Please call your cc company and tell them you are traveling. It will save you from having a fraudulent charge warning.

Anonymous wrote:ATM for Euros, and a Credit Card much as you can (Capital One = no foreign transaction fees)

Capital One 360 has no fees, but plain old Capital One does.

Exchange money at credit union here,their fees and exchange rates are most likely better than anything at the airport in France. we used credit cards for 90% of our transactions.

Anonymous wrote:I usually take out a few hundred euros at the atm at the airport when I arrive and use my cc most of the time. If you have a chip card with a pin remember your pin.

This.

I use credit cards for almost everything in western Europe and take out cash from the ATM as needed.

Anonymous wrote:Frequent traveler here. Take out Euros from an ATM there. Pay for everything in cash, except large purchases where that's not feasible.

Also "no foreign transaction fee" credit cards doesn't mean you're getting a deal.. you're getting a poor exchange rate.

You pay cash for everything? That seems a bit absurd, as the ATM exchange rates are also not much, if any, better. Plus the huge ATM fees which are now a % of the total amount rather than flat fee.

The no-fee credit card exchange rates (CapOne and AAdvantage Platinum MC) are as good as you'll get. For cash, the cheapest is to use a bank-branded ATM. Do NOT use an ATM owned by Travelex, another foreign exchange company, or a private stand-alone ATM not affiliated with a local bank.

I put everything on my CC, as it makes tracking my business expenses so easy. Then cash for any place that won't accept CC (some restaurants and open markets).

Italy dislikes CC's because every mom & pop business there is cheating on their taxes. It's the national past time.

I usually take out money at the airport and use my credit card. I also take some USD in case something goes wrong with my cards.

I always always always let my bank and credit card companies know I am traveling. I made the mistake of going to Asia and went to 3 different countries. Countries were close together but my account got flagged as fraud. This was before internet and cell phones. I had to borrow money from my friend. Could not check into the hotel. It was a bit of a nightmare. Ended up calling bank and cc from the hotel and got it straightened out.

We've relocated to and travel a lot in Europe, but still use US credit cards and bank for most money needs. You should be fine in most major French cities to use credit cards and atms. Are you renting an apt? They often ask for payment in cash, so I would convert enough to cover that + 500 or so from your credit union to start with. If you're primarily going to be in small towns, many smaller shops/farmers markets etc will want cash only. If you're renting a car, be careful of gas stations, as your US credit card may not be accepted - you will have to prepay.

I had my card eaten by a Paris ATM too, but that was 10yrs ago and was able to speak with the branch manager and convince her to open up the machine and give it back to me since I was flying out the next day. Thank goodness it was a bank ATM and not a freestanding one in a store/street.

Your credit card needs to have a "chip" to work in Europe. This is probably why your credit card was eaten. Use it for most hotels, car rentals etc. Everything else pay with Euro.

Bring enough Euro with you so you are not left in a bind. Put some in your briefcase, some in your wallet etc. but don't carry it all in your wallet in your back pocket as you are asking to get pick pocketed.