Visa, MC or American Express?

AMEX is less widely accepted than MasterCard or Visa. You can avoid ridiculous foreign transaction fees by using a Capital One card.

agreed. Get a Capitol One card. Don't travel with Visa or MC, fees are too much. Cap One is the way to go.
You can get the "no yearly fee" card and save even more.

Bea - Italy is one place where I have had more difficulty with using my AmX card. I still bring it, along with my Charles Schwab debit card but our lat trip (summer 2007) I only use it at the more expensive hotels.

I'm an AMEX Platinum card holder but I DO NOT use this card in Italy as the service charges, exchange fees, and whatever else they add on is the highest of any card. you will pay a minimum of 3% surcharge on any transaction. As mentioned, businesses in Italy DO NOT like to see you pull out your AMEX card.

Years ago I got a Capitol One Mastercard and it's all i sue as there are no service fees and a great rate of exchange. Primarily though Italy is a cash society so I use my ATM to withdraw cash and pay with that - You can get better deals with cash or any Italian bancomat card.

Ciao,
Ron

MasterCard and Visa are pretty much interchangeable. Amex is used only in the most expensive places typically...

Take the Amex with you...if for some reason you need money or help, you can walk into the local Amex office, flash the card and they'll help you.

But you have to find the office and they are few and far between. I gave up on the AE card about five years ago or so as being nearly worthless and expensive to boot.

Thank you all. Great info!