Traveling to Europe (Italy) - The Checklist!!!

Traveling to Europe (Italy) - The Checklist!!!

What to do before you leave for your trip to Europe:

1.  Notify your bank and request a list of locations that will have ATMs.

Why? to avoid having your credit card and ATM card deactivated and your funds cut off while you are in a foreign country.

In my case, I found that Bank of America (BoA) is a member of the Global ATM Alliance (GAA). The GAA is a group of financial institutions that have created the world's first international ATM Alliance. Which means, when I am using my Debit Card or ATM card I will not get ATM operator fees or Non-Bank of America International ATM Fee. Typical ATM charges runs from 3%-5%(surcharge +/- fees for conversion) of the amount that you are withdrawing. Check to see if your bank is part of this GAA and locate them ahead of time. If you have BoA, Roma Termini has an ATM, I saw it only after I had paid this 5% fee using another ATM.

This is the link to the banking institution that is a part of GAA in Italy for BoA. http://www.bnl.it/wps/portal



• Discover Card is one that is now accepted in some stores in Italy currently, you will need to contact discover card.
• Amex can be used and there is a 3% fee in Italy.
• Mastercard/Visa can be used as well with a 3% fee.

See my blog on debit cards and credit cards overseas




2. Get some Euros upon arriving in Italy, either at the Airport or at the Train station, research shown that the best way to get the best exchange rate is to use debit card at an ATM or go to a bank (in Rome - Roma Termini has ATMs, reference the blog about ATMs, debit cards and creditcards overseas to get details about how much popular banks charge for using their ATM/Debit Card overseas).

3. Make copies of your passport, give copies to a close friend or family, take a couple copies with you on the trip and keep one in the safe and one in your ankle belt / money belt See my blog for What to pack for your trip to Italy.

4. Have a second wallet where you will keep your daily spending, the one that people will see. Keep your bank card in the ankle belt or a money belt.

5. A money belt - this is where you keep your non-spending money as a backup in case your secondary wallet is stolen.

6. Get a guide book with a detached map from your local library - I recommend getting a Frommer's Day by Day (for the city you are going to), this way you can avoid taking expensive local tours. See my blog for Things to do in Rome for cheap and on a budget.

7. Get a US to European outlet converter.  I suggest getting it either at Marshalls, TJMaxx, RadioShack or Amazon.com - its about .56 cents to $4.00 with shipping.  If you get it at the airport, it is $20 or more.

8.  An extended battery for your phone if you are planning on using your phone in Europe.

If you are planning to purchase what you need before your trip, you can save through Online Shopping and get a percentage back through Ebates

How does it work?

You register through Ebates and select the shop you want to purchase from Orbitz (10.5%) to Amazon (%5 back) to Macys(5% back) to Nordstrom(5% back) to Sephora (8% back)and much more, this could be higher or lower, depending on the month.

What to DO and NOT to do while you are in Europe:

9. Don't depend on cell phone as a GPS (assisted gps is not accurate) if you do not have a cell signal or data plan while in Europe.

10. Validate your rail passes before boarding the rail to go to the next city, we saw a group of Americans that did not have their tickets validated at the automated ticket booth and were fined 50 euros per person (I think they negotiated for 125 euros for the group of four as they did not have that much cash on them...so if this happens to you, negotiate for less or hide your cash in your other wallet and offer to pay in credit, which they will not take. I went on a tour in Florence with a college girl and she ended up paying 10 euros b/c that was all she had in cash)...Note: They only start checking once the train is already on route...so its not like they can kick you off the train.

11. If you get lost, get help from officials (policemen, restaurant owners, barista, avoid asking random folks on the street) and do not follow anyone anywhere.

12. Do drink from those "Nasoni" translates to big noses, available everywhere in Rome and save yourself a few bucks.

13. Learn the bus routes if you can prior if you can find information.  You can also reference my blog about Getting around Rome for cheap.