megn4327

Hi,

My wife and I will be traveling on a cruise through Greece and Italy. Should we take Cash, if so how much ? Or is the preferred method card? Any suggestions on places to see in Santorini, Mykonos or Capri? We are also staying in Rome for a couple nights any suggestions on locations to stay?

Thank you so much for any help.

WoinParis

I only use cards. I take some cash from ATMs.

BigRuss

What do you mean "take cash"? If you mean, bring some from the US, the answer is no. Get some at an ATM at the airport when you arrive in Europe (assuming you arrive in the Eurozone) before transiting to your ship.

MarthaT

I would use a combination of both. You will need Euros so I would get what cash you think you will need from an ATM when you get to your first place in Europe. How much depends on you. You probably will want enough for small purchases, gelato etc.

fmpden

We use cash about 95% of the time. We simply find it easier and more convenient. Don't have to worry about credit cards being compromised. Makes tipping easier. We use a debit card at a local bank owned ATM to get local currency as needed. There are others who use credit cards most of the time and it works for them. Really whatever method you are most comfortable with doing. There is always some risk that the credit card is not accepted so you do need cash backup.

fmpden

Sorry, meant to answer your other questions. A good guidebook will cover must sees on the islands. We generally stay in the Termini area in Rome just for the convenience to transit. We like for quick access to some nice local restaurants. It is a busy area but we like it.

jamikins

We were in the Ionian Islands in Greece a few weeks ago and in most places cards were not accepted and it was cash only. This was even more so than last year when we were there.

I believe cash controls are still in place in Greece, making it easier for businesses to access cash if people pay in cash.

greg

>>> take Cash
If this means bringing non-Euro currency from home, NO. You will get hit with something like 10% or more in exchange if you exchange, or similar at merchants at touristy places that do take foreign currencies at rate very favorable to the merchants, not to you.

Preferred method of payment depends on WHAT you are buying from WHERE. There are many responses without context. Smaller shops and restaurants don't even take credit cards. You don't have a choice but cash in local currency. At high end places, shops and restaurants, where carrying that much cash of any kind is not practical, you want to use credit card, preferably charging you 0% transaction fee. Touristy restaurant and shops take money instruments commonly used by the tourists.

If you use a credit card, beware of the scheme called Dynamic Currency Conversion. This preys on people who don't know the current exchange rate, cannot do exchange computation, and does not know how the foreign transaction fee works. They (merchant plus cc transaction provider) propose, greatly to their profit, doing you a "favor" of charging you in your home currency and gives you home currency equivalent. If you don't know the exchange rate or do the actual conversion yourself, you don't realize they quietly slipped in about 6% surcharge against you for this "favor" of "comfort" in certainty of knowingly being ripped off in your home currency instead of "evil" of unknown conversion done by your bank at 0-3% depending on your bank. Adding to the injury is that the fee imposed by the bank is foreign TRANSACTION fee, not conversion, meaning any change done overseas, even in your home currency, get hit by your banks foreign TRANSACTION fee. You got that? With DCC you get hit by around 6%+3%=9% if your bank charges 3%. It would be 6%+0%=6% if your bank charges 0%. Without DCC, you fee would be 0%+3%=3% with bank charging 3% and 0%+0%=0% for bank charging 0% foreign transaction fee.

NewbE

In general, this is a matter of personal preference, although jamikins' recent experience is relevant and useful information.

We like to have some cash on hand before we leave, so we have ordered it from our bank. I did not find the surcharges and rates usurious in exchange for the convenience, but ymmv.

But you don't have to get ALL the cash you'll need at home, so your question asking "how much" is moot. Get some at home if you like, or hit an ATM at the airport after you land in your destination country, and then replenish from ATM's as needed.

justineparis

Since you are on a cruise... so just stopping intop various places.. not paying for hotels etc.. just little souvenirs and snacks.. I would use cash mostly( and did anyways when we spent 10 days in Greece ( Mykonos and Naxos) this past May.
I take cash out of an ATM.. however I ususally arrive with some left over euros to start me.. maybe 50-100 euros.

Pegontheroad

I use my credit card for major expenses, such as hotel, and I get cash from an ATM for lesser expenses. Since you'll be on a cruise, you won't need to pay for hotels, but you may want to pay for other expenses.

I get euros in $500 increments. My bank charges me $5.00 per foreign withdrawal, so I don't like to take out smaller amounts.

I generally bring $100 in cash for small expenses before I get on the boat or when the cruise finishes.

I bring two credit cards and two ATM cards (for just in case) and I keep them in a money belt. I also keep my cards in the belt. I used to travel with my sister. The only time she gave me her passport and ATM card was the time a clever thief stole her purse.

yiassas

Also be aware of DCC being offered at some ATMs, always choose to withdraw in euros & not your home currency showing an appalling rate!
For Greece the main bank ATMs to use are Aplha, Piraeus, Eurobank & National bank, not exchange ATMs such as Euronet.

aliced

We usually get 100E from our local bank here as we do not use the ATMs in the airports, and then pretty much use credit card exclusively; we ATM small amounts occasionally.

Interesting comments about paying mostly cash in Greece, as we're going there in October; five nights in Athens then jumping on an Azamara cruise of the islands for a week.

For Rome, we love staying in Piazza Navonna area and can recommend the Hotel Genio with rooftop terrace, quick access across river towards Vatican, Spanish Steps and the glorious Piazza Navonna is just a quick right and left turn around the corner!

Heimdall

Aliced, buying a small amount of euros from your local bank is a good idea, because you will have cash to start with when you get to Greece, and the fee for only €100 is insignificant.

If you are arriving in Greece at Athens Airport, most of the ATMs are operated by banks, e.g. Piraeus Bank, National Bank of Greece, that don't charge for withdrawals and give you a good exchange rate. Don't opt for DCC (see greg's above post on the subject). Avoid the yellow and blue Euronet ATM, which is an independent company similar to Travelex and <i>does</i> charge you to withdraw money. I haven't seen a Travelex ATM and Athens Airport, but if you do avoid that too.

If your bank at home charges large transaction fees it would be better to make a few large withdrawals than "small amounts occasionally". If your bank or credit union at home, like mine, doesn't charge transaction fees, an ATM is the best way to get your euros. If you are a frequent traveller ook for a card with no fees , but it probably isn't worth the effort for a one-off foreign trip.

Heimdall

Please excuse the typos in my previous post.

Macross

I have read that in Crete and the other islands they appreciate cash. Something to do with the cash controls.

clausar

That is no longer true !

The Greek government has forced many categories of Greek businesses to accept credit cards, Greeks have as of this year a motivation of paying with credit cards too, and this increased the number of shops that are accepting payments with cc.

There is a long list of different kind of businesses that will have to accept cc payments by law, and i think the expiration of the deadline is July the 31st.
By that date even very small shops selling beverages and sandwiches will be obliged to accept credit cards.....

The number of Greeks using credit cards and the cc transactions increased dramatically during 2016 and the first months of 2017.

Mimar

For things to see in Santorini, Mykonos, Capri and Rome, consult some guidebooks or look at Fodors' Destinations at the top of this page. We don't know your interests.

In Rome stay in the historic center, around Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, Spanish Steps. Just walking around this area is a tour of Rome in itself. To recommend specific hotels we need to know your budget per night, preferably in euros.

We always buy foreign currency at the airport. If one card doesn't work we try another. Always bring more than one credit card and more than one debit/ATM card. I don't understand why fmpden prefers debit cards to credit cards. There are more safeguards on credit cards.

IMPORTANT: notify the issuers of your credit cards and debit cards that you will be using them abroad. Otherwise the card may be blocked when they see an odd charge from a foreign city.

Michael

<i>That is no longer true !

The Greek government has forced many categories of Greek businesses to accept credit cards, </i>

I would use jamikins report as a better guide of the current situation. i.e. cash rules in many locations.

Odin

A report from last October is not as current as someone who lives in Greece and can tell give us more up to date information. It is no surprise that the Greek government has made many businesses take credit cards.