Dear Travelers,<BR> My wife and I will be going to Rome in two weeks. Could you folks with experience in Rome (hello Rex, Steve, Marianne, et al) please tell me the best place to exchange US for Euros? We live outside of Pittsburgh and certainly could ge into downtown if it is better to do so before hand. Or is it better to get to Italy, find a ATM and do it that way or what? Is it good to have Euro vs USD traveler cheques before going? I presume, from past experience in other countries, that exchanging USD or traveler cheques in the hotel is one of the worst ways to do this.<BR> Thanks yet again.<BR>Geoff R.

Hi GR. We live outside of Pittsburgh, too and I will tell you what I did on my first trip to Italy and what I intend to do on my upcoming trip. <BR>We usually take two ATM cards from the same account in case there would be a problem with one. Also, we usually take two different credit cards. <BR>There are ATM machines in the Rome airport. It is very easy to obtain money from them. Usually, the rate of exchange is very good. <BR>If this is your first trip to Italy and you feel uncomfortable doing this, I would suggest taking either a small amount of traveler's checks and or US cash to exchange. <BR>When you use the ATM machines, make sure you record each transaction just in case a problem would develop with your statement when you return home or you do not get a receipt on the spot. <BR>Have a great trip.

How many times do we need to answer this question! At least twice every day. Search before you post. and so I don't get slammed for "not adding anything" USE ATM's!

Geez Mr. XXX - What a sourpuss you are! If reading posts that don't interest you, why don't you GET A LIFE.

To: Mr XxX,<BR> I concur with YYYY! Thanks for your input but, I have to ask, when you say "we", for whom do you speak? If you don't want me to ask stupid questions that,in YOUR OPINION, have already been answered GET YOUR OWN FORUM! And thank you to those who either ignor what they feel is redundent or answer with useful answers. By the way there are still several aspects to my question which, pehaps I did not make clear but, in my humble opinion, are still unanswered. Specifically, should we get traveler cheques, either in USD or Euros?<BR> "Mr XxX", I am waiting for an answer.<BR>Geoff R. <BR>

THAT question has also been answered MANY MANY times. I think you are too lazy to cope with a trip to Italy.

GR. If you are a AAA member, it is the least expensive way to obtain travelers checks. Purchase them in US Currency. If you have no need of them on your trip, they can be used at home. Or some people just save them from trip to trip as a backup. I do not believe they have an expiration date.<BR>They can be exchanged in Italy for Euros. <BR>There are so many ATM's in Italy, I was amazed the first time I went. But we personally do not use traveler's checks. To each his own. <BR>Don't let the meanies scare you away.

Gee "Mr XxX",<BR> Thank you so much for your "insight"! I just cancelled our trip because of it!(naw, not really)<BR> Just to give you the benifit of the doubt, I did search this site and still found only sparse recent dicussion of this subject. <BR> I presume that your having a bad day/life.<BR> By the way, you seem to suffer from the misconception that asking dumb questions reflects laziness. It may reflect a willingness to waste time(otherwise why would I bother to respond to you), but not laziness. I presume also that you have no idea what the answers to these questions are.<BR>GR

Sherry,<BR> Thank you very much for the help! I've used traveler cheques for ever and, with some of the other info at this site, re pickpockets, etc it seemed to make sense. However, from what you and others indicate, the ATM/creditcard route looks like the best. <BR> Thanks again.<BR><BR>Geoff R