GENERAL
PREPARATIONS
LIFE IN GENOA
MONEY/PHONE
The best way to deal with money is with a debit card on your US account. If you want, do the research to see which bank has the lowest or no service charge on foreign withdrawals.
It is not recommended to bring US dollars in cash to exchange in Italy. Your debit card will give you a better exchange rate.
It is not recommended to bring large denomination euros obtained from a US bank. If you do want euros in advance, get nothing larger than 50 euro bills. Bills of 100 and 200 euros are not in common circulation (to avoid counterfeiting), and many merchants will not accept large bills.
The debit card is the best way to go, and a backup credit card is a good idea.
In the past debit and credit cards were generally not used in small stores and in some restaurants. However, they are becoming more common.
Cell Phones
If you plan on using your own phone and service, please contact your service provider and ask about international rates.
It is recommended to unlock your phone before you leave the US and purchase an Italian SIM card. Vodafone offers possibly the best service.
We will use WhatsApp for communication to the group in Genoa. It is imperative that you have a way to communicate via cell phone at all times, so ensure you have a solution whichever route you choose.