Italy Money Guide

Italy Money Guide - Car Hire Italy

In Italy, as in most of Western Europe, the official currency is the Euro (€). Changing money into Euro: you can change money almost everywhere in Italy. You can go to any bank -- public hours are usually from bank. At most banks you'll pay a flat rate as commission, to change as many Euro as you want. You can now exchange your money for Euro at most Italian Post offices. Commissions tend to be lower at post offices than at banks. In most cities and tourist spots there are also private exchange offices, where you can sometimes exchange your money without commission (but the exchange rate will usually be much more unfavorable). Travelers' checks are almost impossible to exchange at hotels and shops, but can still be cashed at banks and foreign exchange offices.

You should check with your credit card company to see if they charge you an international transaction fee or foreign transaction fee. Visa and MasterCard charge a processing fee on international transactions, and most card-issuing banks add their own fees on top of that. ATMs in Italy are known as Bancomat, and can be found anywhere in large cities as well as in small towns. The machine operates just as ATMs do anywhere else; at the beginning of the transaction, it prompts the user for the preferred language.

If you are unsure about the compatibility or the banking systems, contact your credit card company or local bank. After discovering the system is compatible, simply withdraw money as you would at home. Of course, in Italy the money will be dispensed in Euro, but when you return home, your bank will have converted the amount of your withdrawal into dollars using the most beneficial exchange rate possible. One's best bet is to use your regular ATM card and simply withdraw money from your account just as you would do at your local bank. Pay attention: your bank account may have daily withdrawal limits. You can visit to any ATM or band to Car Hire Italy.

There are ATMs at all Italian airports. However, it is wise to have a little cash in Euro on hand when you land. Sometimes, the airport ATMs might be empty when you land, or if you land on a Saturday or Sunday, the machines might not be scheduled for refill until Monday, which would put you in a bind as you will need some money to proceed to your onward destination by train, taxi, etc.