The Very Best Way To Exchange Your Money When Traveling To Italy

I had a GREAT experience and found the best way to exchange my money before traveling to Italy...plus it actually saved me some Moo-Lah!

I really hope this blog post gives you some great tips about how to make the most of your travel money when jumping currencies.  It really wouldn't matter if you were going to a 3rd world country because the American Dollar is "bigger" than most other countries.  HOWEVER, we are talking about Italy and the best way to exchange your money when traveling in Italy specifically....and what I did to actually stretch my money.



Here is a Great Rick Steves' Video About Money Safety While Traveling:

1.  Decided Ahead of Time.

This might really only apply to college kids or people who really have a problem with impulse buying/spending--but for the first time I went to Italy...I was working with a budget of money.  I was in college and $1000 was A LOT of money for me ($1K is a lot of money for anybody...unless you use $100 bills to light $1K cigars while driving a Ferrari---in that case....spend me some money!)

So I actually couldn't take a treasure chest of money just to blow in Italy, therefore I settled on a specific amount.  I really suggest setting a limit to the amount, because the rest of this blog focuses on stretching what you have...not saving what you have.  This way you know what you've got and you can go with it.  Cool?  Cool.

2. Actual Exchange.

There are several ways to turn your dollars in euros...and many places like airports will help you for an exchange fee.  This is actually a really good place to exchange your money if you can stand the 5%-10% fee they charge ON TOP of the loss from USD to E (sorry, there is no "euro" sign on my keyboard)

What I DID:  go to your bank.  A little local bank might not actually have the different currencies on hand, but a juggernaut like Bank of America or the like WILL.  They keep different currencies on hand for just such an occasion!

Go to your bank and have THEM exchange it the hard money for you.  When I did it...they didn't charge me a fee because I banked with them--it was just what they did for their customers.  So you can actually get the swap made and avoid a fee.

**Even if your bank doesn't have the hard money on hand--they can order it for you (yes it's crazy) but that is part of being a bank.


     Another reason to use the bank:

     You can time the exchange much better and therefore pick a day when the dollar vs the euro is in your favor...so now you can exchange and not be at the mercy of the Almighty Dollar Market.

3.  Visa/Mastercard

Best Way to Exchange Your Money When Traveling to Italy

Today is not like yesteryear of traveling and currency exchange.  In fact...this is the very best way to exchange your money when traveling to Italy because there is NO EXCHANGE with the plastic!

Today, people wouldn't even think of traveling to Italy without a Visa, etc....just no, it's more important than your passport (kinda)!

When you use the Visa the electronic stuff works itself out and you purchase at the Euro price and never have to worry about the change.  "Keep The Change You Filthy Animal!"

For Your Traveling Guide:

Here is the Travel Book which Rick Steves (guy in the video at the beginning) gives a huge amount of info when traveling to Italy:

The End Result:

Set your limit and stay within that limit.  Use your cards to greatly maximize your money to your advantage...and if you need the hard cash....go to your bank and have then do it for you!

I hope this blog post gives you some insight as this is exactly what I did and it really helped!  I hope you find the best way to exchange your money when traveling in Italy!