Hello!
We are now in Firenze and are having trouble finding an ATM on the PLUS network (everything is CIRRUS).When we arrived in Roma last week we only found two ATM's on the PLUS network and only one of them worked so we loaded up before we headed out to Toscana. Didn't find any ATM's there that displayed the PLUS logo. Now we are in Firenze and again can't find any ATM's that display PLUS. We are going to go on the PLUS website to see where they are located but I thought I would mention this in the event anyone else is counting on using their ATM or credit card that only uses the PLUS network. I am surprized about this because the Frommers travel guide said PLUS and Cirrus were the two main networks. Oh well, if anyone has any insight about this I would appreciate it. Thanks!!

I think every atm showing the Visa logo should work

http://www.atmlocator.info/

hope this helps

I've had the same problem in the past. We found 2 near the train station that worked for us. One on via de Panzani almost to the train station (s.m. novella) & the other in the Piazza Dell'Unita Italiana across from the station. You go up a few steps to a covered walk. Hope this helps!

pat

Hi, did you try one of the machines, just for the heck of it?

I just looked up the Visa/Plus ATM locator. Find a Sanpaolo (there are two of their ATMs on Piazza di Santa Maria Novella across from the train station. Another bank whose name keeps showing up is Banca Nazionale del Lavoro. There appear to be a lot of branches of both, they show the Visa and Plus symbols on the locator and - as someone else mentioned - as long as it says Visa you should be fine.

The last time we went mom and I both used our ATM cards (mine Visa, hers MC) at the same Sanpaolo ATMs.

Hope this helps,

Joy

Thanks! We did try our ATM card at two of the VISA locations in Rome just for the heck of it but it didn't work. We will try these other locations that were recommended in Florence. Thanks! We are having a great time!

Probably your cards will work at any ATM, but while I was walking this evening I checked a Postamat (a post office ATM) and it showed the plus logo. Most post offices have an ATM now (curiosly, Italian bank cards do not work with these ATMs).

quote:

Probably your cards will work at any ATM, but while I was walking this evening I checked a Postamat (a post office ATM) and it showed the plus logo. Most post offices have an ATM now (curiosly, Italian bank cards do not work with these ATMs).

Poste Italiano kept showing up as a Visa/Plus choice with my search also. Are those the post office locations?

My main accounts (linked saving and checking) are Visa/Plus and I sure don't want to worry about finding a new account with MC/Cirrus before we go.

According to Italy For Dummies (not as dumb as it sounds, lots of good info and great maps) the BNL is one nationwide Italian bank that still has Plus but Cirrus is more common. I wonder why?


Joy

Exactly, Poste Italiane is the post offices network. Most post offices have ATMs now, and the post ATM network is completely separated from the Italian bank ATM network as post offices are not considered to be banks, even if they do most of the common bank services.

Thanks for the info. That's quite a load off my mind. A couple of my maps even have the POs marked on them.

O.K. I should have paid closer attention to this post before I left! We just got back from 2 weeks in Italy and had great difficulty finding a bank machine that would take our bank cards in Florence and in Montepulciano. In fact we never found a machine that would take our PLUS cards in either location. Admittedly we didn't look super hard in Florence since I had taken a VISA TravelMoney card which worked at many bank machines.

Once in Montepulciano our panic level increased a notch as we still hadn't found a compatible bank machine and the cash was depleting on the VISA TravelMoney card. While waiting for the train in Chiusi I walked around town (grabbing locals to help guide me to different banks) and went into the branches to ask if they would accept my bank card or if they would give me an advance on my VISA. The answer was always no.

We arrived in Rome without the necessary cash to pay for our apartment! Luckily we easily found a branch that took our bank cards! Yeah! (We went to SanPaolo, but I believe Intesa Bank would have also worked based on my online search.)

Moral of the story....ATMs that accept PLUS network bank cards can be difficult to find depending on where you are in Italy. I would recommend the VISA Travel Money card as an easy way to access cash.

I have never had trouble using my PLUS network ATM card. I don't bother looking for the PLUS logo, just put the card in and see what happens. The card has worked at Monte di Paschi di Siena,Banca di Roma, Banca Toscana, Banca Intesa, Banca Livorno and Banco di Sicilia.

Hm, curious. My Visa Cash/Debit card is also a Plus network card. I have never had a problem anywhere in Italy, in any machine, including Florence, and lots of smaller towns (I live in Venice and have traveled fairly extensively over the last ten years as well.)

Do most of the shops/restaurants take Visa as a debit card or just as a charge card? Also, I never heard of Visa/Travel Money card. Do you get that from your bank and how long does it take? We leave in two weeks.

LoveItaly,
Visa travel money card is a poor substitute for a debt card. While the fees are without end the biggest problem is the 7% (that's right seven) fee for foreign exchange. There is also a daily limit of $350 and a weekly limit of $850 on ATMs.
Fees:
Activation $4.95
second card $2.00
Cash out $15.00
Each ATM use $2.00 (international)
Cash advance (in bank)$10.00
plus inquiry fees and statement fees.

Henry

We were in Italy in mid September 2005... used our "PLUS" ATM card in Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, and other places in Umbria and Tuscany... never even checked to see if it said "PLUS" ... just used it at any ATM we saw... No problems using it anywhere... can't imagine why you are having problems.

What a lot of conflicting info! But it made me check our Debit cards to be sure.

We used to have just an "ATM" card. About 3 years ago when getting ready to leave on a trip and telling the bank of our plans, they told us to use a "Debit" card and not the "ATM" (I think by now they don't even offer it.) So we took 2 (different numbers - same account) debit cards. And these handy-dandy little cards which happen to be Mastercard affiliated - have the logos of pulse, pulse PAY and Cirrus on the back. We have used them from Russia to Mexico, Hawaii to Italy and points inbetween and never had a bobble. Our only charge is $1.00 per transaction from our bank.(Foreign ATM Activity Fee).

My advice, check with your bank. Ask questisons. Find out exactly what you need - raise your daily limit if necessary. Don't wait until you get to your destination!