Is there a Thomas Cook or ATM at the Fiumicino Airport in Rome? And are the ATM's in the city of easy access, I have heard the banks have terribly long lines. Where is the best place to change traveler's checks? Any info about Rome would be helpful, I am going next week! thanks, pattie

I went to Italy in October for 2 1/2 weeks and took about $200 in traveler's checks. I never used them nor needed them. Everything can either be charged or use cash. ATM's are everywhere just like here in the USA. We never went to a bank. The ATM card worked every time. You need a four digit PIN number. The biggest thrill was going to this lone ATM in Pompeii in the middle of nowhere, putting in my card, and half way around the world getting out Italian Lire faster than the ATM's work here. I am sure there are tons of ATM's in the airport. Take some lira from here to start because once you are there you probably won't want to waste time getting cash.

Also: make sure that your bank is on one of the large, international ATM networks (such as Cirrus), and I've heard that you have to have a PIN which does not being with zero. Other than that, I've used ATM's all over Italy for several years with no problems at all. Most of them even provide instructions in English!

If you use travelers chx, the Amex office is just south of Piazza di Spagna--the foot of the Spanish Steps. That would be the best place to change American Express trav chx; afraid I don't know where the Thos Cook office is but their organization should be able to tell you.

Thank you so much, I have a Cirrus card and have used it in Europe before so I believe that it will be fine in Rome also. <BR> I am with you Paul, it does give me a strange feeling when you are so far from home and you receive your money just as fast as you do at home, it is sort of overwhelming. <BR> Thank you both for your help. pattie

I'll also endorse the comment that ATMs are everywhere. Most (at least in the major cities) are in English. When I came across one (outside a small bank) that was only in Italian and I couldn't understand it, I just pressed the "Annulla" button, got my card back and went to another machine! <BR>As for travelers checks, if you take any kind of American Express tour while in Italy, you can cash travelers checks and pay absolutely fee. Just make sure you have a receipt to show. (Like the previous posters, we too brought travelers checks "just in case" and never used them.)

Hi Pattie, <BR>There is an ATM in Fiumicino, in the main aread where the car rental desks are (basically on your way from the baggage claim to the taxi stand). We had no problem getting lira here upon arrival. <BR> <BR>You will have no problems getting cash from ATMs throughout Italy. My one word of advice is never wait until you are completely out of cash before you get more. When we were there in September there were occasionally times when it seemed like all the ATMs in a given area were down. In Orvieto we tried 6 different ones and never got through. This was never much of a problem, but you would hate to be stuck with no lunch money or something. <BR> <BR>We also took travellers checks, and like the others, never used them. Still, they were in US dollars, so no exchange losses, and it made me feel better to have them as a backup.