Isle_Vacay

Hi all,

We will be flying from Los Angeles into Naples airport in Italy to go to Positano, Capri, then later Rome and Florence. Where are some safe, reputable places to get your currency changed? I have heard stories about identity theft during traveling, so I want to avoid that and only go to safe places to withdraw. Do you change currency when you get to the airport, or in the city? Do you ever use ATMs at hotels?

Would you please provide me with some places you trust to get your currency changed, i..e, Banks, ATMs?


Thanks a bunch!
-Future Honeymooners!

bobthenavigator

ATMs
End of story

StCirq

You don't get "currency changed." You take your ATM card with you and withdraw from any ATM machine, except privately owned ones, which might include ones at hotels. I don't change at the airport because I'm always arriving with currency left over from my last trip, but yes, you should go to an ATM as soon as you can after landing.

Isle_Vacay

StCirq: What do you mean by privately-owned ATMs? What's the difference, and how can you tell? Thanks.

StCirq

Well, think of the difference between a Bank of America ATM and the one at your local 7-11. It's just as obvious in Italy. Use ATMs at or in banks. For ones not at or in a bank, check out the machine to see if it has Plus or Star or Cirrhus logos on it.

ellenem

Use an ATM in front of a bank that is associated with the bank, preferably during banking hours so if there is a problem you can get help fast.

kayd

In most places I've been, airports have been bank-logo ATMs. You should not have any trouble identifying them. From your bank's website you can probably find a link to a list of international banks on the same (Plus, Star, Cirrus) network, so you'll have an idea of some bank names to look for.

kayd

Should have added -- ATMs are everywhere in Italian cities. If your card does not work in one, turn around and you'll see another ATM, where it probably will work.

zoecat

And, a few days prior to your trip, be sure to call the 800 number on the back of each of your atm/debit/credit cards and notify them of your travels. Use your atm or debit card to withdraw cash from bank ATM machines (they are also available in airports).

ira

Hi IV,

The major reason for not using a private ATM is the fees.

Bank ATMs do not charge for use.

Cowboy1968

Maybe memory is eventually going south, but I cannot remember when or where I encountered a "private ATM" in Europe. If someone had asked me before I read this thread, I would have said that there aren't any in Europe. But I sure may err.
But even any stand-alone machines, hole in a wall type, no bank outlet physically nearby, where I ever withdrew cash had always been part of some regular bank's network.
If you are roaming the cities you mentioned you should always find an ATM at literally every street corner in any shopping street or pedestrian zone. Not necessarily a bank, though.

Reading54

I echo what ellenem said, I always draw money from an ATM in front of a bank, and during banking hours.

Also, if you try to withdraw 500 Euro from an ATM and receive an error message, try to lower the amount to 250 Euro or 300 Euro, then it usually will work. Many ATM limit the max amount per withdraw, regardless of what your home bank sets your daily limit to.