vanne49

Leaving tomorrow and booked a last minute B&B in Rome through Sleep in Italy. Email states that I must pay cash upon arrival. When I travel in Europe I always use my debit card at the ATM. Does anyone know if there is a daily limit on withdrawl? Bank of America requires 3 days to order Euros, so that was not an option.
Secondly, Sleep in Italy has made a transportation offer of 55 euros for three people from FCO to the B&B near the Spanish Steps. I have no problem with public transportation, but with 3 people would the cost be about the same without the hassel? Thanks!

altamiro

>When I travel in Europe I always use my debit card at the ATM. Does anyone know if there is a daily limit on withdrawl?

The daily limit is set by your bank. There is a limit per transaction, which means that you have to repeat the transaction (withdrawal) until you hit the day limit.

J62

Daily limit is set by your bank, not an ATM.

Many machines have a per transaction limit of 250 or 300 euros. My BofA debit card has a daily limit of $500, so if I need more cash I use both my BofA and credit union cards the same day.

You are not the first foreigner with the same issue that the B&B owner will encounter. In my experience the owner has always been flexible to allow me to pay over a few days if I don't have enough cash on hand upon arrival. YMMV.

Nikki

You can change your daily limit by contacting your bank before you go. But the machines do sometimes have transaction limits as stated above, which can be gotten around by doing more than one transaction, sometimes at more than one machine.

altamiro

>I have no problem with public transportation, but with 3 people would the cost be about the same without the hassel?

Even a taxi ride from the airport to anywhere within the central Rome costs fixed 40 €, so no need to overpay.

daveesl

As for transportation, Rome Shuttle Limousine (www.romeshuttlelimousine.com) is an excellent service and costs less for 3 people.

Be absolutely certain to contact both your banks and credit card companies to inform them that you will be in Europe. If not, you may find your cards locked out.

You can ask your bank to raise your daily limit, but yes individual machines may have their own preset limit.

Sleep in Italy is a great company, you did well Luke Boy

dave

Echnaton

With three people to the Spanish Steps, I would take a taxi or limo. The Rome Shuttle Service costs just €35. Public transportation to the Spanish Steps is anything but convenient.

If you need cash and if you have trouble with the ATM, change US Dollar bills at the airport to Euros. The exchange rate is not optimal but you should not start your first day in Italy without having any Euros in your pocket.

ParisAmsterdam

At the airport in Montreal there are ATMs in the secure area that offer the option of dispensing euros. Maybe you'll find the same where you're departing from...

kybourbon

The train into Rome Termini station is 11€ and the subway from Termini to the Spanish Steps is 1€. Taxi from the airport (make sure it is an official Rome taxi)is a set fee of 40€ for up to four people including luggage.

>>>The Rome Shuttle Service costs just €35.<<

It's 40€ from the airport into Rome and 35€ for Rome to the airport.
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/FiumicinoE.htm

LowCountryIslander

vanne49...

The above information on ATM withdrawals has been my experience too...but I will caution you on what happened to me (I also have a Bank of America debit card).

I needed 400 Euro cash for my apartment security deposit in Rome last October. I went to an ATM and withdrew the machine limit of 200 Euro (my daily limit set from my bank was $700). Since I needed another 200 Euro I put my card back into the same ATM and was able to withdraw another 200 Euro (I should have known better & used another ATM after reading all the posts here but it allowed the transaction so I went for it).

Within a few hours I received an email from BofA saying I needed to call them because there was unusual activity on my debit card and they had stopped access (I had called the bank before I left on my trip to put a security note on my account that I would be traveling in Italy).

Turns our since I used the card at the same ATM within seconds BofA flagged my account and considered it compromised and closed any access to my account. After an hour on the phone with BofA they authorized a specific amount I stated I would be withdrawing and they opened access to my account for one hour. I then rushed to another ATM and withdrew the amount they had approved and I could not access any other money until I had the new debit card BofA issued to me, which I received in the mail when I returned home.

My recommendation if you have to make multiple withdrawls use different ATMs and if you can spread the withdrawls over 2 days (or at least several hours) that may prevent the kind of problem I created for myself...live and learn!

Have a wonderful time!

kybourbon

LCI - It sounds like B of A didn't flag your account with the proper info. After notifying the bank you will be traveling and to flag your account, you need to call back a day or two later and make sure they did as many times they never seem to get around to it.

vanne49

You guys are awesome! I did call BofA to advise of the travel plans and also increased my daily withdrawl amount. We will be going through Germany, so I plan to hit the ATM there.My son will be traveling with us so I transfered money to his account, so I feel that I have done my best. We are going to travel with some dollars, just in case, not ideal, but just in case. I am going to contact the Rome shuttle service now. Many many thanks!!!

P_M

vanne49, did BofA advise you of their partners in Germany? If you use Deutsche Bank ATM's you will pay no fees.

Zerlina

The train from FCO to Roma Termini is now 14 Euro and has been since April 1.

The trouble with BofA is that they have a hair-trigger alert system that is set off by multiple withdrawals at the same ATM. Most banks allow multiple withdrawals.

vanne49

THANKS!!