My wife and I are traveling to Paris in two weeks and would like to know if

Show all answers

Rose T

I've been to Europe 8 times. What I always do is get some foreign currency before I leave home. Not a huge amount because I don't want to chance losing it while I'm sleeping on the plane or whatever. Then, when that runs out, I go to an ATM and get a fair sized amount out. I use hat till it runs out, then repeat. Because of transaction fees, it's usually better to pay cash for small transactions and save the credit cards for larger uses (such as your hotel or rental car).

You will usually get a better exchange rate at an ATM than at home. Getting out a larger amount of money each time will help avoid the service fees. If you happen to bank at Bank of America, they supposably have an arrangement with BNP Paribas in which the service charges are waived. I don't bank there, so I don't know if what I was told is accurate.

Avoid the currency exchange booths/shops that are everywhere - they are usually a rip-off.

Before you leave, make sure to inform your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling abroad so that they don't freeze your accounts. If you happen to bank with Fidelity Bank and you don't inform them, they will definitely contact you, and if they can't reach you, they will definitely freeze your account. I made a hotel reservation, and the hotel charged a small booking fee (less than $10) that will be applied to the first night's stay. Fidelity called me the next day to verify the transaction!

Middle of the Road

In Europe, there are fewer and fewer places in which to convert travelers's checks. ATM machines are plentiful.

Your pin# will work at the ATMs. However, there will br a service charge. It woudl be better to get large amounts of euros when you use an ATM.

It has been my experience that even with the service charges, the exchange rates at ATMs has been the most economical.

Karen O

Master card and Visa ( Discover is not ) are accepted almost everywhere but I think you will get the best exchange rate if you use the ATM machine at a French bank that will accept your bank ATM card. Ask your bank if the card can be used at a French bank and if a pin over 4 digits will be accepted if yours is longer( I had no trouble with mine being accepted and I also had a 4 digit pin) . Make sure that you know your pin as a number (and not a word) as the ATM machines in Europe only have numbers, no letters, on the keys. Also, remember that if your bank has a daily limit of $300 that can be withdrawn you will only be able to withdraw around 150 to 200 Euros ( depends on the exchange rate at the time). If you punch in an amount that is over your bank's daily limit then your card will be declined.

Rillifane

Traveler's checks remain a secure way to carry modest amounts of money such as one would need for a vacation. And yes, no one takes them in direct payment but then that was never a good way of using them.

When I go to Paris (which is frequently) I take TC's in an amount sufficient to cover my small day to day purchases. I cash a few hundred dollars worth at a time at the American Express office on the rue Scribe (by the Opera Garnier.) I get them from my US bank for no fee. AMEX in Paris cashes them for no fee and gives a reasonable exchange rate.

I could use an ATM but frankly, I don't like ATM's even in the US (I'm a technophobe) . My feeling is that all it takes is one bad ATM machine to eat your credit card and you're in for a lot of annoyance.

Now I don't use cash for my hotel or for most of my meals or for a night out so the whole TC exchange in Paris bit isn't a big deal since its just for small purchases and the total amount involved isn't a big deal.

I have a Capitol One Visa which I use when I'm in Paris (and pretty much no where else) because they have the best deal on foreign currency transactions. If you don't have one then get one if you have the time.

Finally, I do take a few hundred Euros with me so that I don't have the hassle of changing money on my first day in Paris. I get them at my bank while I'm getting the TCs. The exchange rate isn't particularly good but its worth the convenience.

P.S. About ATMs

If you choose to use ATM's make sure your PIN is not longer than four digits. Many foreign machines don't like longer codes or letters in a PIN.

Most European ATMs withdraw money from checking accounts only. They will not allow you to withdraw funds from savings accounts or transfer funds from savings to checking. Make sure you have sufficient funds in your checking account before you leave.

Beware of daily withdrawal limits before deciding to rely entirely on ATMs.

Mica

I wouldn't recommend travellers cheques. I tried using them in Europe a few years ago and even the banks refused them
You should take at least a few hundred Euros to cover anything that comes up right in the first day or two. Credit cards are taken almost everywhere, and you can get a good rate of exchange at the bank machines. Debit purchases aren't very common there.

Kelly X

In this day and age, traveler's checks are practically obsolete so you dont really need to worry about them. A certain amount of cash is necessary on any trip so it would probably be a good idea to bring a couple hundred euros just in case something comes up. Although having cash with you at all times is important you don't want to be carrying around the wads of cash that will be necessary over the course of your trip. My favorite way to travel with cash is with a visa debit card that allows you to transfer money in and out of the account, use it at most stores that accept credit cards, and withdraw cash at ATMs with a pin code. Have fun :)

Matthew :O

It would be good to have some cash on you before you go. If you are going to get it before you go, it is better to get a considerable amount to make the best of the conversion charge, but not too much, in case it is lost or stolen. I don't think that traveler's cheques are widely accepted in France, but credit cards work fine. You can use your debit/bank card to withdraw money (better to have a chequing account and 4-digit PIN) at ATMs but not for direct debit purchases.

tikermax

1/ It is always best to go with some of the local currency, hence I would suggest getting some Euros beforehand.
2/ Travellers' checks are not necessarily the best for France, as few stores and virtually no monument accepts them.
3/ With respect to the bank card, it should work if it is a Visa or a Mastercard. However, the best is to check with your bank.
NB: American Express is difficult to use, although it gives the best exchange rates.
4/ In terms of rates, the earlier the better it is to change, as the Dollar is going down against the Euro.

zafir

Use your bankcard, it's more convenient and the exchange rate is generally better.

Just make sure that it's a Visa or Mastercard, and has a 4 digit PIN. Let your bank know that you're travelling to France so they don't put a stop on the card for unusual activity.

Bear

don't use bank card use travelers checks or whaever you feel safe with and have money on hand and yes pin well work but with the rate exchange you won't like what happens if you take 100 .00 from your usa bank account the usa bank well take around 155.00 from your bank that why it not good to use bank card unless you realy need to the exchange rate is real bad .find out be for you go what and how much well be taken if you do need to use your bank card .

i know this due to i have use my bank card here in Paris and saw my money run low do to the extra 50 being taken out for the exchange rate we take 100 out and whan 155.00 taken .

Starus J

If you are going to travel in Paris for two weeks then you can go lots of places in paris where you can enjoy. But if you want to book hotels in paris then you can get booking from this websites---http://www.stayresfrance.com. I think it willbe useful for you.

dhbemis

In order to use a credit card to buy metro tickets from the walk-up machines, your card must be the European chip-and-pin type. This is *not* the same as a debit card from the US. Regular US credit cards will work fine at retailers (that accept cards, that is).

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: