us dollars to euros

We used the ATM daily. There is no fee to do so. I also order euros about a week prior to my departure so that I do have some euros when I arrive. The exchange rate wasn't as good as using the ATM in Italy.

BofA was correct when they told you that there are no fees if you use one of their global partners. Problem is, there is no such partner in Italy. France (BNP-Paribas), Germany (Deustchebank) and England (Barclays) - yes but not Italy. When it comes to using ATM cards in Italy or other countries, a lot depends on whose ATM card you are using. Fees differ between card issuers. Take a look at the following link to see the differences. http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

This is relatively simple but a lot of people try to make it confusing.
Start with a debit card at bank owned ATM in Europe. When you withdraw you will receive an exchange slightly above (less than 1%) above the interbank rate. The network, Cirrus, Plus, etc. , receives a small fee for provide the network so that you card in Europe talks to your bank in the US. There will be no charge for using that ATM by the owner of that ATM. From that point forward any fees added will be added by the card issuer. Now the card issuer gets to make the rules and it can be confusing. For example use certain ATMs, no fee; use another ATM maybe fees. Etc., Etc., The best bet is to use a debit card that doesn't charge any fees regardless of who's ATM you use. Credit union, for example, rarely charge or if they do it is very small. So on line banks, etc. There are no universal rules other than the card issuer gets to decide what the fees are. Ask them three times and hope you get the same answer each time.

OK, so what about using your home bank ATM card for a direct withdrawal out of your home bank acct? I did this in Thailand and there were no extra fees that I recall, using the Plus or Star networks. If you took Euros with you, how much did you start with? I can get Euros through AAA or my local bank.

Jeff, yes your bank ATM card is the way to go. No need to take any Euros unless you want to; just use the ATM at the airport where your arrive.

I brought 100 euros with me that I ordered from my bank about one week prior to departure.

I use Bof A. I get hit with around $8 in fees whenever I use the ATM card at an Italian machine. They do have some affiliation with Community Bank (same Bof A logo etc) and there are no fees at their machines but as far as I know those banks are only on military installations.
I ordered Euro through BofA before I came over with no fees. Myself, I felt better having the cash on me and not having one more thing to hassle with when I landed.

The no-ATM-fee Bank of America affiliate in Italy is BNL D'Italia (but there is a 1% currency conversion fee).

Capital One has an ATM card you can use when you set up a money market account with them. No fees of any kind. You actually earn interest on the money. They also have a credit card that charges no international fees. The catch is that these take a few weeks to set up.

We got our Cap One cc's pretty quick, within two weeks, but for some reason it took them 3 times to get my wifes name right on the card which did take several more weeks to correct.

you can use your credit ir debit card on atm. do not use airport exchanges...

Sorry, it's just that I've been to other countries outside the U.S. and have never had trouble in them accepting U.S. money.

So am I understanding that they don't accept USA money in Italy???

Correct !! Are Euro accepted in Ill? Of course not. Same for Italy and any other country. Now, from time to time, you might find a vendor or someone who accepts dollars but will guarantee you that you will be taken to the point you will want to call it a scam.

Charles Schwab also has a card that refunds all foreign transaction fees. You have to open a money market account to get the card it is a debit card. I like getting home from a trip and having it all paid for, so, a couple months before the trip, I start socking money away in the money market and use that card exclusively on my trip. I have been to Europe ten times and have never ordered Euros ahead of time I always go to an ATM the minute I get to an airport in Europe and have never experienced a problem. I do, however, carry another credit card (and know the PIN) just for emergencies I don't think relying on one card and foreign ATMs is ever a good idea.

Laura, should should go to Ecuador. Not only is it a beautiful country, but they not only accept, they only use, US dollars as their currency. They do have their own coins, though.

Hi, I am jumping in here, I am leaving tomorrow from Boston to Florence. I am bringing $2,000 with me, but maybe I should do something different based on what I am reading. I want to pay my hotel in cash so I can take advantage of a 10% discount fee. So I was bringing cash. I have a bank ATM card. I have a Chase Credit card. In Costa Rica, I racked up a lot of fees using the credit card. I have time to change my moneys tomorrow morning. I also could go to AAA and get some Euros. Any advice is appreciated. carolyn

Carolyn, I'm not sure I understand completely, but your hotel in florence will not accept your USD cash. If you bring that cash to an exchange bureau in Florence, you will pay fees up the wazoo. you are best to use your ATM card while in florence to get cash. I always take a little bit with me (now I just bring home some from the previous trip), because I would never feel ok arriving somewhere without a little cash so the fees in the states are worth the peace of mind but otherwise, ATM is the way to go

For anyone who is actually taking US dollars to other countries and expect that they'll just take it consider two things: 1) More than likely they won't take your money. 2) If they do take your US$ they are going to rip you off on the exchange rate and you can guarantee any discount you think you are getting will be negated. Follow everyone's advice here and convert a little money here before you leave and use an ATM or bank to withdraw money at the optimal exchange rate when you're there.

Thank you so much, luckily, I will have plenty time to go to the bank in the am to put my US $$ back into my acct, get some Euros just to get there, and then I will use the ATM for the rest. Thank you so very much, here on the eve of my departure, and I thought I had taken care of everything! Thanks again...Hope to be a good traveler to help others one day. Carolyn

When you take cash out of an atm in Italy dont you pay a cash advance fee of up to 22%.I've never had to do this but thats what BofA told me.

Richard, they're talking about when you use a credit card to get a cash advance from an ATM, not when you use a debit card to withdraw money from your existing account. The key phrase in what they told you is "cash advance." (Although even in that case, the 22% BofA told you about probably refers to the interest rate you start paying immediately on that money. Usually the cash advance fee is more like 5%.) There are quite a few places (credit unions and money market accounts e.g. at Capital One) that don't charge any fees at all to withdraw cash through an ATM in Italy (or anywhere). IMHO, the only time to EVER use a credit card to do a cash advance is in the most extreme of emergencies when that's the absolute only way you can get cash.

I used to mail a payment to my credit card just as I left the US so that I had a credit balance. Then, when I took a cash advance, it went against the credit and I didn't accrue any interest charges. Now, as I said in a previous post, I have found the Schwab card that doesn't charge any international fees, so I do it that way.

My card is through a credit union, so that may be one of the reasons I didn't face many fees, but this is how I went about money in Europe: While still in the states, I went to Commerce (if you go with a member they'll exchange money for free, if not then it's a minimal charge. Certainly less than what Italian airports charge, anyways) and exchanged dollars into a few hundred Euro. I took that with me, and had a good start while I was there. Do not exchange much at the airport if you can avoid it because the exchange rate is very high and not worth it! The rest of the time I mostly used ATMs around Europe. They will charge you a higher exchange rate, in order to make some money, but it is cheaper than other options most of the time. As long as you have a major credit/debit card like Visa, it will work and you'll be set! You can find ATMs pretty frequently.

just to clarify....Commerce bank is now TD bank. (at least in the NY metro area)

Ok, I'm going to throw in a question here. Do I understand it correctly that if I take US dollars and try to exchange them for Euros at a bank I won't get a good exchange rate? So the best way is to just use a debit or atm card? Thanks

Maria...that is correct.

I just made an exchange for euros at a B of A at a rate of 1.47 USD to 1 euros. Not the best rate but I'm guessing the fees are built into that exchange rate. Just to make some more clarifications about Bank of America and their affiliate in Italy, it is indeed BNL D'Italia. I've confirmed this with two B o f A employees (one over the telephone and the teller manager I just made my transaction with). The teller told me the affiliation just started last fall so it's pretty new. If you use a BNL D'Italia ATM there will be no fees incurred other than the 1% exchange rate fee that is across the board with Visa/Mastercard. Now when you look up BNL D'Italia online it gets confusing. You will only find some pages about their tennis tournament (BNL D'Italia International or something). That is because they are part of BNP Paribas Bank. To find BNL D'Italia branches or ATMs go here: http://www.bnl.it/wps/portal/individuiefamiglie/Individui-e-famiglie Click on "Prendi un Apuntamento", then choose which region, province and locality you want to search. The results will default to Filali (branches) or you can click on Bancomat for ATMs. Results will show you addresses and a Google map with your results. I was able to lookup branches and ATMs in Florence and Venice so I know where to go relative to where I'm staying. I hope that helps someone.

Much simpler to just set up an account with an institution that won't restrict you as to which ATM to use, IMHO.

I get my euros and Swiss francs through B of A before I leave. It take 2 days. They do have a partner in Italy. It is BNL De Italia...branches everywhere. I use my debit card too when in Italy. Just call your bank and authorize overseas charges before you leave.

I have two cents to throw into the pot as well. I called my credit union here in Spokane, and they charge me a 1% fee for pullling $ from an Italian ATM plus whatever the ATM charges, but.....if the 1% totals less than $1 per day (if I pull less than $100/day in total) they DON'T PASS THE COST on to me. They eat it essentially. I thought this was a great deal. Pull the maximum per day out ($99), then away we go. Gotta love the credit unions. Of course, please call your bank or credit union around a week before travel so their fraud dept. doesn't freeze the card. Yikes! One more thing.....I also signed up for the NO INT'L FEES(!) credit card through Capital One and have loved it so far, even here in the states. No annual fee and no INT'L FEES....can't beat that. Molto bene indeed... -Brandon-

Read the previous post, Richard. There isn't a BOA partner bank in Italy. I'd use ATMs personally but make sure you know what YOUR credit union/bank charges here first. Your credit card will probably be subject to intl usage fees. Again, check with your bank first.

Don't understand why everyone says Bank America has no ATM partner in Italy. Their website clearly says
BNL d'Italia http://locators.bankofamerica.com/locator/locator/LocatorAction.do?LOC=en_US

I just called Bank of America. They do have a partner in Italy it is BNL Italia. BNL ATMs, there will be no $5 atm fee but all other banks atms there will be the $#5 fee. Also, there will be a 1% bank rate conversion fee across the baord for all cash you draw. If you use your debit card with visa logo or other BofA credit cards, there is a 3% transaction fee across the baord. Citibank said 3% and Amex said 2.7% for the rest of each of my cards. BofA recommended I apply for a world travel rewards credit card where there are no fees, but I didnt care to apply for a nother new credit card. all in all, they like your money!

to detail out a bit more.. travellers checks (cheques) and Euro withdrawl in US banks as well as exchange at the airport are all more expensive ways. best thing is to pay as much of these as possible in us from us in us currency, that turned out to be the best way so far

Suresh, FYI, this post is over a year old.

We were in Italy for a month in 2009. We waited until we arrived and went to a locale bank ATM, used our MC debit cards from our locale bank to withdraw cash. No huge fees. We did notify our bank before leaving and increased our limits. Remove your limit or almost all of your limit and don't go back to the ATM until you need more. We found that most of the small villages and shops preferred cash anyway.I have heard that Visa is sometimes a problem.