Italy
Specific City Information
The euro is Italy’s currency. The seven euro notes come in denominations of €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5. The eight euro coins are in denominations of €2 and €1, and 50, 20, 10, five, two and one cents.
Tipping
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges but you can leave a little extra if you feel service warrants it. If there is no service charge, the customer should consider leaving a 10% tip, but this is not obligatory. In bars, Italians often leave small change as a tip, maybe only €0.10. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice, but you are expected to tip the porter at top-end hotels.
Cash
There is little advantage in bringing foreign cash into Italy. True, exchange commissions are often lower than for travellers cheques, but the danger of losing the lot far outweighs such gains.
Moneychangers
You can change money in banks, at the post office or in a cambio (exchange office). Post offices and most banks are reliable and tend to offer the best rates. Commission fluctuates and depends on whether you are changing cash or cheques. Generally post office commissions are lowest and the exchange rate reasonable. Exchange offices tend to be open longer hours but have high commissions and inferior rates.
Taxes & refunds
A value-added tax of around 20%, known as IVA (Imposta di Valore Aggiunto), is added to just about everything in Italy. If you are a non-EU resident and spend more than €155 on a purchase, you can claim a refund when you leave. The refund only applies to purchases from affiliated retail outlets that display a ‘tax free for tourists’ (or similar) sign. You have to complete a form at the point of sale, then get it stamped by Italian customs as you leave. At major airports you can then get an immediate cash refund; otherwise it will be refunded to your credit card. For information, pick up a pamphlet on the scheme from participating stores.
Travellers cheques
Traditionally a safe way to carry money but you may have trouble changing travellers cheques in Italy and it seems most banks apply hefty commissions, even on cheques denominated in euros. More common is the use of Debit and ATM cards.
If you do choose to use travellers checques Visa, Travelex and Amex are widely accepted brands. Get most of your cheques in fairly large denominations to save on per-cheque commission charges. Amex exchange offices do not charge commission to exchange travellers cheques.
Phone numbers to report lost or stolen cheques:
Amex 800 914 912
MasterCard 800 870 866
Travelex 800 872 050
Visa 800 874 155
You will not need any special vaccines but you should be up-to-date on routine immunizations to travel to Italy.
Insurance
It’s essential to purchase travel health insurance or supplemental insurance if your regular policy doesn’t cover you when you’re abroad. Find out in advance if your insurance plan will make payments directly to providers or reimburse you later for overseas health expenditures.
Bring any medications you may need in their original containers, clearly labeled. A signed, dated letter from your physician that describes all medical conditions and medications, including generic names, is also a good idea.
If you have a medical emergency, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. You can call the hospital to ask for a referral to a local physician if your problem is not urgent. You should avoid for-profit clinics, which tend to perform large numbers of expensive tests, even for minor illnesses.
Pharmacies are everywhere, but some medications that are available over-the-counter in your home country require a prescription in Italy, and/or may be hard to find. It is best to bring any medications you may need while traveling. Pack them in their original containers, clearly labeled and it is a good idea to bring a signed, dated letter from your physician that describes all pertinent medical conditions and medications, including generic names.
Helpful health links:
WHO International Travel and Health
MDtravelhealth.com Worldwide recommendations