Agree with Donna, first thing you should do is talk to your bank as this is more about your account and the daily limits set by them, rather than the local ATMs you’re going to be withdrawing from.

It’s also good to let them know you’re going to be abroad, if you don’t usually travel a lot, they might block your card when they see it being used halfway across the world.

Unless the ATM is low on cash it might limit the number so as to serve as many customers as possible. It has happened only twice in 7 trips. Just go to the next ATM

All the pre-loaded travel money cards sold in Australia are not a good idea, because of high fees and/or poor exchange rate. Typically, it costs around 6% to load funds onto a card.

To get cash overseas, open a Citibank Plus bank account, which comes with a Mastercard debit card that has no overseas ATM withdrawal fees and an excellent exchange rate. For larger purchases, get a 28 Degrees Mastercard which has no fees for overseas purchases (in person or over the Internet) and again an excellent exchange rate. ING now offers debit and credit cards that can be used with no foreign transaction fees, but with monthly minimum transaction requirements. All these cards have no account fees.

Unless it has changed recently, banks in Italy do not charge you to use their ATMs, (bancomats) and if they do, you will be told of the fee before completing, so you can stop the transaction and go to a different bank.

Any fees will be imposed by your own bank, usually 2-3% of the transaction, plus a dollar fee, often $2.50 but maybe $5. Find out before you go. Your bank's website should tell you.

So do as Nick suggests if you have time. These accounts can usually be opened on-line, though you may have to verify yourself at a post office.

When using a bancomat you can press a button to transact in English, so no confusion there.

Thanks everyone for your helpful information. I've been looking at the 28 Degrees Mastercard as the Moneycard from Commbank and others just look too expensive. Their only advantage is in locking in the exchange rate but then that's always a gamble.

Gez.

The 28 degrees Mastercard sound slike a good solution for you. I don't know how good pre loaded money cards are in Australia, but if sydneynick says they are not good, then I believe that. I know that I consider them poor here in the UK.

Thanks again. I believe that money cards throughout the world are all franchised to the one company in the US. Maybe I'm wrong.

Gez.

I don't know, to be honest. Maybe someone can confirm this or otherwise?

>> I believe that money cards throughout the world are all franchised to the one company in the US<<

This is nonsense. The travel cards sold in Australia and USA are very poor value, but posts in the UK forums suggest that some sold in the UK are quite good value. But the cards can be branded as Visa or Mastercard, which are separate companies.