Cash needs in Italy
 

I'm trying to hone in on practical details like how much cash will we be spending (vs CC) so that I can fund the appropriate account for ATMing, etc. (Honestly, I'm still a little nervous about relying on ATMs, so this is kind of a trial run for us.) But my question is whether my rough assumptions on what will require cash EUROS vs CC are reasonable. Some things are prepaid and not at issue. (Our last trip out of the country was 2 years ago to England and virtually everything could be charged to a CC there. I'm not sure what to expect 2 years later in Italy.)

For Italy, I'm assuming CASH is necessary for:

Lunch - given that our idea of lunch is "light": sandwich/pizza/salad

Local transport: taxis and water taxis, funicular, gondola/ traghetti, vaporetti (but what about 1 day passes? Could we use CC for those?), Metropolitana in Rome (but what about the week long passes? CC?)

Admissions to museums, church bell towers, etc

Miscellaneous: post cards, audio guides, water, gelato, other snacks, pay toilets

I've assumed CCs will generally be accepted for:

Dinners

Store purchases

Train tickets

Those who have been recently, especially to Venice and Rome, what was your experience?

Thank you very much....

Not all stores and restaurants (or bars) take CC. Check before you dine!

Hi VR,

>...I'm still a little nervous about relying on ATMs, ....<

Don't be, millions of people rely on them every day.

Have one for you and one for your spouse (if any) with a different number to the same account.

If traveling alone, open another account with a separate ATM card.

It's unlikely that both will be inoperable at the same time.

In general, if it is less than 10E, pay cash.

((I))

You can even use them to pay tolls on the highways if you are driving!

Hi victoria, I tend to pay cash for anthing that is under say 20euro. I do like to use my credit card otherwise (convenience and ff miles). I always take two ATM cards..attached to two different accounts. And I take at least two but usually three credit cards. Probably that is unnecessary but that is what I do. When I use the ATM I get the maximum allowable (which I have found in Italy is not always as much as my bank here in the US will allow).

I do like to take some euro with me to Italy..a lot of people don't but it is sort of my security blanket. I always take US dollars with me also so that when I fly home I again have cash on me..again many people do not.

I never pay via a debit card for purchases of any kind. I either pay cash or pay via credit card as my credit card bill is always paid in full when the statement is received so I have never paid interest due to an unpaid balance.

Your list what you assume you will pay for cash is pretty accurate in my opinion. As Ira said, do check if a restaurant you are going to eat at takes credit cards if you don't have a lot of cash with you. Best regards, and have a wonderful time in Italy!

Hmmmm, for some reason I "thought" Ira suggested making sure the restaurant you went to took credit cards. But he didn't, not on this thread at least, lol. Anyway, you will probably want to make sure of this when going to a restaurant..most do take credit cards btw.

Thanks...one poster did mention all restaurants do not take CCs. I realize not all restaurants in Italy take CCs, and we will definitely be alert to that. In general and for budgeting cash needs, though, I have to make some assumptions, and I'm assuming they are the sort we would be more likely to have lunch at than dinner. Though I realize things may be a little different in Italy. I've never been there, so I appreciate the insights from those of you who have.

LoveItaly, I love your quintuple back-up system. We'll have TCs as emergency last resort back-up, extra $$ in case we have to change those in the event the ATM fails, 2 or 3 CCs, an initial supply of Euro from the departure airport exchange desk, and possibly, a second ATM attached to a joint account I have with my young adult daughter (well, we'd have to put the $$ in as it is pretty much empty at any point in time). The largest expenses (e.g hotel, train tickets, Context Rome tours) will be charged or prepaid, but I still estimate we'll need more than 1200 Euro cash for a 10 day trip for a party of four. That is premised on the assumptions I made and doesn't take into account all the little things that I've forgotten to take into account.

We just returned from Italy and used a combination of both...I would say 50/50. We used credit card to pay for hotels, some meals and purchases and cash for everything else. We only encountered 1 ATM problem in Spello. There is only one bank machine and it was down. We were running low on cash so we used credit card to pay for dinner and for a wine purchase. I would not sit down in a restaurant without first checking if they accept credit card. ATM machines are available even in the smallest towns so it is not a problem...we managed to get cash the next day in Brevegna. I usually bring my ATM card and my husband brings his from a different account...plus a few different credit cards in case one doesn't work. It is good to have a combination.