Take it out of a bank machine in Paris.

Presumably, if you've been working in N. Ireland you'll have a bank account there, in which case you can use your ATM card in Paris to draw money direct from that account, and that is almost always the best deal for value and convenience. Or has this been cash-only work?

Another thought occurs. Though it isn't a different currency from British pounds (even though local banks are allowed to issue their own notes), there may be the problem that French banks and exchanges will be suspicious of the unfamiliar bank notes. You may have to bite the bullet and change at least some of the money as you leave, or ask one of the banks that issue the notes if they have an arrangement with a French bank.

Patrick's understating things: regional UK notes are a complete bastard to exchange outside the British Isles.

There's no difficulty getting an NI bank to pay you in English notes, which are reasonably easily exchanged in France (at a cost). Or in getting ordinary people or businesses in Ulster to swap your NI notes, if that's what you've got, into English notes. And it's easier in NI than almost anywhere else outside the Eurozone to get Euro notes from ATMs, while £:€ exchange rates are probably keener in NI than you'll find in Paris (start with the nearest post office, then try your friendly neighbourhood petrol station)

English (and Scottish) notes are widely used in NI, and there's no reason to expect you'll have a pocket full of notes issued by the Ulster Bank.

"Patrick's understating things: regional UK notes are a complete bastard to exchange outside the British Isles."

Absolutely right. Do just about anything but come away from NI with those notes, in the UK people will take them but with bad grace, in mainland Europe expect "Je suis desolee" which means "go away".

Wouldnt it still be easiest to take them out of a bank machine in Paris? If you are getting paid cash just deposit it in your account in NI and take it out in Paris...?

Another problem: Many bank branches in Paris don't run exchange counters any more, increasing the hassle of trading obscure currencies. ATMs will save you time as well as money.

Haven't you been putting your pay in a local bank account? And can'ts you just use your ATM card to draw that from ATMs in Paris - making the costs as low as possible. Dealing with cash - of any type - is always going to be expensive.

(Sorry - you're not actually PAID in cash are you? Is that allowed? Here everything is direct deposit. Except for very small local businesses you would never get cash and many places won;t even do checks.

On the off chance that you will be paid in cash on the Sunday, when all high street banks will be closed, you can change your cash for euros at the airport. BUT....

find out which forex company has a branch at the airport and order your euros in advance. You will get a better rate than just turning up unannounced.

There are loads of reasons - some good, some shady, some just reasons - a poster might be getting paid in cash, and for a poster not having, or wanting, a bank account.

None of which are any of our business. The poster told us he gets paid cash, in NI, on a Sunday and wants help in using the money in Paris. Not half-arsed lectures about someone's experience of shopping in America.

As far as I'm aware, there are no banks or post offices open on Sundays in NI anyway. But:

- if you've got time, the Bureau de Change at M&S in Donegal Place Belfast(as good an exchange rate as you'll get anywhere)opens on Sundays. But not till 1300, though it might be worth using the storefinder for other big NI M&S's if one of them's nearer
- or scout out whether any petrol stations near you, especially on main roads leading across the border, do Euro exchange (many do: all are open Sundays
- or ensure that the cash is in Bank of England notes (widely accepted at French banks, though not all branches.) Get some euros with any sterling cash you've got at your airport to tide you over till the following morning, then comparison shop for rates in Paris.

One other option of course is to see whether whoever it is will pay you in euros.

Depends on the circumstances: but when the pound's relatively weak against the euro (as it has been lately) a lot of people from the Republic come across to shop, the province is awash with euros and many businesses want to get rid of them without lining some bank's profits on exchange fees.

Flanner: "Not half-arsed lectures about someone's experience of shopping in America."

So desperate to bash the States you now make up comments or refer to different/old threads?

To OP--Do any of the large NI banks have branches in Paris? Ulster Bank?

Ulster is part of RBS if that helps, I'd follow Flanner's advice on this one

Last suggestion by flanneruk seems most promising and possibly money-saving. Or just ask a storekeeper (not big stores as they have central accounting) whether they are willing to exchange your Ulster notes for euro. Most stores that are used by visitors from the Republic take euro, at a pretty good rate (like 1.20 euro to £).