I'll be in Italy for 2 + weeks. Should I take cash or use credit cards. I'll have a $1100.00 bill awaiting me for my apartment and will be renting a car. What about ATM's, etc.

Take you rATM and credit cards. Get the cash when you arrive, You may have to use or make several transactions. Up your withdrawal limit before you go. The Italian bank may have a maximum that can be withdrawn at one time, but you can just insert your card as often as needed

I'd pay for the apartment, car rental and any other large expenses with a cc. Use ATM's for getting cash. A few days prior to departing on your trip, be sure to notify your bank and cc companies that you will be in Italy.

More information on cc and ATM's-

http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/hs_money.htm

Driving tips-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/driving/index.htm

Road signs-

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/road_signs/index.htm

If possible bring more than one credit card, hide one in an unusual place away from your wallet, in case of an emergency

Good idea to take 2 ATM cards also in case one gets "eaten" by the ATM or is not accepted at that particular bank.

1. Don't take cash. It may be stolen. And you'll spend time worrying about it and guarding it. If you do take cash, be sure to put it in a money belt.

2. Don't bring travelers' checks. They're hard to cash. In fact, not all banks will take them. Certainly not hotels or restaurants. And when you do find a bank that will cash your travelers' checks, you're limited to their open hours and you pay their fees plus whatever they use as an exchange rate.

3. Credit cards are good for big expenses like hotels. However, smaller hotels may give you a discount for cash. As I understand it, you must present a credit card to rent a car. Before you leave on your trip, warn your bank/card you'll be charging from abroad.

In the US, banks may add a percentage to the conversion rate, in the neighborhood of 3%. Certain banks don't do this. Credit unions only add the standard system 1%. Last I heard, Capitol One swallows the 1%, you pay nothing over the Interbank conversion.

4. Your best choice for getting cash is ATMs. They're ubiquitous, even in the smaller towns. If one ATM rejects your card, try another. If you want more than the machine's limit, make multiple withdrawals. If you want more than your daily limit (as for an apartment deposit), figure out when the day changes at home and withdraw money before midnight at home and then after midnight at home.

Again, warn your bank before your trip that you will be withdrawing from abroad. And maybe up your daily withdrawal limit.

One caveat: if you're from the US, your credit or debit card will not work in some automated machines. I.e, unattended gas stations, toll booths, stamp machines in French post offices. That's because US cards don't have chips and pins as do European ones.

We are just back from 33 days in Europe. Think only charge two hotel room. Cash is king especially with hotels. All but twice received at least a 5% discount for using cash. Generally were able to withdraw 500 E (roughly $750) each time. When new to a town would get the money on the way to the hotel, pay the hotel at check-in and not have to worry about keeping track of a lot of cash. HOWEVER, be absolutely certain to get a receipt for cash. One time, several years ago, I was asked the second day when I planned to pay the bill. My account showed that it was unpaid but I had paid the previous day. Showed the receipt and after several minutes, indicated that everything was OK. I did wonder if it was an honest mistake or beginning of a scam. The other odd thing was that I have forgotten to get the receipt at check-in but remembered when we got to the room. Immediately returned to the front desk and was issued the receipt. Now I am slightly more careful.

One advantage to using cash is that you do not get hit with a bunch of bills when you get home.

Well, whoever rented you the apartmet will tell you if they take a credit card or not - most won't.

And I don't know of any way of renting a car without a credit card (or a massive cash deposit).

For restaurants, sights etc you can do either - we charge everything we can to keep the costs of changing money down. You will definitely need cash (pulled from an ATM with a card attached to your checking account) for walking around money - since smaller places won't want to take a credit card for a drink or a gelato or wahatever.

I agree with nytraveler that most apartment owners & managers require cash at check in. I'd love it if more of them accepted credit card payments.

I use a debit card for ATM withdrawls every few days but try to do so wisely. I like to have a travel companion go to the ATM with me and stand sort of "back to back" with me so I don't feel like someone could come up behind me during a withdrawl or while I'm putting my money away.

Pickpockets and muggers sometimes watch travelers use ATMs then follow them looking for an opportunity to relieve them of the cash but not much you can do about them watching, just have to be vigilant after a withdrawl.

I use a debit card for ATM withdrawls every few days but try to do so wisely. I like to have a travel companion go to the ATM with me and stand sort of "back to back" with me so I don't feel like someone could come up behind me during a withdrawl or while I'm putting my money away.

Good grief.....! What do you think the people who live there do?

"Good grief.....! What do you think the people who live there do?"

I figured people might think that is overkill but when you are staying in a touristy area of town and are clearly a tourist I think you become a mark more frequently as you tend to take out large sums of cash.

I was followed twice from an ATM to my hotel on my last trip to France, both times in the morning while my travel companion was getting ready for the day so I don't go alone for withdrawls anymore.

>One advantage to using cash is that you do not get hit with a bunch of bills when you get home.<

One advantage to using a CC is that you are using their money to pay for your vacation. Once you get home, you will still have several days before you have to take your money out of the bank.

Make sure your PIN for your ATM card is only 4 digits. Many non-US banks won't accept longer numbers.

Great info! Thanks everyone. I'll bring some cash and a couple of credit cards.

>>I'll bring some cash and a couple of credit cards.<<

ItsSam,
No need to take some cash with you. Italians will not take your US dollars. Take your ATM card and use ATM's to get euros.

If you bring cash, you'll have to exchange it at a bank or money exchange. Once again you're limited by their hours. And you'll lose on the exchange rate and maybe add-on fees.

Re:renting an apartment. I prefer to rent through agencies that allow you to charge the deposit. Also reputable agencies vet their apartments and provide backup help if something goes wrong. www.slowtrav.com has reviews of agencies as well as rentals. Whereas if you rent from an individual, you don't know what you're getting; it may be a scam.

We took some Euros (cash) just to cover some incidentals when we arrived + 2 credit cards + 2 ATM cards. The 2 ATM cards were useful when one did not work in the bank machine. We put as many charges on our cc as we could ... to rack up those airmile points for our next trip!!!

2010