Does anyone have any leads on the best places in Rome/naples to do currency exchanges?

If you bank with a large bank they will either have a branch where you can exchange for Euros, or you can order and they will send them to you assuming you have enough time before your trip.

TXTransplant said:

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There is really no need to do any currency exchange in Europe. You will pay so much extra in fees, that's it's borderline a scam.

Use a low fee ATM, if you absolutely must have cash. Otherwise, just use your credit card (assuming it has no fees for international transaction).

The last few times I've been to Italy, there wasn't any business or vendor who wouldn't take a credit card, with the exception of one boat captain who took us on a private trip to the Aeolian Islands for the day. And I got him cash from an ATM.

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This. Europe is so far ahead of us on POS transactions. We were in Spain for 10 days and I had to use cash exactly one time. Even the tiny market vendors take card. I got some cash from an ATM when we got there. The time I had to use it was to pay the tourist tax for our AirBnB in Barcelona which was required in local currency. Italy was the same a couple of years ago.

Grab some Euros at your bank before you leave(not much) and use your card.

As a side note, I have noticed on our last couple of trips than some merchants ask if you want to pay in local currency or US currency when completing a cc transaction. Typically this pops up on the screen of the payment device and you have to choose.

ALWAYS choose to pay in local currency and let your cc company/bank do the conversion. If you pay in US currency, the exchange rate and/or fees could be different (much higher). It's a way for the merchant to make more money off of the transaction.

I was ticked when I rented a car in Italy and the rental company FORCED me to pay in US currency, which added a significant amount to the bill. It was some sort of fine print in the rental contract. I've since researched it, and if your rental company does this, there is no way out of it. Again it's a way for the rental car company to make more money (they set an additional percentage rate to do the conversion).

Again, can't stress enough the importance of having a cc with no fees on international transactions.

eiggA2002 said:

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TXTransplant said:

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There is really no need to do any currency exchange in Europe. You will pay so much extra in fees, that's it's borderline a scam.

Use a low fee ATM, if you absolutely must have cash. Otherwise, just use your credit card (assuming it has no fees for international transaction).

The last few times I've been to Italy, there wasn't any business or vendor who wouldn't take a credit card, with the exception of one boat captain who took us on a private trip to the Aeolian Islands for the day. And I got him cash from an ATM.

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This. Europe is so far ahead of us on POS transactions. We were in Spain for 10 days and I had to use cash exactly one time. Even the tiny market vendors take card. I got some cash from an ATM when we got there. The time I had to use it was to pay the tourist tax for our AirBnB in Barcelona which was required in local currency. Italy was the same a couple of years ago.

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Swipe fees are considerably lower (mandated) which makes it more affordable for the small shops to accept credit card payments.

Agree with the advice given. If you are going to a major city and planning to get into town from the airport, your transit option will accept a credit card. After checking into the hotel you can always find an ATM to grab some euros. Then go to a market and buy something to drink and you'll have change. Change is about all you'll need, if anything.

When in Italy, you should always carry 5-10 Euros in change. Most public toilets require 1 Euro. Some, like airports and train station, charge 1.10. This usually requires making change. And guess what, the change machines at the toilets give you 4.90 for a 5 Euro note. You gotta admire the way they came up with that.

I took 500 Euros for a two week trip in Italy, I came back with around 95.

Also, when making small purchases, you give them a 5 or 10 note, they will try to give you a bunch of 2 Euro coins. Always ask for some 1 Euro coins.

malenurse said:

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Quote:

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After checking into the hotel you can always find an ATM to grab some euros

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ONLY use ATMs at an established bank. I cannot stress that enough

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This is good advice. Also some of the major US banks have affiliations where fees may be very low or avoided all together. For Bank of America in Italy this would be BNL which is part of BNP Paribas. In UK it is Barclays, France - BNP Paribas and Germany Deutsche Bank.

If you get a Schwab Platinum Debit Card by opening a checking account with them, they will refund all ATM fees at any ATM in the world that accepts a visa. I used this on our last trip to Italy and it worked wonders.