How do you exchange money for your travel to Italy?

You have a number of options to consider!

*First, I believe you should only exchange enough money to get you to where you are going.  Consider the cab to your Hotel upon arrival, and that's about it.  Then get yourself to a bank machine.  So maybe you start out with 200.00 Euro from the USA.  AAA or your bank can get that for you, and depending on the size of the town you live in, it could take a few days.  Then, on arrival, take money out of a bank machine with a creidt card and your PIN number.  You can take between 200 and 300 Euros a day depending on your banks "cap", and you do have one, no matter how wealthy you are.

* GO PLASTIC. For most travelers, the best thing to do is plan to use a credit card for most of your purchases.  Yes, credit cards assess charges for use, but that's less than the % you pay to convert dollars into foreign currency. Never, however, use your plastic in markets or for something simple like a gelato or coffee or beer.  Use it for the bigger things, in reputable places, like restaurants, and hotels.

* USE LOCAL ATM's,  (Not Cambios), to get whatever cash you do need.  You will pay an exchange fee for the priviledge and in addition, an ATM fee, just like at US Banks.

*Changing Euros back to Dollars while you are still on foreign soil is generally better than waiting until you are home.  You could save a bigger % reconverting to dollars if you do it abroad rather than waitng to do it here.  When you bring foreign money back to the states, you generally get a lousy rate.  In the end if you are left with a little bit of Euro, you can donate the money to a UNICEF program, or simply save it for your next trip, or even give it to someone you know who is going to Europe.

*Best to just save it and use it on the next trip, if you are planning to go again!

 

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