert currency before the trip here in the US , to use the ATM machines. I was not planning on taking my debit card for security reasons with all the stolen data that is happening. Are there banks at the airports that will give us a good rate or should we just to the exchange at our bank here in the US.
thansk again for all the great tips. Ester & David
The best rate, by far, will be obtained by using your debit/ATM card in a bank ATM in Italy, whether at the airport or in the city. I don't know whether banks still change currency at manned counters. The exchange booths I've noticed were not banks; there were high-cost places to be avoided.
You'll definitely pay more if you change money in the US than at a bank-owned Italian ATM, and I wouldn't want to do that for all my spending money, because--aside from the cost--I'd hate to start off the trip carrying so much cash. I think taking the debit/ATM card would be less risky, but it's your call. You might want to get about 100 euros from your bank just so you don't have to look for an ATM at the airport when you're jet-lagged. Get more euros if you're planning something like a taxi ride into town.
my bank charges 4% for all international charges for both atm , debit or credit card uses. What are my options
Do I take USD and change them to Euro as I need them in Italy or convert them before I go.
Even with a 4% charge, using your ATM card and credit cards abroad is still the way to get the best rate. Exchanging cash, either here or in Italy, comes with a 7 to 10% surcharge.
If you have time and inclination, you can get new accounts with lower fees. Capital One credit cards, TD Bank ATM cards, credit unions, and Charles Schwab are all frequently mentioned as sources of lower fee cards.
The risk of having an ATM card compromised when using it at an ATM is low. Just make sure you use a real bank machine, and inspect machine for any signs of tampering before you use it. Remember there's also a risk to carrying large amounts of cash.
Capital One bank accounts come with a no-fee ATM card. So does my credit union account. I think this is true of many credit unions, so if there's a local one you qualify for, you might check it out.
