France and Italy use the Euro.
Currency Converter: XE.com Personal Currency Assistant
Launch the XE.com Personal Currency Assistant
as directed.
You may have to allow pop-ups (temporarily) for this
feature to work.
 | Use your Debit Cards as much as possible! This will get you the best exchange rate. My Credit Union adds no fee. |
| The second best choice are Credit Cards. This will get you the next best exchange rate (like debit cards). My credit card company adds a 3% fee. |
| Call your debit/credit card companies and let them know what you are doing. I have had a credit card cut off while in Europe for "unordinary usage". |
| You can use your debit/credit card to get cash out of most ATMs. This will be a cash advance (so there will be a little interest). Warning...call the credit card issuer and verify extra fees for foreign ATM usage; for example, First USA charges $25 per ATM transaction, BofA charges the standard $2/hundred. |
| If your PIN includes letters, determine the corresponding numbers, some European ATM keyboards do not include letters! |
| I always like to have a few hundred dollars worth of cash for use at bars or to purchase small items. Most banks will send you the cash you need for no fee (but a crappy exchange rate, plus a $7.50 fee). BofA customers may call 1-800-523-7860 for this service. I suggest finding an ATM in the airport when you land. |
Left-over Cash
You can sell your money back at an exchange station, but only paper money; no coins. Spend as much of it as reasonable at the duty-free shops on your way home. You may have a balance on your hotel bill (bar tab, laundry, etc). Pay as much of this as possible with left-over cash and put the balance on your card.