One person traveling alone? Or how many people?

What kinds of things do you plan to see and do? Is this amount only for food and transportation? Or will you be paying for a hotel or any other major expenses? Shopping?

>>How much cash should I bring with myself?<<

You really don't need to carry any cash at all -- getting € from ATM when you need it, and using credit cards is what most people do. If that makes you nervous, just get maybe €75-€100 from your bank or at your departure airport.

I never bother -- but some people do like to land with cash in their pocket.

Didn't see suze's post -- I think the question is about how much currency to bring . . . not over all expenses.

Yes I know that.

But you can't say how much cash a person needs in their wallet, without knowing what all they plan to spend it on.

I always travel with cash for minor daily expenses. I can't tell from this post if they are talking about buying a newspaper and cup of coffee or eating dinner in a high-end restaurant.

Do tell your local bank ATM-issuer and CC issuers that you are going to Italy so charges are not suspicious and blocked as can be. ATMs ubiquitous. But if worried just bring a few hundred dollars as backup and changed at landing airport bank if no ATM around - unlikely, though airports may not have them right in front of the extortionary airport exchange offices like Travelex. But they are always around. And as others said c.c. are taken for just about everything these days. Never get cash from a credit card at ATM machines as steep interest rate often kick in right away. Use only ATM cards for getting euros - ask your local bank what there charges are - few ATMs in Europe charge for anything but your local bank does - try to get as many euros as you expect to need at one time to avoid the exchange fee your local bank has every time you change.

I would get the currency from your home bank ahead of the trip. It will be a slightly less favorable rate than you would get at an ATM after arrival, but for me it is worth it to have money in hand and not have to worry about it during the trip. I would never advise changing money at an airport.

I never get cash in my home country for travel, but only from ATMs on the ground where I am visiting. I have an ATM card that not only doesn't charge anything for ATM withdrawals, it also refunds any charges from the local ATM (generally not an issue in Europe).

Do note that privately owned ATMs (and that includes Travelex) will charge you more to get your money than bank-owned machines. Also, exchanging cash for local currency will cost you more than getting money from an ATM.

Well the question asked is how much cash should he bring. I still say to answer that we need to know what kinds of things he intends to buy with cash and if he's paying for other people or just one person's daily expenses.

I was once in the situation where my debit ATM card did not work (not anywhere, it was a problem between BoA USA and all banks in Mexico). Ever since then I take a different approach and have several methods of obtaining funds, including having peso in my wallet upon arrival. Yes I know that is not Naples Italy, point is... stuff happens.

Yes, stuff happens. We've had two occasions when we had trouble with ATMs. While staying in a small, remote town in Italy over a weekend, the only ATM within several miles couldn't connect to the server/router/whatever it is. Another time (in France), our card was denied everywhere. When we called our bank (time out from sightseeing), we were told our card had been reported lost, so the account had been blocked. It was a PITA to correct/reverse long distance, and my husband has no patience for these sorts of glitches. So, we buy currency before we leave home. There are two currency exchanges near my office, and they offer conversion rates within a few pennies of my debit card issuer's rate.

>> . . . also have forgotten the name of the ATM affiliated with BOA if I need extra cash...<<

Its BNL in Italy - they still have 'free' withdrawals. However, several years ago they started assessing a 3% conversion. So better than using non-affiliated banks because you save the $5 per transaction fee, but will be hit with a 3% 'fee'.

>>Well the question asked is how much cash should he bring. I still say to answer that we need to know what kinds of things he intends to buy with cash and if he's paying for other people or just one person's daily expenses.<<

Not IME/IMO. The most one typically needs 99% of the time is for maybe a taxi or a few extra € for incidentals. One shouldn't take enough € cash to cover days and days and all sorts of expenses.. But taking a bit more than a minimal amount might put your mind at ease -- so just buy some from your departure airport. BofA charges high fees to order from your local bank unless you are a 'High Value' account holder. So just use the Bureau de Change while you are cooling your heels in he departure lounge.

For incidentals on an 8 day trip I would get $300USD worth in euro that I order at home thru BoA (online then pick up at my branch office for a $7.50 fee at whatever exchange rate is offered that day). I would also carry $200USD cash tucked away. Plus one credit card and one debit card. For me that is the easiest way.

If I wanted to use my BoA debit card I would use whatever Italian bank ATM machine (not a stand-alone, a real bank) happened to be there. I wouldn't go out of my way looking up a particular brand.

Take your 200 or 300 euro cash with you but also take a back up credit card and if possible a back up debit card in addition to the ones you mentioned.

If you have time before your trip you check out opening an account that offers a fee free debit card. Capital One has had those kinds of accounts in the past and I've used it for several years now successfully overseas. No per withdrawal fee like the $5 fees from BoA and Chase, (I've used both and still do just domestically now) and no 3% conversion fees that BoA, Chase, Wells Fargo, etc. charge.

If you plan to travel overseas regularly I'd really recommend it as there is nothing worse than getting stuck some place and unable to access cash when you need. We've had trouble with our BoA debit card not accepted in some ATMs which can be quite inconvenient.

OK, Jean, but surely the ATMs at the airport work. When whatsit lands in Italy, she can just get a few hundred euros from the ATM, either with bank card or credit card. This is small spending money. Put other purchases, like shopping at Prada or lunch at the Hassler, on the credit card.

Yes, sometimes ATMs don't work, but there is usually another one somewhere that does. Ask at your hotel for help.

Thin🐩

Yes, I use airport ATMs too but some people insist on having cash to start out. I guess it's a personal comfort thing. I save some cash to bring back from each trip.

Thin, in the two instances we had trouble with ATMS, it was mid-trip and we were nowhere near an airport. We have found in many very small towns that lots of little transactions were cash only or cash preferred and almost always cash only when it's 10 euros or less. 10 euros here, 10 euros there, adds up pretty fast.

I don't know, even in tiny Wengen, Switzerland there are 2 or 3 ATMs.

I am sure there are plenty of ATMs in Naples.

Thin🐩