when i was in italy 20 years ago, i used just cash and trav.checks. i am not sure what is the best choice now. i would rather not rely on just my credit card. also, we will need euros for when we arrive at the airport in rome and need to pay for train to the stazione. i assume there will be a cambio right at the airport to get some start up euros. After that, i can just go to a regular bank to exchange.

I'd use my credit card whenever I could--assuming your bank doesn't charge an additional percentage for foreign transactions. We used our ATM card to get cash.

Since 1998 I have used just my regular ATM card to access cash in Europe. <BR><BR>Although while waiting around for the plane to take off I'll usually get some cash exchanged so I don't have to think about it at the other end.

You will find ATM machines at the airport. If for some reason that doesn't work you can use your credit card to buy your train tickets.<BR><BR>I really don't understand how those cambios stay in business now. They are not the best option by a long shot.

Today, when in Europe, I handle my money as follows because the underlying idea is to have very little cash on me in case of a pickpocket.<BR><BR>I get a the minimum amount of euros to have in my pocket before I leave home. That way, I can find an ATM at my convenience. The fact that I arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport has been a major consideration. I know I pay extra for the exchange, about 5%, but it is a convenience tactic.<BR><BR>Once there, I rely on my ATM card for daily currency needs.<BR><BR>I use my credit card for most purchases. My card issuer, MBNA, does not tack on an extra 2% like some banks, e.g. Bank of America.<BR><BR>I do carry a few hundered US dollars in travelers checks as a last line of financial defense. Most of my checks have come home with me because there was no need to convert them. I don't like to convert the checks because you pay a substantial fee. And they are not widely accepted. <BR><BR>I once used my travelers checks without cashing them. After eating in a small Paris restaurant, I tried to pay my bill with my Visa card. The waiter soon returned waving my card and gesticulating dramatically in an attempt to tell me that my card did not work. (I never could find out why; it worked before and after that incident.)My wife rose from her chair to go get some money at the bank just down the street. When she stood up, the waiter got even more agitated and acted like he was about to blow a gasket and leak oil. In an attempt to calm him, I pulled out my travelers checks and spread them on the table so he could see I had money. I had remained seated, so I don't know where he thought I was going. At least the sight of the checks calmed him down while my wife go the money. One thing we don't need is waiters blowing head gaskets and leaking oil all over the floor. It is messy and upsets the other customers.<BR><BR>My experience also indicates the need for a second credit card.<BR><BR>

ATM's are far and away the easiest way to get cash while abroad, but you'll want credit cards (note the plural---don't depend on just one) as well. Note that some businesses (including small hotels) may let you guarantee using a credit card, but expect payment in cash (so as to avoid the surcharge that the credit card companies assess). This can be difficult to manage using your ATM alone, as you'll be limited in the amount you can withdraw daily (so if you pay for incidentals with cash as well it'll be tight). Banks can be sort of nightmarish in Italy (one of the things that hasn't changed, I'm afraid).

not to sound dumb,but once you get your american dollars from an atm machine,dont you still have to exchange for euros? i would feel better also having cash in the event that i am in a little town and credit cards aren't accepted.

You are not going to get American dollars from an ATM machine in Italy. Do you think if an Italian used your ATM machine at home that he would get euros to come out?

Here's the text of a message I posted last year. <BR><BR>&quot;Just returned from two weeks in Italy. I took with me 400EURO TC's (left over from convent deposit needs) and 500 Euro currency purchase prior to trip from Thomas Cook and my VISA debit card along with a couple of misc. credit cards. Arrived on a Sunday and did not try to use the Debit card. However on Monday I tried to make a withdrawal and was refused, the Bancomat telling me that my card was &quot;not authorized for international use.&quot; Prior to my trip I had spoken to the bankcard department at my bank, checking out the issues discussed on this forum about loss of a card and unauthorized use, etc. I told them that I would be travelling in Italy, and even went so far as to have them send me a new card, since the mag stripe on mine was getting a little worn. And yes I have a 4 digit PIN. I talked to them at least 8 times over various issues relating to the use of the debit card in Italy. I called my bank (7 hour time difference) and as it turns out (3 phone calls and most of a 20 EURO phone card later) there is a significant problem with the integration of the Cirrus/Star/VISA network in Europe and many (no exact number) of bank networks in the USA, and they knew before I left that there was a strong probability that my card wouldn't work in Italy. In the end my debit card never worked (many apologizes from VISA), and I was stuck with having to get cash advances from Thomas Cook and American Express. This was somewhat inconvenient because there isn't a Thomas Cook or AMEX on every street corner, and you are limited to 230 EURO per day cash advance. I guess the reason for my post is that I see many pepole here tell other posters that there is no need to take cash or travellers checks with them, and I am here to say that I am glad that I had a source of money to fall back on during those first couple of days in Rome. BTW, the lines at FCO ATM machines were huge!! As many as 50 peolpe waiting at several we walked by.&quot;<BR><BR>My advice is still the same, plan on any contigency when it comes to money and don't rely on just one method.<BR><BR>

I've also had problems with the &quot;not valid for international use&quot; message when using my ATM card, and posted on the problem some time ago.<BR><BR>I'd previously had zero problem, either in Italy or elsewhere in Europe. The problem first showed up in Bologna this fall, where my card had worked just fine on one day and then wouldn't work the next (my credit card had, coincidentally, been rendered invalid overnight as well). My bank was exactly zero help.<BR><BR>My most recent trip to Italy was to Venice, where I was understandably a bit concerned that there might be a repeat of the problem, but this time things went smoothly. For the first three withdrawals, that is, until one cold and rainy afternoon I once again got the message &quot;not valid for international use&quot;. Identical problem at every machine tried.<BR><BR>But then the next day it was fine.<BR><BR>So far as I can tell the problem has been trying to withdraw more than once in a single day. Banking day, presumably, and then which banking day should I consider? Eastern U.S. or Italy?<BR><BR>Insofar as cash advances go, consider having AmEx increase the limit of your cash advance before you go.

By the way, if your credit card does not works at the ATM machine, you can always go inside a bank and use the same credit card for cash advance.I did that in Rome years ago, for some reasons my card wasnt working at my hotel , maybe the mag. stripe was worn out.. Now I always carry at least 2 extra cards with me, just in case...

My husband and I each carry a different credit card - one has visa the other mastercard, plus a diners or american express, in case one of us has their wallet stolen, there is still at least one credit card that doesn't have to be cancelled. The credit cards worked fine 4 years ago so hope they still do!

Therese,<BR> I've received the same &quot;not valid for international use&quot; message before and found out it is related to making withdrawals for more than my bank's daily limit. I use to get around $100/day from ATM's but I could never figure out when the banking days start and would get the &quot;not valid&quot; message sometimes, especially on weekends. In order to try and avoid the message, I started using the ATM's every other day. A few weeks ago in Paris, I made a withdrawal on Friday morning and tried again on the following Monday only to get the &quot;not valid&quot; message. I waited a few hours and everything worked fine.