hello i wanted to find out whether or not american express is widely accepted in london and paris? i am taking my visa with me but i wanted to know for general information. thanks.<BR>

Am Express was accepted at most places I tried throughout England (restaurants, stores, etc.). Smaller places were more likely to accept only Visa/MC and not AmEx. Many B&Bs are cash-only.

There is a nice big American Express office right across the street from Harrods.<BR>The one in Paris is right across the street from Galleries Lafayette.<BR>

Yes, Amex is widely accepted in Paris.

Amex is widely accepted in both London and Paris; however, MasterCard and Visa are far more widely accepted. The local transportation network in London takes MC/Visa but does not take Amex and many museums and pubs take MC/Visa but do not take Amex. As a matter of fact, I have never come across a merchant who takes Amex who doesn't also take MC/Visa but there are many many merchants who take MC/Visa but do not touch Amex.

The long and the short of it is yes American Express is accepted just about anywhere. I been to Europe many times and really can't think of it not being accepted anywhere. Like Jen wrote many of the smaller B&B's like cash. Don't have to report it.

Oh, Holly, please don't be such a cynic. All those credit cards charge a percentage of the transaction for their services, and the B&Bs operate on such slim margins that every penny counts. Stores know that they will lose business if they don't take plastic, but for B&Bs that's not so likely. That's why some places will take MC/Visa but not AmEx: the latter charges a higher percentage/trransaction fee than the former.

whats B&B????

birds and bikinis?