bvlenci

Vaffanculo was the war cry of Beppe Grillo. Donald Trump is a cross between Grillo and Berlusconi.

bvlenci

Grillo every now and then celebrates a "Vaffa" Day, where he tells everybody but his puppetmaster where to stick it.

StCirq

There aren't any ATMs around here that dispense 50-euro bills. The largest is always 20 euros. Is it different in Italy? The last time I was there was 2-3 years ago and I can't remember. Here, at most ATMs, you can choose all 20s or an assortment, but all 20 or under.

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#555555>"Is it different in Italy?"</font></i>

It may depend on your withdrawal amount. I tend to withdraw 600€ a visit. The nice thing about Italy's ATMs, they dispense 50s, 20s, 10s, and 5s, without my asking. And, yes, 50€ bills are the most common on that amount, and I visit a lot of places that seem quite happy to accept them. However, if I'm buying a 2€ item, and all I have is a 50, I ask first if it will be a problem. But more often than not, I'm prepared.

suze

If you are using an ATM at a bank. Go inside and ask a teller for smaller change for a couple of the large bills.

StCirq

My limit at the Banque Postale is 800 euros, and I usually get 500-800 because beyond 5 withdrawals a month I pay a few euros. But even when I withdraw the limit I don't have a choice of anything over 20-euro bills, which is a pain, because who wants to go to market with a big fat wad of 20s? On the other hand, I do feel sorry for the small shopkeepers and market vendors here, most of whose customers, in high season at least, don't think twice about buying a 2-euro waffle with a big bill. We accumlate change like nobody's business and always have plenty on us, and more in the car.

Weekender

BigRuss:

My Chase ATM gives the option of choosing denominations including $100 bills.

StCirq

In France, you can't walk into a bank and ask a teller to make change. There is no cash inside the banks any longer. Perhaps that's different in Italy, too. In France you often can't even get inside a bank unless you are a customer, and once you do, there're no cash transactions.

Nonconformist

"I boarded a bus in Belgium recently. I hardly ever do. I gave a note of 10 euros. Trip was 2.something. The driver refused said he didn't give change. I asked if he was serious. Asked if he accepted debit card. Said no.
I shrugged and said if I couldn't pay I travel for free."

Where I live in the UK the buses are strictly no-change, exact cash only. If you don't have the right money you have to pay more or walk.

Peter_S_Aus

Our experience in Italy six months ago:
Limit of 500 euro at a single transaction, but sometimes 200 on a Sunday, when ATM's might be running dry.

Machine dispenses only 20 and 50 euro notes. If we withdrew say 200, we would get 2 x 50 euro notes, and the balance in 20's.

We never saw an ATM that dispensed 10 or 5 euro notes. But NYCFS might have been using different machines to us.

Over time, one gets good at "harvesting" one and two euro coins!

bvlenci

I've never got a €5 note from an ATM in Italy. I don't think I've ever got a €10, either. If I withdraw €400, I'll normally get 6 €50s and 5 €20s.

catcrazyaf

Ackislander, what a lot of assumptions you make! I am always polite, use appropriate greetings and proper titles, etc. when I travel -- and when I don't. Sorry, you must have been having a rough day. Hope tomorrow is better.

jamikins

Nope, buses don't even take cash fares in London anymore.

CharlotteK

I was in Italy last fall and never got anything but 20s from ATMs, usually withdrawing about 200 at a time. YMMV, of course. I never had issues with acceptance either, in restaurants, shops or museums/churches. I will say that everyone appreciated exact change, but that seems just as true here in my USA home town.

NYCFoodSnob

Just goes to show the differing experiences people who travel have.

kybourbon

>>>If you are using an ATM at a bank. Go inside and ask a teller for smaller change for a couple of the large bills.<<<

Plan to be there several hours if you do. Italians just don't like making change for some reason. Last time I had to get some in a bank (Siena) there were three different lines (take a number from the machine based on whether you have an account, what you need, etc.). Change people were the very last that were going to be served and people with accounts before people without. Out of about eight tellers, only one dealt with the change people. That one had no qualms about putting up her lunch break sign and trotting off to lunch leaving customers to wait until her return. No one filled in for her during lunch even though the bank remained open.