Last year I visited Spain and took very little money with me, using the ATMs all the time. Got great exchange rate and they were everywhere and easy to use. Will I find the same thing in Italy?

3 years ago we used our bank card at the ATM's in Italy. ATMs were easy to find. But I don't know about the exchange rates, my husband handled the bank bills when we got back home.

Dali: Used my ATM card in Italy last year and had no trouble. They are everywhere too. We got a very good exchange rate. My bank charges $1.50 per transaction no matter how large, so you must take that into account for the cost. Also, keep a record of your transactions in case you do not receive a receipt. This is for your records and if there would be a problem when you return home. Actually, I always got one in Italy, but not so in Spain.

Just returned from Italy and had no problems finding or using ATMs even in smaller towns.

ATMs are everywhere in Italy and most give an English-language option. If not (and you don't read Italian), just press the "annulla" button, get your card back and go to another machine.

Before leaving home check your ATM card. Where is it good at. Star, Plus, Cirrus etc are good in Italy. But ATM's there will only accept a 4 diget(numbers only) pin. If you have letters learn what the corresponding numbers are before you go. If you have more than 4 digets in your pin go to your bank branch in person and change it.( I had to do this.) Don't want any surprises when you get there. Good Luck on your trip.

Last year my wife and I travelled to Madrid, Rome, and Belgium/Holland.Her ATM card was spotty in Madrid,and would not work in Rome at any bank she tried. One of mine, same bank, worked only sporadically, but my other one, different bank, worked fine. When we got to Belgium and Holland, no trouble at all for either of us with any card. My advice, have some back up travellers checks and/or credit cards just in case. If we would have had to rely just on her ATM card in Italy, our vacation would have been ruined. <BR>The exchange rate and convenience couldn't be beat, however, when the cards worked well! Enjoy

Does it make a difference whether the card is a regular vanilla ATM card or a debit card (i.e.Visa logo attached, but debited from your checking account)? We've always used the plain ATM card because our bank charges a fee for the Visa-connected debit card. Our card is affiliated with Cirrus and Plus, so I had just assumed it would work as long as the ATM is Cirrus or Plus. It has so far, but I need something else to worry about concerning our trip. I will call the bank to confirm, but they've been through several mergers lately, and,shockingly, you can't always depend on the accuracy of the answers you receive. <BR>

Cirrus and Plus are what you want on the ATM card. If your card does both, you will have no trouble in Italy. Sometimes you won't see those logos posted on the machines, but unless the bank is really not a regular bank, but a credit union or home finance place it will almost undoubtedly work for you.

Hate to keep beating this to death but I just checked my ATM card (Canadian)and it only has the "PLUS" symbol..no Cirrus - anyone know if this is still ok?? thanks.

4x, Plus is the Visa network; Cirrus is the Master Card network. Most European ATMs are linked to both.

Ron...Gotcha!! Thanks fellow Canuck!!

We did have a little trouble with ATM's in Italy, and France. (last summer). None of the ATM's in the airport (only found two) had any money in them. We drove to Venice, stopping at several auto rest areas, and they were empty too. Finally, in Venice, we found an ATM at a bank site, and got money. Three hours no money felt scary. A second time, in a small town near Lucca, our ATM card didn't. Unfortunately, we were out of cash, and had to pass on some souvenirs. Nothing serious. On the same trip, we found quite a few ATM's Paris without money on a Sunday. So, take a little lirs with you, and get cash before you really need it.

Do the ATM's allow you to withdraw from both your checking and savings accounts? Or is it best to have your money in only one or the other?

Tom, I cannot remember ever having the option of choosing the account. And in Italy last week I definitely did not have the option. <BR> <BR>It will likely default to whatever your primary account is. But I'd be safe and have money in each.

From my experience and that of everyone else who's posted here, I believe, you can only withdraw from checking accounts at European ATMs.