Not sure if this posted or not--second post. What is the best way to handle paying cash at hotels in Italy? Some require, some give discount if you do so. Thanks

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34958182 is your other thread.

Better to click on your name to see if it "took" before starting a new thread.

Anyway - what do you mean "what is the best way to handle it?" Do you want to know where to get the cash, or something else? The best way to get the cash is to use your ATM card.

The only hotel where we were required to pay cash in italy was a hostel-style place in Vieste in the Gargano, off-season. (I suspect we were never registered and the money went straight into the clerk's pocket.) I would be very wary of an arrangement that required cash! There may be folks who know about discounts for cash at small B&B's...personally, I would think this most unusual: even (or esp.) agritourismo's must offer credit arrangements.

It is definitely NOT unusual for hotels in Italy to offer small discounts for cash. This is a practice not limited to B&Bs.

We have done it often and stay in 3-4 star hotels. With the exchange rate as unfavorable as it is, 5-10% makes a difference.

It may not be unusual to OFFER a discount for cash but to REQUIRE cash payment? that is what ljc4creb seems to be asking?

&quot;<i>I would be very wary of an arrangement that required cash! There may be folks who know about discounts for cash at small B&amp;B's...personally, I would think this most unusual</i>&quot; It is not at all unusual - as many places do offer cash discounts as not . . . .

It is quite common for small hotels to prefer payment in cash, or to refuse payment by credit card. If you pay by credit card, the hotel has to pay commission to the card company and wait weeks to receive payment. It's easy to get cash from a machine to pay the hotel - it's generally cheaper hotels that want payment in cash.

LJ: We were posting at the same time. But even &quot;<i>to REQUIRE cash payment</i>&quot; is not all that unusual. Lots of small places don't take credit cards (or take them reluctantly)

I hear you and conceed! I guess our one time (DEMAND/REQUIREMENT) for cash experience just left me with an odd impression of the kind of place that ONLY takes cash. We shall have to see what it is that ljc4... makes of all this good advice!