How
to effectively organise your money, banking
and budget. To guard against theft, loss of
money or other circumstances travellers
should ideally have several sources of
money, for example they may choose to
carry Euro money and foreign currency
that can be changed, plus have a credit
card, an ATM card and travellers cheques.
Cards and cash should be stored in lockers,
safety deposit boxes or secured on your
person wherever possible. Keep a copy
of your travellers cheque numbers separate
from the cheques and also leave a copy
with a reliable person at home.
CREDIT CARDS
Most major credit cards can be used throughout
Italy for purchases including accomodation,
airtickets, and purchases in large shops.
In smaller towns the restaurants and shops
may prefer you to pay in cash. It is probably
a good idea to have several money resources.
Here are some handy numbers in Rome to
call if you have problems with your cards:
Piazza Di Spagna 38, tel: (06) 67641.
Mastercard/Eurocard, Lost card hotline
800 870 866.
Diners Club, Lost card hotline 167 864064.
Visa International, Lost card hotline
800 819 014.
BANKING
Travellers cheques and international currency
can be changed at change desks all around
Italy. Banks will generally not cash travellers
cheques. If you want to send money home
it can cost as much as EURO 25 per transaction.
It is not possible to open a bank account
in Italy unless you hold an Italian passport
or citizenship card. Banks are open weekdays
8:30am to 1:30pm and 2:45pm to 3:45pm
and some places will not exchange currencies
or cash travellers cheques after a certain
time. Major credit cards are widely accepted
throughout Italy and can be used in hotels,
restaurants and shops. Although smaller
establishments may not accept them. They
can also be used in bancomats (automatic
teller machines) or over the counter in
major banks.
For the most favourable rates, change
money through banks as ATM rates are based
on wholesales rales offered only by major
banks. Exchange booths will be more expensive.
TRAVELLERS
CHEQUES
Travellers cheques are a good backup if
you lose your credit cards or you can't
use the ATM. They can also be replaced
if they are lost or stolen. Make sure
you keep a record of your travellers cheques
in a safe place (one with you and with
someone else at home). Now that the Euro
is the standard currency in Europe you
can also use them all over the European
mainland. The procedure for using travellers
cheques is to sign them when you purchase
them from a bank or other outlet, and
to countersign them just as you cash them
in. Do not sign them before this. You
will also require identification (eg.
passport) to cash the cheques. The most
widely accepted brands of travellers cheques
are American Express, Thomas Cook and
Visa.
TOP
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We recommend all travellers take out personal
travel insurance to cover any equipment
losses, damages or health problems that
may occur.
Insure and Go - has great deals on travel
insurance www.insureandgo.com
Travel and Holiday Insurance for Italy
European and Worldwide annual travel Insurance
European and Worldwide winter sports annual
travel Insurance
European single trip travel insurance
European single trip winter sports travel
insurance
Worldwide single trip travel insurance
Worldwide single trip winter sports travel
insurance www.holiday-villa-italy.com
Travel budget per day
Travelling in Italy may be marginally
cheaper than travel through England or
France, however it is still more expensive
than Eastern Europe. Using a very rough
breakdown of average costs per day per
person that are outlined below the average
traveller could get by spending approximately
50 Euros per day by staying in youth hostels,
minimising on museum visits and eating
one meal a day and buying a sandwich or
pizza. However prices change from region
to region and are lower in the countryside.
Venice and Milan are particularly expensive
as are the coastal resorts.
Accomodation: Camping - € 14 per
person per night, Hostel - € 20,
Hotel - € 50+ Food: Breakfast -
€ 2 (coffee and croissant), Lunch
- € 3 (sandwhich and mineral water),
Sit down Dinner - € 20 Museums:
Entry to 1 - € 6 .Transport: Public
transport around the city - € 4,
Between cities - € 15 eg. Florence
- Rome Miscellaneous: Souvenirs etc -
€ 3
