An American Credit Card in Paris
 

Last week I learned I was going to the UK (Portsmouth) for a 9-day business trip. Miraculously, I was able to get an air ticket for my wife using FF miles. She will arrive when work is done and we decided to spend a week in Paris. It is my first visit to France, though my wife spent several years of her childhood there, a visited Paris a handfuk of times (late 1950's).

Currently we are booked on a Eurostar Chunnel train 27 Sept. Hopefully we will be able to make that connection, given current events. We are keeping an eye on that.

Anyway, my question is regarding using American credit cards in Paris. Today, I was told by a coworker that they are useless if they do not have "the chip". Is that true, and if so, does it mean that I can't, for example, pay my hotel bill with my card? What about restaurants?

Or does this chip only affect certain public machines like purchasing Metro tickets. We most likely will buy a 5-day Paris Visite train pass, as well as a museum pass.

I purchased some guidebooks and heve been digging through the web to come up with a hotel, and our all too many options to spend our week's time. Is the chipless card an issue?

Looking forward to it!
Thanks, Nelson

Nelson,
You can use your credit card for restaurants, hotels, and stores without a problem. (be aware that a lot of places don't take American Express)

The place where the lack of a chip is an issue is in the machines for buying metro passes and that sort of thing, and for the self-serve pumps at gas stations, which shouldn't be an issue for you in Paris.

You might search here on this site for information about the Navigo decouverte instead of the Paris VIsite pass for the metro and bus.

Have a terrific trip!

I've used my American credit cards all the time in France (and elsewhere in Europe) and the only time I had a problem is buying gas with it; I couldn't swip it in the gas pump but went inside the building and the person keyed in the number and it worked fine. Your co-worker is definitely incorrect. Has she/he ever been to France? I wouldn't be taking any more advice from this person.

You're leaving in 2 weeks so you have to book a hotel room this weekend. September is a very busy time in Paris.

As the previous poster said forget the Paris Visite pass. I think the Decouverte begins on Monday and is good through Sunday and you need a photo. You probably only need to buy a "carnet" of metro passes which means 10 tickets at a price that is less expensive than the single ticket price. You ask at the ticket window in the metro station or buy from a machine. The carnet is 11 Euro (I think the single ticket price is 2 Euro) and the machines take cash if your credit card doesn't work. Since Paris is a city for walking you might not need to get the Navigo Decouverte pass as you won't be able to use it for your first two days and you'll find you walk from sight to sight rather than take the metro or bus.

Here's a link for further info on the Decouverte.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35118951

Good for you for looking through guidebooks to get you started. I find so many people don't do that anymore and therefore don't have any grounding for their trip.

Bon voyage!

Your credit cards will be fine, but be aware that they will charge you btween 1% and 3% for transaction fees. The only card that dows not is Capital One..we all use CapOne for travel!! I am in Paris now, for a month....

Have a good trip....

Nelson - this is a stupid question, but what current events are you referring to?

"Currently we are booked on a Eurostar Chunnel train 27 Sept. Hopefully we will be able to make that connection, given current events. We are keeping an eye on that."

Scratch that. Google shows a major fire in the chunnel. I am very sorry to hear that.

I was in Paris this past May and could not use my credit card(s) at the ticket machines in the metro stops. I also could not use my ATM card. I had to go to the ticket agent and pay cash.

I was able to use my credit card at the shops and my ATM at the Monoprix. I did however try to use my Gap Visa at the Gap. The guy wouldn't take it. I found that strange as it really is a Visa card and says so on the front of the card.

One of the tunnels in the Channel Tunnel is now open.,
According to the BBC

"The Channel Tunnel has reopened to trains after Thursday's fire, with some lorry shuttles and a reduced Eurostar passenger service operating"

By the 27th, you should have no problems.

Two obvious tourist related places where you need a "chip" card are RATP (Paris Metro/bus) and SNCF (suburbun/long distance) train vending machines.

For RATP, since what I usually buy is a Carnet of 10 discounted tickets, I wait for a machine (there is usually at least one somewhere in the row of ticket machines) with a bill slot. The ticket window guy would not sell me the tickets; instead he motioned me to wait behind a long line of people waiting for the only one bill-taking machine. Sigh...

For SNCF, I have to go to ticket windows if I want to use a non "chip" card; they do take swipe-only cards in person.

Thanks everyone for your replies! This forum is great, really appreciate it.

My coworker who gave me the information about the chip was in Paris two weeks ago. I'm glad to hear that it really will not be an issue.

Thanks very much for the info about the Navigo decouverte, which I was unaware of. That seems to be the way to go, as we can use it Monday - Saturday after we arrive on a Saturday. For that first Sunday I understand that roads along the Seine are closed to traffic then. That will likely be a walking day anyway, so it works out perfect. I like the convenience of the card. I'll pack some photos along.

We can try to pick up the card and our museum pass at Gare du Nord upon arrival, before going to the hotel. (Presumably we can buy a Navigo on Saturday, and it starts working on Monday, correct?)

Here is the hotel I wound up booking:
http://www.hotel-paris-lademeure.com/
It is in the 13th, near the border of the 5th, not far from the Jarden Des Plantes. It was a challenge finding one that was not too expensive, got decent online reviews, AND was not fully booked on short notice. Our rate through booking.com was 975 Euros for 7 nights, standard double. We enjoy walking so the location should be fine for us. It is also close to the Les Gobelins station.

Eurostar is sending trains through again, but with limited service. A Eurotunnel spokesperson said repairs to the damaged tunnel will take "weeks", so this still could affect us, but I'm less concerned than I was yesterday.

Thanks again everyone!

I'm sorry, but your co-worker is either blowing smoke (or perhaps inhaling) or is dumber than a rock. As the others have said - your credit cards are good everywhere except a few machines like in train/metro stations. And in those cases there will be a ticket window nearby where a real live person can run your credit card.

I am REALLY curious what happened w/ your co-worker. Maybe he didn't tell his cc issuer he would be out of the country so they put a block on the card for fraud prevention.

Oh - and in case you hadn't already realized it - you'll do better if you take any other advice from that co-worker w/ a grain of salt.

Hi janisj, Good to hear from you. You helped me a lot with Scotland advice a couple of years ago.

Not sure what was up with my coworker's information, but it was almost to the point of leave your card home if it doesn't have "the chip". It did seem odd that they would make it difficult to take my money!

The other advice she gave was to carry coins for using the pay public toilets, as there are no free ones like we are used to here in the States. But another coworker independently suggested to keep an eye out for the "golden arches" and use their facilities. Buy a drink or something if you feel guilty. Now that seemed like good advice.

gracejoan, I just found the thread where you are offering up lots of Paris advice. I'm packing now (I leave for England on Tuesday), but will spend some more time there later. Thanks.

I don't agree that a lot of places don't take American Express. I use it almost exclusively - and it's taken by any hotel and most moderate and above restaurants/stores/museums etc.

In more modest places they may prefer a Visa - and in any case - I would never go with just one credit card.

Sometimes people who have been to Paris once for a couple days give erroneous information because they've only done something one way and thus say that is true in all of Paris or all of France or something.

For example, I was getting some ID photos from a cheap photo machine in a mall near me a few years ago as I planned to buy a Carte Orange in Paris and new I needed them. I started chatting with a young woman by the booth about where I was going, etc., and why I needed the photo and she insisted that you did not need a photo for a metro pass in Paris. I said, excuse me, I've been there about every year for extended time for over a decade and I know you do. Of course, all she knew was that she had bought the tourist pass (the Paris Visite) and that you don't need a photo for that so she presumed to just make up information about general Paris metro passes, which she knew nothing about.

Your coworker maybe tried to use her CC in a metro or train machine and couldn't so just made that up. Or maybe she encounted some strange situation in a single cafe or restaurant where the waiter said you couldn't -- sometimes staff don't know what they are doing, as you can override that and use a machine. I think a few people on Fodors have mentioned times at occasional places in Paris where they wouldn't take a card without a chip, but it's very rare.

As for the public toilets, another erroneous statement. The public toilets on the streets of Paris are now completely free and have been for a couple years--at least as far as I know, unless they changed that very recently, I haven't been there this year. They are often free in museums and dept. stores, also, although I think occasionally some of those require a small coin, as do some in train stations, etc. You cannot just use the McDonalds toilets if you aren't a customer in some locations in Paris where a lot of tourists congregate, either. YOu need to buy something and then they give you a code to use. Ones in the outer areas are generally open to the public.

bookmarking

I , as nytraveler, also use AmExp exclusively and don't have a problem with it. This comment, about Visa and MC being easy to use, but not AmExp, comes up over and over again. I've had my card for 28 years and have been vacationing in Paris, almost annually, since the mid 70s. Before my AmExp card, I used basically cash/traveler's checks.
In the 70s and 80s, it could be problematic with the AmExp card so I just took more cash/traveler's checks along. But, back then any credit card could be a problem as people used cash a lot back then. I think my old hotel...Welcome Hotel, in the 6th still only accepts cash. It definitely was still only accepting cash when I last stayed at it in the mid-late 90s, I think it was. Happy Travels!

The sanisette toilets in Paris were still free as of last month.

And as Christina noted... if you use a MacDonalds to use their facilities keep your receipt because the unlock code for the washroom door is on there.

Also, don't be surprised when you discover the washroom is unisex as well.

Rob

Thanks again for the replies and further info. Glad to hear none of this will be an issue.

The Chunnel incident, however, could have an impact on us. The damaged tube will now be closed for months, they say. And they continue to push out the date when full refunds are offered. First it was Sept. 13, then the 17th, now out to the 21st.

Presumably it will all work out.

An update on the Chunnel situation. As of this morning Eurostar is now advising:

<i>Unless your journey is absolutely essential, we advise that you avoid travelling, particularly if you are travelling over the weekends of Friday 19th to Sunday 21st September and Friday 26th September to Sunday 28th September.</i>

Our train was booked for Sept 27, right in the middle of the avoid travel period! So, I have just booked a flight on Air France. Fortunately they were still available at a reasonable price. Our Eurostar tickets were non-refundable, but given the situation we should be able to obtain a refund.

I photocopied some maps from our Paris guidebook and am now redlining the sights that we &quot;must&quot; visit, with secondary options also noted. Then we can make best use of our time as we walk from one to the other. Of course, we are leaving plenty of time for simply sitting around in a cafe, club, park bench.

Looking forward to it. I leave in a few hours for England.

Thanks again for your help!

You can use your cards with no problem.. Do call each card issuer (I like to have one visa and one mastercard) and let them know where you will be travelling and when. They do tend to place a security hold after a few usages.

I think all has been covered about the CC thing but if you have any CC with a picture on it take that one for sure. I take my Am. Exp. that has my picture on the back &amp; a Visa &amp; MC &amp; have never had a problem, because I use cash to get my tickets from the machines. I don't know what is on your must see places in Paris but my wife &amp; I loved the Rodin Museum(House) &amp; Gardens that is just a couple blocks from the Eiffel Tower &amp; right next to the Invalides. There are many nice pieces of his work inside the Museum &amp; in the Gardens.We have done the Louvre &amp; Orsay several times as well. Ste. Chaelle is also a favorite place of ours to visit because of the stained glass.St. Sulpice, if you can catch an Organ concert or just get a look at it &amp; it is close to Luxembourg Gardens. One of the great views we had of Paris was from the top of Montparnasse Tower which is SW of the Lux. Gardens. Anyway I could rattle on so just have- Good Travels.

Thanks for the further replies. The more I have read of the Rodin Museum the more I am convinced it is elevated to the &quot;must do&quot; list. The organ concert at Ste. Chaelle is a wonderful tip - my wife was moved to tears when she heard an old pipe organ in a church in Bath, England a few years ago.

The Montparnasse Tower view suggestion is also great. I enjoy photography so good views are on my list - though it looks like many views in Paris will be superb.

I am in Portsmouth now and posted a few photos from the other day if anyone is interested, but keep those Paris suggestions coming!
http://www.pbase.com/nelsonchenkin/england_2008

You are going to love Paris! Your advice to buy the Navigo Decouverte is good. Paris' week-long travel pass for zones 1 and 2 is the best bargain in any major city, provided your days of use fall from Monday-Sunday. The buses are covered by the pass, too, and are a great way to cover a little more ground than walking. You can always hop off at the next stop if you see something you'd like to explore.

http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php

We also like the museum pass, which can be bought for 2, 4, or 6 days.
Make a list of the museums that you would like to see, check out which days they are closed, and that will help you to decide how many days to buy on your pass. We usually get the 4 day pass, which is 45 euro. 2 museums per day makes it pay for itself, not to mention the ability to jump most entry queues, and the nice clean toilet facilities.

We have used our Amex for years, with only a few small places turning it down. We also carry a Visa. The smart chip cards are needed for automated points of purchase, but a manned booth can run the regular credit cards.

Have a great time!
Barb

Another good viewing spot is the top of the Arc, lots of space to walk around for 360 degree views.

Try to visit the Carnavalet , the history of Paris museum and it's always free.

Love the pix of Portsmouth. Seem to have terrific depth of field - what camera/lens were you using?

Thanks once again everyone. I must confess I am carrying a Lonely Planet guidebook (have used it for years in Asia), but the Fodors forum is far better then the LP forum! Really appreciate the info.

It looks like we can purchase both the Museum Pass and the Navigo at the airport. We will be in Paris Saturday though Saturday, so that generally works out.

Janis, the photos were taken with my old Canon S70 point and shoot. The effect you are seeing on 3 of those shots is called High Dynamic Range (HDR). I shot in RAW mode, the saved three images at -2, 0, and +2 EV. These images are then processed in software called Photomatix (Google on that), which blends the properly exposed part of each into one HDR image.

The proper way of doing this is to shoot multiple bracketed images in the field using a tripod, which I did not pack on this trip. Some examples of this technique can be found here, along with some straight shots:
http://www.summitpost.org/album/4391...n-Feet-II.html

A coworker (not the one of the original CC info) and I are heading into London for the day tomorrow. It will be a whirlind. Planning to hit the Ntaional Gallery, Westiminster Abbey, the London Eye, and Henry Sotherans bookstore. Plus have a good Middle Eastern or Indian meal somewhere. We may not get it all done.

In Paris with my wife our time will be more relaxed.

Christina (and others): During our month in Paris (May 08) my wife and I used our Capital One card (no added fee for currency conversion) for almost every purchase except at crepe stands or for very small purchases (like Pariscope or postcards) or some admissions. We had more than 80 charges; only two places that accepted credit cards insisted they could not get our card to work, and in both of those cafes the waiter tried repeatedly to get his hand-held machine to accept the card. Everywhere else, it worked just fine--in a few places we had to tell the clerk to swipe the card when it didn't &quot;read&quot; without a chip.

This could be the answer to my co-workers belief about needing &quot;the chip&quot; in your card: intermittent card reading issues. We just returned from Paris yesterday and had the following experience upon arrival.

The first purchase we made upon arrival at CDG was our six-day museum pass. We used my Visa card, no trouble. Ten minutes later we were at the train station getting our Navigo D&eacute;couverte and once again used my card. This time it didn't work. The ticket seller tried several times, no luck. Then we used my wife's card, same account. No problem.

Two hours later we had our first meal in a brasserie near our hotel on Bd. Saint-Marcel. We paid with my card. Once again it didn't work, but my wife's card (same account) worked fine. Now I'm thinking something happened to the magnetic strip on my card.

Next we tried purchasing metro tickets because our Navigo did not start until Monday, this was Saturday. Repeated attempts with both cards at two ticket machines failed. I was about to go look for a sales booth (there was not one staffed at this entrance), but decided to give it one more attempt with my card. This time it worked! I have no idea what magical combination I finally used.

After that we never had another problem using either of the cards anywhere. So, if my coworker experienced some early frustration in using the cards, she might have assumed that she needed the chip.

In any case, we had a FABULOUS time in Paris! It exceeded all expectations, and the superlatives continued to pour from us for the entire week.

Also, the Navigo and museum passes were worth their weight in gold. Thanks for all the advice.

I just got back from Paris yesterday, also, although I also was in the Burgundy area a few days. I used my VISA and Capital One MC in many places and never had a single one say it didn't work, anywhere. I used them at restaurants, cafes, museums, stores, SNCF, etc. I never tried to use them in the machines at the metro, because I know that doesn't work so didn't bother. I only spent about $25 total on metro fares over a long time anyway (one CO weekly and one carnet), so had no necessity to use a CC, I easily could use euro coins at the machines.

Now *that's* interesting--because everything I've read says you have to have a chip in your card to use the metro station machines! So I didn't even bother to try on my recent visit (but I had no problem using my card at restaurants, hotels, etc).

In November 2007 my wife and I were able to purchase two RER tickets for the trip into Paris at an RATP self-serve machine at the train station in CDG Terminal 2 with my AT&amp;T MasterCard. No chip, and no problem.

Took the Eurostar from Ashford International in England to Gare du Nord, Paris on Wed Sept 17th, 2008.
Purchased our ticket online in Aug while still in the USA.
Given priority on Eurostar.
Only one train per day from this station - not the usual 3
Few people on board.
NO one spoke a word while going thru the tunnel.
Thanks Eurostar for a safe trip!

When we returned I had an e-mail from Eurostar saying that they would issue our refund. As noted above they had explicitly advised against travel on the day we had booked.

Throughout this whole incident they have been great to deal with, very professional and courteous. Hopefully we can ride the train on a future trip.

To go back to the credit card chip issue, IS there any credit card issued in the US that DOES have a chip? Or is this a technology that still has not been adopted by any credit card company here?

Anyone have a card with a chip or possibly know of one? Thanks.

I am unaware of any American credit cards that have a chip-and-pin feature. I do, however, have an American Express that has a chip in it and which causes all sorts of confusion when in Europe. I think it was supposed to be used to help you save internet passwords and use the card with your computer.

FWIW, there have been quite a few articles questioning the security of chip-and-pin terminals. Here are a couple of relatively recent ones.

http://tinyurl.com/4xuk69
http://tinyurl.com/68hmou

silly question department! What size picture does one need for the Decouverte? pass?

The kind of photo that comes out of the ubiquitous photo machines in almost every metro station.

It's also the kind of photo that comes out of any photo booth machine in any location that advertises photos for passport/ID purposes, which is their usual purpose.

In reference to American Credit Cards. The banking systems of virtually every country in the world (well about 80 or so) including Canada and Mexico plan to begin issuing EMV or chipped credit cards and dropping the magnetic strip variety. There is no bank in the US (I have asked quite a few) that has any intention of issuing EMV cards.

What does this mean for those of us without EMV cards. Mostly just inconvenience and possible payment delays. EMV cards are required to purchase M&eacute;tro/RER/SNCF ticket at a kiosk, self service gasoline pumps, some highway toll booths, and for services such as V&eacute;lib bicycles.

Many restaurant/boutique cashiers no longer handle a sufficiently large number of magnetic strip cards to remember how to properly swipe them. Occasionally, one may find a restaurant which refuses to accept them. In a nutshell, expect delays and an occasional frown.

On the whole, we who are stuck with magnetic credit cards should become accustomed to our minority status as credit consumers and will simply need to adjust to and make the best of this new development.