best way to get cash
 

I am looking for some help and hope some of you have faced this same situation. I leave for my honeymoon in Ravello, Italy June 22 and our B&B only takes cash. I do not know if the smaller towns (Ravello, Amalfi, Positano) have ATM machines- our total bill will be around $1200 US- how much cash does one normally take to exchange? we do not want to take all that cash and exhange at a bank- but most ATM's only let you take out $400/day.We do not know what to do. Any suggestions would be most helpful.

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/


I don't know if your ATM card is accepted at Visa machines. If not, do a google search for Pulse or Mastercard ATM Locations Italy.

You should contact your bank and see what your daily limit is currently and have it increased, if only temporarily, for the duration of your trip.

Since most banks charge a fee for ATM withdrawals, it's better to take out as much as you think you'll need for a few days anyway.

There will surely be ATMs in the airport where you arrive in Italy. Start there, then get more Euros as you need them. The Amalfi towns are chockablock with tourists, and thus "bancomats", which area available in all but the most remote villages in Italy.

Oops, sent before I finished the above message -- There are many ways to get your 1200 : get your bank to increase your daily ATM limit, pay the B&B over several days, have ATM cards from two different accounts.

Do you have to pay upfront?

I would pay per day, if allowed, and just do a withdrawal every day.

Both you and your husband could have separate cards and/or accounts, and you can get your limit increased.

We split our accounts so that we have access to two accounts, doubling the amount we can pull out each day for these bigger cash transactions. Not sure if you have time to set something like that up. It may also be worth speaking to your bank to see if the limit can be raised.

Finally, my experience has been that you usually pay on check out. So depending on the number of days you plan to spend, you may be able to accumulate enough each day to pay by the time you're ready to leave (possibly paying as you go so you don't have so much on you or in the room)?

And the hotels don't mind if you want to pay a portion in advance each day, rather than all at once at the end.

While your B&B doesn't accept credit cards or travelers checks, it should be willing to accept a bank draft in euros. If so, open an account with www.xe.com/fx. Money will be taken from your checking account by electronic transfer, a bank draft will be issued in the currency of your choice, and the draft will be mailed directly to the recipient of your choice. The exchange rate is only slightly higher than the international rate on the day the transaction is processed. There are no other fees. For security reasons it takes a little time and effort to set up an account, but everything goes swiftly and smoothly after that.

Thank-you all so much for the great suggestions! You have all helped me have one less thing to worry about-and getting married in two weeks, I have plenty to worry about.