GENERAL
PREPARATIONS
LIFE IN GENOA
MONEY/PHONES
updated: 31 October 2023
money
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, get nothing larger than 50 euro bills.
Do not bring travelers’ checks!
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. But don’t expect to use them for all of your everyday small purchases as you may be accustomed in Miami. Plan to withdraw from an ATM a reasonable amount of cash to reduce the service charge and then use it over several days.
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 convenient dissemination of information to the group in Genoa or during program travel. However, we would like as many students as possible to have a cell phone with an Italian SIM and a local number to allow for emergency communication if you do not have internet, as coverage can be uneven.