Banking and Communications
1. Exchanging Money
If you can’t use an ATM (bancomat) to get cash, change money at a bank (or, for American Express card-holders, an Amex office) for the next best rates and lowest charges. Take your passport as ID. “Cambio” exchange booths are open longer, but have worse rates.
2. ATMs
The fastest, easiest and cheapest way to get local currency is via an ATM, drawing money directly from your home current account (savings accounts are not so easily accessed).
3. Credit Cards
MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted – just about everywhere except the smallest family-run shops, trattorie and hotels. American Express and Diner’s Club are less well accepted. You can get credit card cash advances from ATMs, but, unlike with purchases, interest is accrued immediately.
4. Prepaid Currency Cards
A modern alternative to the traveller’s cheque, these cards are perhaps the safest way to carry money. You can apply online for a card, preload money from your current account and convert it into euros. You can then use the card much like a debit card in shops, restaurants, bars and at ATMs. They can be topped up at any time and cancelled if stolen. As they are not directly connected to a bank account, they minimize the risks of fraud.
5. Currency
Italy has joined most of Continental Europe in adopting the Euro (€), which replaced the lira. Euro coins come in €1 and €2, and in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents. Notes come in €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
6. Public Phones
Most pay phones in Italy now accept only pre-paid phone cards (scheda telefonica) you can buy in several denominations at tobacconists (tabacchi) and newsstands. Break off the corner before inserting it. There is also a range of pre-paid carta telefonica internazionale that give you a number to call and a code for international calls.
7. Calling Home
Arranging to take a call in your hotel room is invariably cheaper than using the Italian phone system. But, if you want to make an outward call, use the cards described above or international phone booths in major post offices. To reverse charges, dial the international operator at 170. Calls can usually be placed at hotels, but the charges are excessive. To call Italy from abroad, dial your international prefix (011 in the US, 00 in most other countries), then Italy’s country code of 39, followed by the number, including that initial zero (which, formerly, was dropped).
8. Internet Access
Internet cafés are forever popping up and disappearing with equal alacrity (ask at the tourist office if you don’t stumble upon any). Free Wi-Fi is available in and outside of most public buildings.
9. Postal Service
To send postcards and letters, just ask any tobacconist (tabaccho) or newsagent for stamps (francobolli) for the country to which you are mailing. Then drop the post in the slot of the mailbox (usually red) labelled “per tutte le altre destinazioni” (not “per la città”).
10. Receiving Mail
Mail addressed to “[Your Name] / Fermo Posta / [Town Name], Italia / ITALY” should make it to the main local post office (though it helps to add the postal code, if you can find it). There’s a small fee to pick it up, though Amex card-holders can receive free of charge letters sent to “[Your Name] / Client Mail / American Express / Via Brera 3 / 20121 Milano, Italia / ITALY”.
