Hi, <BR>We're planning to stay at various Italian hotels recommended on this forum this coming April. Most of the hotel emails we've received when reserving our rooms said they prefer cash or travelers checques for final payment, but we'd rather pay by credit card to get a good exchange rate. Plus, since we'll be travelling for 2 1/2 weeks all over Italy, we don't feel comfortable carrying all that cash and cheques with us. We want to travel "light" and it keep it simple if possible. <BR> <BR>Does anybody have any thoughts on this? We don't want to offend our Italian hosts but if we express our desire to pay by credit card instead of cash, is this "proper etiquette." Just want to do the right thing. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

klmm, you don't have to carry cash - there are ATMS everywhere and you will still get a pretty good rate - we found most of the hotels would take plastic but some had a sign on the desk - "sorry can't take cards today". I think we only had to use cash once. When you use the ATM, use a debit card, not your credit card or you will be charged for a cash advance. You need a four digit pin, would advise taking two debit cards and two credit cards so if the mag strip goes out, one is stolen, ect..

I think, if they have email they are equipped to accept plastic, usually Visa or Mastercharge. Don't carry cash, use ATMs.

Hi I don't think it's a matter of offending your hosts as much as economics. Many hotels in Europe especially the smaller individualy owned do not accept credit cards. They have to give back about 5% to the credit card co. Before you check into any hotel see if they accept credit cards, if the symbol is displayed they do, it never hurts to ask but if there is no symbol it is a bet that they don't. We usually stop at ATM's and get extra cash in some places. If yoiu look up the hotel in a guidebook it will tell you whether they do. We have also used a hotel reservation service call UTELL and make our reservations in the US if we know where and when we will be in a certain destination. Threy book hotels in all price ranges all over Europe. Enjoy your trip alan

One hotel where we stayed in Venice offered us approximately 15% discount if we paid in cash (which of course we did). It may be because they don't want to pay a percentage to the credit card company, but also likely they consider a cash payment to be "under the table" and don't pay taxes on it. Avoiding the taxman is a popular game in Italy. I'm not being cynical or anti-Italian; that's just the way it is.

They will try anything not to accept cards as the credit card companies keep a 5% commission to themselves. That's their problem. If they have the VISA?MASTERCARD sign, don't hesitate at all to use your card. Smaller and not so small hotels may also prefer cash to avoid tax. Again, that's their problem. DO NOT as many have suggested use ATMs as far as possible ... you will then be paying the charges (higher in Italy then in many places) yourselves. If they have a Mastercard sign, give them a mastercard. And they say there is a surcharge, put your feet down and say they have no right to, and that you will be informed the card issuer. You may do this at www.mastercard.com. Only use ATMs for cash for purchases where you simply cannot use a card.

Simon is exactly right. Visa and Mastercard do not allow venders who accept their cards to set minimum purchases or charge a surcharge to use the card. You can turn in any offending merchants to Visa or Mastercard. <BR> <BR>I've done that in the past and it seemingly caused our local liquor store to switch from a 3% surcharge to a new "cash price/credit price" system which I still think violates the policy (at least in spirit).

Avoiding the tax man is a popular game for pretty much everyone.