Two questions: can you just change dollars to euros at any bank in Paris (arriving with some euros from the U.S.) I don%26#39;t have an ATM card. Can I bring a check from U.S. to get more euros from Paris bank or get through my Master Card? My Master Card has 2% fee on any purchases, but ran out of time to get Capital One card or something with no fees.
Also, arriving AA into CDG. Is it easy to find the baggage claim, and then to the taxis?
|||
K--do you not have a checking account? If you do, get a debit card. It is the easiest way to get money in Paris.
No, do not bring a check from the US and try to get it cashed. It is difficult to cash a check in a different state in the US let alone a different country. I doubt if they will cash it for you.
Not every place takes Master Card, although many places do. If you try to get a cash advance from your credit card, you probably pay an extra fee and not just the usual 2% fee on purchase transactions.
Before you leave Missouri, can you go to a AAA office and buy about 100E? If you don%26#39;t belong, do you know anyone else who does who would help you get the euros? It is helpful to arrive with a little bit of money (euros) because that when when you arrive in Paris you don%26#39;t have to monkey around trying to get some euros in order to go to your hotel/apartment by public transportation.
It isn%26#39;t good to carry around a lot of cash and it isn%26#39;t good to get traveler%26#39;s checks (especially American travelers checks although European travellers checks aren%26#39;t much better).
Are you planning to pay for this entire trip on your credit card by charging and cash advances because you have no cash? The trip will be more expensive if you have to do this--although I think it is worth doing absolutely anything that is legal in order to get to Paris.
Enjoy your trip! When do you leave?
|||
Oh--yes it is easy to find baggage claim.
Are you going alone or with someone else? If you are going alone, it is cheaper to take a shuttle into Paris than a taxi. Grey shuttle and Paris Shuttle are two that are popular. It will cost you about half (or less) from what a taxi will cost. The more people you have, the more worthwhile it is to just grab a taxi.
|||
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;can you just change dollars to euros at any bank in Paris (arriving with some euros from the U.S.) %26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
I doubt you%26#39;ll find a bank giving you a better rate (or even one near as favorable) than that which is available at these Paris cash exchange locations:
http://www.bureaudechange.fr/index.php
http://www.ccopera.com/
http://www.fcochange.com/
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Can I bring a check from U.S. to get more euros from Paris bank or get through my Master Card?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
The only place I know where you can cash a US personal check is at the American Express travel office and only then if you have an American Express card. I know of no bank in the US which accepts personal checks from those who have not established some kind of financial relationship with them. I seriously doubt you%26#39;ll find a bank in Paris willing to accept a personal check in dollars even with a Mastercard.
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Is it easy to find the baggage claim, and then to the taxis?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
When intering into a foreign country, you will need to clear immigration (showing your passport) and next customs. You must pass through customs with all of your possessions. You will not miss baggage claim.
Taxis are available at taxi stands just curbside from the customs exit.
|||
Thanks, Oregon! We arrive Thursday and leave 10 days later. Taxi makes the most sense, although $$$, as I have my teenagers with me and two (hopefully that%26#39;s all!) suitcases. Hubby now has to travel for his job so he probably can%26#39;t come or he can arrive a few days later hopefully. So I am just nervous being the only adult and it%26#39;s been 19 years since my last Europe trip. Our bank, U.S. Bank, has euros for no fee, I%26#39;ll bring some along (and my parents belong to AAA), so I%26#39;ll find out about a debit card. Won%26#39;t a Paris bank cash U.S. travelers checks?
And is a phone card from Tabac the way to go (we%26#39;ll use laptop to stay in touch) and I%26#39;ll use phone card to call home from apartment or the street.
|||
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;Won%26#39;t a Paris bank cash U.S. travelers checks?%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
Some might but the rate of exchange of travelers checks is usually less favorable than that of cash. You might be surprised at the number of locations no longer accepting travelers checks.
%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;And is a phone card from Tabac the way to go%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;
Yes.
If you have a mobile phone with either AT%26amp;T or T-Mobile, you can have your account activated allowing you phone to work in France as an additional contact possibility.
|||
** only if ** you have a tri-band or quad-band phone with ATT, though.
Most of the above questions about how to obtain euro cash *can* be done, but they won%26#39;t be the most economical methods. Mastercard will charge you a cash advance fee + foreign currency conversion fee (+ finance charge). Travelers checks have an expense in the form of an elevated exchange rate (they gotta make a profit), and aren%26#39;t that easy to cash anymore.
The absolute cheapest way (in exchange rate) to get euro is with a debit card, and *especially* if your bank doesn%26#39;t tack on more fees above the exchange rate.
|||
I just wrote a long response to you and found out my computer had gone off line--grrrrrrr!
Don%26#39;t bring travelers checks. Banks don%26#39;t want to cash them and most other places absolutely won%26#39;t. They are a real pain!
Phone calls--I suggest an %26quot;international%26quot; calling card from Costco. I think they are around $25 for 700 minutes. Be sure that BEFORE you leave the USA you call the number on the calling card and ask them what number you need to call from FRANCE if you have any questions or problems with your card. It is NOT the number on the card. That number on the card is to use from the USA.
Otherwise, you can get a calling card from a TABAC in Paris but you have to figure out if it is a good deal (several choices) and you have to negotiate in French (although maybe just a little).
If you have to bring a lot of cash with you (because you don%26#39;t have a debit card), bring it in a hidden money belt of some sort and then hide most of it in a Hotel safe or somewhere secret at the apartment and just bring with you the amount you need for the day.
|||
Is your %26quot;Mastercard%26quot; a debit card or a credit card?
As mentioned above, you can use a credit card to withdrawal cash at an ATM, but it is THE most expensive way to acquire cash. Depending on the issuer of the card, there will be a cash advance fee, currency conversion fee, and interest is charges starting immediately (sometimes at a different rate).
IMPORTANT - If you want to withdraw cash at an ATM with your Mastercard credit card, you must have a PIN. Do you have a PIN? Sometimes it is sent along with your card. Or, you may have to request one. If you do not have one or do not know it, there is probably NOT enough time to acquire a PIN between now and Thursday, as they will only mail it to you and not give it to you over the phone. Without a PIN, you can use the Mastercard only for purchases.
As mentioned, you will not be able to cash a personal check in Paris unless you have an American Express card and go to the one (near Opera) American Express office in Paris.
If you have a checking account, I would advise going to the bank first thing Monday and asking for a debit/ATM card and/or ATM only card. My bank will issue both, on the spot. THIS IS THE MOST ECONOMICAL WAY TO ACQUIRE CASH IN PARIS.
Even though your bank charges no fee for Euros, CHECK THE RATE! The rate you will get with an ATM card in Paris is currently 1.57 (or .64 depending on whether your bank expresses it at $/Euros or Euros/$). Even if there is a currency conversion fee (and most banks do not charge one) on debit card withdrawals, the rate will be MUCH more favorable in Paris. You should also ask about withdrawal fees.
Note that you can also acquire Euros at most AAA offices. Compare their rate to your bank%26#39;s rate.
About traveler%26#39;s checks. You CAN cash them at a bank or POST OFFICE in Paris. If they are in American Dollars, you will have to exchange those to Euros. If you bring travelers checks in Euros (again, the exchange rate will not be as favorable, even if there is no fee), you will be able to cash them at a bank or post office. There may or may not be a fee - I haven%26#39;t used travelers checks in many years.
About changing US cash to Euros. The exchange rates are fixed - it%26#39;s the fees that are flexible - and the fees must be posted. Fees often vary with the total amount exchanges, so can be difficult to calculate in your head. Fees will be lower at a bank, post office, or %26quot;bureau de change%26quot;, than at the airport. Exchanging cash can be a lengthy process, as they take their time with the paperwork. And, you must present your passport, so be sure to have that with you.
All in all, it%26#39;s best to arrive in Paris with at least enough cash in Euros to grab a bottle of water and pay your transportation to your hotel/apartment.
Exchanging US Dollars and using a credit card to acquire cash or using traveler%26#39;s checks are not the most economical ways to acquire Euros. But, it%26#39;s not the end of the world if those are the only means available to you at this late date.
It%26#39;s just that, with the low exchange rate right now, there are better/more economical means.
|||
I have had banks in Lyon refuse to cash my travelers checks.
|||
K- try and bring 2 different types of credit cards. Not all locations take Master Card, etc.
US Bank has a program called VISA BUXX. It is a prepaid Visa card that works in the ATM%26#39;s and at shops. (meaning that you can only spend what is in the account) Go and see a Personal Banker at US Bank and they can get you a card with in a few days. Just make sure you test it out at home before you go.
Have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment