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Are ATMs easy to find in Venice?
Yes. Just look for the nearest bank. Nearly all Venice banks
have 24-hour "bancomats" (automated teller machines or cashpoints) facing the
street.
A few caveats:
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Most bank ATMs are available to tourists and have
multilingual menus. However, bancomats at Venice's largest savings bank--the
Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia--are reserved for customer transactions.
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A few ATMs may have withdrawal limits. If you're attempting
to withdraw more than, say, 250 euros and the bancomat won't complete the
transaction, try again with a smaller amount.
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International ATM network connections aren't 100 percent
reliable. Always carry enough cash to meet your needs if the network is down
for repairs or maintenance.
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It's always a good idea to notify your bank and credit-card
companies before traveling abroad. Otherwise, you could find that your cards
are blocked overseas.
For more advice and warnings, see our
Money and Currency article.
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Where can I exchange currency?
You'll find money-exchange counters at the airport and in major
tourist areas. However, you're likely to save money by using your ATM card to
get euros from Bancomat machines.
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Do you have any advice on tipping?
Tipping is tricky, because customs and expectations vary by
nationality. For example, Australians often hate to tip, while Americans tend to
tip more generously than Europeans do because the U.S. service economy is built
around tipping.
Still, here are some guidelines that may be helpful:
Hotel porters. Tip 1 to 2
per euros per bag, depending on the hotel category.
Hotel chambermaids. Tip 1 to
2 euros per person each day. (In fancier hotels, you may want to tip a bit
more.)
Restaurant waiters. Italian
restaurant bills normally include service, but if you're at a sit-down
restaurant, it won't hurt to leave an extra 5 to 10 per cent on the table for good service. (Tip
in cash, even if you're paying by credit card.)
Bartenders. Tipping is
entirely
optional in bars and cafés. If you're seated at a table, you can tip the
waiter or waitress as you would in a restaurant; if you're standing at a
counter, you can give a modest tip to the bartender or barista (for
example, when handing over your ticket for a drink or coffee in traditional
Italian bars where you prepay at the cashier's desk).
Taxis. In
land taxis, it never hurts to round up the bill when paying. In water taxis,
there's no need to tip unless the driver has performed a special service.
Toilets.
In nicer restaurants or other places where lavatories have attendants, it's
normal to leave 50 cents or a euro on the attendant's plate. In public WCs that
charge fees (see our Venice Public
Toilets article), there's no need to tip.
Our advice: Don't feel that
you have to tip generously (Italians aren't big tippers), but don't feel guilty
about overtipping, either. Service employees aren't likely to be offended by
your largesse.
