No, no, no, no. Never use a credit card in an ATM. The interest charges start immediately, not after the usual grace period, and if you look at your most recent statement, you will see that the rate is extortionate. If you normally carry a credit card balance, it is even worse.

By all means get 50 euro before you leave. At FCO, there is a group of Bancomats on your left just before you get to the luggage carousels and customs. Bancomats are what they call ATM's in Europe.

Italy is the only place where I often pay cash for meals. I have had my credit card number stolen in a restaurant and used for expensive clothes, and I have had more than one dispute with restaurant owners where I was a lot happier not giving them anything with a trail.

That being said, you can buy almost anything with a credit card (except Discover), so you will need relatively little cash for running around. This is especially true if you get one of the transportation passes as quokka recommends above.

And there are still some of us who refuse debit cards in favor of ATM cards.

I would never use credit cards for cash withdrawals. :) I wouldn't even do that in the states. Speeeeendy!

We're going to use our VISA/debit where we can, and utilize Bancomats (love that!) to get cash. We like the cash route.

We also plan to bring both of our VISA/debit cards and keep money in both accounts. We need access to another account in the event of one card getting lost or stolen.

I think we've got a good plan! Don't you?

You are right: with two debit-ATM cards, two credit cards, plus a reserve stash of US twenties, a money/technology problem will not bring your honeymoon to a crashing halt.

And you're making sure to call the bank before. Sounds like a good plan to me! Can't wait to read the trip report, Andrea's class and all. And congratulations on your marriage!