allanc

We have never had any problems with ATM's in Italy. They are all tri/quad lingual. As I recall, only once could we not get the card to 'work' and then just went to another bank. We leave home with 200E purchased at a downtown currency xchange (not at the airport ripoff places). We normally stay at small cash only places and would withdraw cash at the end of a stay-normally 300-400E. We found the ATM exchange rate the best. We made sure that we had two cards that could access AND one of us never carried both cards at one time. I did get pickpocked in Naples (my own fault) but only lost a company Amex. which I cancelled immediately.Try never to use your credit card in the ATM-use the bank card. If for some reason there is a problem...the ATM will keep the card and you do not want this to happen.

clevelandbrown

I'm not sure from your original posting if your ATM cards are associated with savings or checking accounts, but it is my understanding that European ATMs will only accept cards associated with checking accounts. My neighborhood ATM asks me if I want to withdraw from the primary checking or savings account, and I don't recall seeing that option on any European ATM.

Withdrawal limits are set by the ATM owner and by your bank, but my experience is that you can circumvent the ATM owner's limitation by making a second withdrawal. If not, there is always a second ATM nearby, unless you are way out in the country.

I never use my debit card, preferring a credit card. While the debit card offers a rebate and protection against unauthorized usage, I am concerned that someone will make unauthorized withdrawals draining my account, and I won't know about it until I need to use the card, at which time my bank will be closed, and I will have to scramble arount until they open and restore my money.

Getting some euro before you leave costs a little extra, but many people feel the comfort of having them is worth the extra expense. Personally, I have never had difficulty obtaining local currency at an ATM upon arrival. With the euro being used in so many countries now, I just keep what I have left on my return until our next trip.

Enjoy your trip.

platzman

My experience is similar to Patrick's, never more than a couple of people in the ATM line ahead of me upon arrival at major airports.
Logic would suggest otherwise. Scores of passengers are arriving simultaneously in a foreign country, but they apparently don't need ATMs.
I suppose they either already have the local currency in hand, or they're using plastic.

Robespierre

Simplify.

Don't buy currency or traveler's checks before you leave, because the chances are overwhelmingly in your favor that you'll never need them.

Plan on getting to your hotel without any cash. I've never failed to do this. If you <u>must</u> have cash, hit the ATM at the airport. If it's inop, find another one. If you can't, buy <i>only</i> enough local from a Bureau de Change to get you to a bank ATM.

All this effort in getting local currency before you set foot outside your front door is a colossal waste of time. Not to mention the money it wastes.

cmt

Your plan sounds fine if you're going to cities and to major tourism areas like Tuscany. There will be plenty of ATM machines and credit cards sill eb accepted widely. However, I don't know where you plan to travel, so be aware that there are many places in Italy where ATM machines are rare or nonexistent and where credit cards aren't accepted, even for lodging.