Exchanging
Money
ATM machines provide the quickest currency exchange. Hotels have the worst exchange rate
but are convenient for small change and last-minute needs.
Amalfi
Banca d'America e d'Italia (Via della Rep. Marinare 15, PHONE: 089/873050);
Banco di Napoli with cash machine (Piazza Duomo, PHONE: 089/871005).
Capri Town
Positano
Banca d'America e d'Italia (Via Cristoforo Colombo 69, PHONE: 089/875012);
Ufficio Cambi (Piazza dei Mulini, PHONE: 089/875864).
Ravello
Banca Popolare di Salerno (Via Roma 15, PHONE: 089/857872);
Ufficio Cambi Spot (Via Roma 38, PHONE: 089/858086).
Sorrento
Ufficio Cambi Via Luigi de Maio 21), open daily 9 AM-10:30 PM. The Sorrento Post
Office (C. Italia 210, PHONE: 081/8781636) has better rates
than town banks.
International
Calls
Since hotels tend to overcharge, sometimes exorbitantly, for long-distance and
international calls, it is best to make such calls from public phones, using telephone
cards. You can make collect calls from any phone by dialing 172-1011, which will get you
an English-speaking operator. Rates to the United States are lowest on Sundays and between
10 PM and 8 AM (Italian time) Monday-Saturday.
From major Italian cities, you can place a direct call to the United States by reversing
the charges or using your phone credit card number. When calling from pay telephones,
insert a 1 euro coin that will be returned upon completion of your call. You automatically
reach an operator in the country of destination and thereby avoid all language
difficulties.
The country code is 1 for the United States and Canada, 61 for Australia, 64 for New
Zealand, and 44 for the United Kingdom.
Public Phones
Some pay phones accept only carte telefoniche (calling cards).
Prepaid carte telefoniche are prevalent throughout Italy and more convenient than coins.
You buy the card (values vary - 5,00 euro, 10,00 euro, etc.) at post offices,
tobacconists, most news stalls, and bars. Tear off the corner of the card and insert it
into the slot. When you dial, its value appears in the window. After you hang up, the card
is returned so you can use it until its value runs out. The Time Europa phone card (30
euro) is a good-value card to use to call Europe and the United States for only 0,30 Euro
per minute during peak hours, although conventional phone cards remain cheaper when used
Monday-Saturday between 10 PM and 8 AM and on Sunday.
