Changing Money

Get a few euros from your bank before you leave. Have about 100 euros AND SOME COINS. You will want 1 euro coins to operate the luggage carts at the airport, to buy a drink at the bar, etc.

Plan  to use your ATM card or VISA where you can. Cards offer a good exchange rate, and avoid lines and closed banks. Ideally bring more than one ATM card if you can. Occasionally a card simply won't work at all. Cirrus is more commonly found than Plus.

Credit Card Warning

Tell your credit card company in writing that you are going to Italy. Otherwise, they may block your card once foreign purchases start to add up, for your own protection. Also, if you plan to make ATM withdrawals, change your password to NUMBERS (not letters). Finally, bring along those all important numbers for cancelling your cards (and keep them separate from the wallet)  in case you lose or have your wallet stolen.