My bank machine card in Canada is connected to the "PLUS" network, which I understand is an international standard. Does anyone know how prevalent bank machines are in Rome and in Tuscany and whether they are on the "PLUS" network.
I also heard that you have to restrict your PIN number to 4 digits as in Europe this is the limit. Anyone know this for sure?
Have travellers found Mastercard to be readily accepted?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
are very prevalent, even in smaller towns. We used them all over. Mastercard is accepted everywhere credit cards are accepted but be aware that there are many places (restaurants etc.) that don't take credit cards (even in Rome!). Look for the sticker in the window before ordering, if you don't see it ask first!
I'm on the PLUS network as well, and though it's not as ubiquitous as CIRRUS, there are plenty of ATM's. Lots of info on the Slow Travelers site (slowtrav) about changing money & ATM's, also credit card wisdom.
Posts: 2054 | Location: Suburban Philadelphia | Registered: 08 July 2002
Plus is Visa's ATM NEtwork and Cirrus is MasterCard's. This summer we never had a problem using our Plus card at an ATM.
Note that most banks do not allow ATM withdrawls over US$300. Conveniently enough, most ATMs in the EU have a 250 euro "one button" withdrawl that makes it real easy. (We tried a manually entered 300 euro withdrawl that was declined.)
Brian Hamilton
Posts: 8 | Location: Foster City, CA | Registered: 05 September 2002
Welcome to SlowTrav! We have collected some past threads on money matters which are useful reading in our FAQ section:Cash, ATM, Credit Cards in Italy.
My PIN number on my new debit card has 7 digits-- I used the first 4 in Italian ATM's on our July trip and it worked beautifully.
Amy in MA "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." --Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posts: 8691 | Location: Newton (outside Boston), MA | Registered: 17 June 2001
Plus or Cirrus is the key. Just got back and saw lots of ATM's all over Italy. 4 pin is what we have but someone I know uses their longer pin number in Europe, as well. Have another means of money. Both of our Visas were blocked for a few hours until we phoned from Italy, even after phoning Visa before we left home and telling them about our trip and that we would be using our Visa cards in Italy; Just for our protection they say.
I sometimes found machine would limit me to 250 Euro at a time but I could do more than one transaction a day. . . This came in handy trying to get enough CASH to pay vacation rentals (one thing which was really a pain!) And DO NOT take traveller's checks -- we took enough for one of the aforementioned vacation rentals, couldn't change at banks (even in Rome!) ended up changing at a cash exchange at Termini station for an exhorbitant fee!
I have a 6-digit PIN, and the first four digits work in Italy. No problem finding ATM's in my experience. Do let your ATM card company know you will be making withdrawals from Italy, so they don't think it's a stolen card.
SALLY WATKINS, Certified Travel Counselor sally@century-tvl.com www.sallywatkins.com Italy Specialist Certified Swiss Specialist Certified Aussie Specialist My business depends on referrals - please tell someone today!
Is there a limit on the amount of money you can withdrawel in Italy? If so, do I need to contact my bank to let them know if I can withdrawel money that is over $1000?
Posts: 123 | Location: Hutchinson, MN United States | Registered: 29 July 2003
both Visa and MasterCard have websites that have links to a, ATM location finder throughout the world. I’ve also noted that Amex is not as readily accepted in Italy as MC/Visa. my experience with ATM's in southern Italy (Calabria) has been very positive thus far. I have a PIN that is greater than 4 digits and it worked all the time. Secondly, the withdrawal limit that I’ve experienced was 800 Euro. Note… that some banks have large ATM booths but that allow only one customer at a time to enter (unlike in the US and CAN where you can wait in line inside the booth). Therefore, you maybe denied access when you slide your ATM card in until the previous customer is done with their transaction and ready to exit.
Sadly I tried several times to get my 4-digit card to work in the ATM in Italy last year--never did get it to work! Lucky my daughter was with us & we got cash from her account that worked well!! Lucky, Lucky or we would have been in deeep dudu w/o funds. This time, I am taking all the precautions others have advised...AND, hoping things work his time (have added another different Master card as a backup to the Visa)! Fred
Posts: 10 | Location: BELLEVUE, Wa USA | Registered: 21 August 2003
Another word of wisdom: check with your bank to make sure they participate in the overseas system. On our first trip to Italy, our ATM worked fine. A year later we went, using the same ATM and it wouldn't work. Had to resort to the the credit card withdrawals, despite the ATM having the Plus system emblem and it having previously worked. When we returned we found out that our credit union had opted out of the overseas network plan, so that's why our card wouldn't work. They were part of the Plus system, but not in Europe. They've since rejoined the international network, but what a pain! Who knew?!
Travelers to Italy know all about that country's obsession with "ricevute". Well, of all the receipts you need to hold on to, put Bancomat receipts on the top of that list.
Twice in Italy I've gone to withdraw money from an ATM... gotten an error message but no cash... only to get home to realize money was debited from my account anyway. The bank managed to straighten things out but the process would have been easier had I held on to my Bancomat receipts!
Posts: 444 | Location: New Rochelle, NY | Registered: 05 March 2002
quote: What I was asking is if the largest amount allowed per transaction is 300 euro will it immediately let you withdraw another 300 at the same machine?
Yes, most ATMs will allow you to mulitple withdrawls up to the personal daily limit you have established with you own bank. Some ATMs - will disperse up to 800 euro in one single transaction.
Amex is useful for a few reasons can cash a check on american account,get train tickets or travel help also tends to be open weekends unlike banks,after our first trip we "don't leave home without it" ha ha RR
Posts: 6524 | Location: Culver City, CA, USA | Registered: 08 November 2002
One more thing - be sure to ask your bank what (if any) surcharges they impose for you to use your ATM overseas. My former bank surcharged me $5.00 EACH TIME I stuck the ATM card into a Bancomat (Italian for "ATM"). You'll note that I said "former bank"....
Posts: 68 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 25 July 2001
I think it affects all international ATMs. I have a 4 digit pin number so I haven't paid close attention to this. I'd suggest you give your bank a quick call.
Posts: 7505 | Location: Edmonds, WA | Registered: 25 October 2001
I not only would keep all receipts but also keep a detailed ledger. We did not.. and paid dearly. Many times the ATM would not let us withdrawl on the first try and would on the second only to be charged for both attempts! We did not keep our receipts or a ledger so they would not refund our money to the tune of 2000.00!!!!!!We never have had a problem before so we were too trusting!
Posts: 838 | Location: Nashville, TN USA | Registered: 11 September 2002
okay, naive question on the traveler's check thing--Tracy, you have me worried. I was going to order some traveler's checks in Euros from AAA (you can do it on their website). Won't Italian banks give you cash for these? 3 years ago pre-Euro I had no problem exchanging traveler's checks in American dollars--or maybe I got them in lire, I can't remember. Agh. But I know I went to some teeny-tiny banks that were open like once or twice a week and they didn't bat an eye.
Somewhere I have it in my head to carry 1/3 of my bankroll in cash, 1/3 in traveler's checks, and budget 1/3 of it for the credit card. Of course rental places wanting balances in cash is complicating this . . . But is this really true about traveler's checks?
Trish
Posts: 616 | Location: Port Allen, LA, USA | Registered: 10 August 2003
Trish, I have in the past(last visit Christmas 2001) taken travelers checks in dollars and never had a problem at any bank in Italy,but this trip is credit card and atm all the way.Rr
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