Anna1013

Linda,

Thanks so much for your tip - we were actually thinking of going the traveler's check route(in euros), but I didn't know where we would change it into euros - do the process go smoothly when you did it. We are arriving on a Monday - will banks be open?

Yes, we are dealing with alacarte, but apparently some of there apartments are owned by the company, and others are controlled by the owners, and they use the agency(alacarte) to take care of reservations.

The apartment in the 7th is actually owned by alacarte, and we would be able to use a credit card - another plus for this apartment, but the location on the Island seems to be a huge factor.

shellio

You can ask your bank to authorize a temporary raise in your allowed ATM withdrawal amount. Depending on the bank and the amount of cash you need, it may take two days to withdraw the full amount. If you explain this to the owner, she/he may be willing to wait to receive the full amount.

Anna1013

I just realized that we won't be arriving into CDG until around 2pm - would this give me enough time to get to the bank?

Anna1013

Shellio,

In total, I would need over 1000 euros in cash. I'm trying to figure out what would be the easiet way to handle this, and at the moment, I'm thinking I should go with travelers checks.

If I do go the ATM route, and I have to take out cash on two different days, would this just be more of a hassle? I'm not sure if the owner would allow this, but I can always ask.

Nina66

Have you asked the owner if he/she will accept the entire amount in euro traveler checks upon your arrival - or do they insist on cash? If you give them a 500 euro security deposit, remember that they will give it back to you in euros (cash) when you depart. Do you want to bring home 500 euros?

Also, if there are three of you, why would it be your reponsibility to get all of the money and then have to carry over 1000 euros with you?

Why can't each of you carry 333 euros in cash from home, or each of you go to the ATM's in Paris. You could take the first part from an ATM at CDG and the remainder from the ATM at the bank that Linda mentioned. This should be no problem, especially if any of you have two different accounts then they/you could just do two transactions at the same ATM. Or you can all go to two different ATMs at CDG before taking your shuttle or cab to the apartment.


My credit union allows me to withdraw up to $500 (dollars) per day, per account, but most ATM's only allow $300 per transaction.

It is not that unusual to pay owners in cash upon arrival. We have done this more than a few times in the past. Last year we had to pay the security deposit in cash, but the American owner, graciously sent us a check in dollars and at fair rate of conversion. He had a housekeeper/manager and he preferred leaving her euros for the apartment maintenance, etc.. We were already in Paris at the time in another apartment that we wanted to leave ASAP, so we had time to hit several ATM's to garner the cash.


Or ... to solve the problem, get the euros here, and each of you can carry 333 euros in her own money belt. If you are just going from the your home to CDG, and then straight to the apartment that would be an easy and secure way to do it.

Luisah, thank you for the kind invite, I extend the same to all of you when I get MY apartment. We can meet at the Brasserie and toast our good fortune with a kir.

Anna1013

Nina,

Yes, the owner said she would not take travelers checks, only cash.

We are traveling to New York for 5 days, and then we head to Paris, with a layover in LHR. I'm not sure I want to carry that much money on me even before I get to Paris.

I was concerned what would happen when we got our security deposit back since it is in euros - we will be going to London after Paris...should I go somewhere to convert the euros into pounds?

Gretchen

Ile is really lovely. Not as convenient for transportation.

Luisah

Hi Anna,

I was thinking what Nina suggested. You would each owe $333 and if that's what you're doing, you could withdraw it from an ATM in one day. I prefer ATMs and there are a few at CDG and there must be at least one on Ile St. Louis, but if you're not comfortable with that, the best solution for you is to get travelers checks in euros and cash them in the bank as Linda suggested. You could also get $500 in T.checks and get $500 from an ATM.

I had to pay a hotel in Prague in cash and was not comfortable getting that much from an ATM and walking back to the hotel. I was relieved when I got the money to the hotel, so I understand your concern about having that much in cash -- but carrying it a couple of blocks on Ile St. Louis would be quite safe.

If you arrive at CDG at 2:00 you should be in the city by 4:00 if not earlier.

I'm sure you'll work this out and all will be wonderful.

Nina66

Anna, how about buying the euros in New York towards the end of your stay? How long will your layover in LHR be - possibly only a few hours? In that case, again pushing for money belts for all three of you, you would be safe with the money on the plane and then waiting at the airport.

Personally, I think that I would rather have the peace of mind getting the euros at home and not having to worry about ATM's on the other end. The bank on the Ile is either across the street from your apartment, so it is very convenient.

Or .. you can use your layover time at LHR to exchange US dollar travelers checks for the needed euros. It will cost you more, but the convenience would probably be worth it. Then when you arrive on the Ile, you can start exploring your surroundings instead of rushing off to the bank.

I guess that you will have no choice but to take the 500 euro security deposit to London and exchange them for pounds there.

I disagree with Gretchen about the transportation on the Ile not being convenient. The Pont Marie metro is maybe less than five minutes from the apartment. Up your street to the bridge, cross over, and the stop is right there. Cite or St. Michael are a bit further, but I think that you will find that it is so easy to walk to many locations and sights, unless you are going across town, and provided that you enjoy walking, that you will spend a lot of time walking.

The St. Paul Metro is perhaps another four or five mintutes from Pont Marie Metro, if you want to take a more direct line without transferring.

My problem with 'short walks to the Metro', is that they always have patisseries, shops, etc.. along the way, _forcing_ me to stop and rescue one of those lovely pastries that keep calling out my name as I walk by. Someone should invent Metro blinders....

Anna1013

Yes, the layover at LHR will only be for about 3 hours, and we might have to change terminals, so I don't know if we would even have time to try to exchange the travelers checks in time.

I would really want to go the route Linda went(getting travelers checks in euros, and then taking them to the bank to convert them into cash), but I don't know if the bank will even be open when we arrive on the Island.

Everyone talks about how easy it is to get money from the ATM's at CDG - this is probably a stupid question, but is there english instructions at these ATM's?

Anna1013

Just found this out - at CDG there are American Express offices throughout Terminal 2... don't know exactly where they are(if anyone does, please let me know), but on the AE website it is listed as being in Terminal 2b, 2f, etc.

I don't think we will arrive in Terminal 2, because we will either fly on BA or BMI - would it be crazy to try to go to another terminal, cash our travelers checks(in euros not dollars)and then head over to the apartment? It must sound crazy to those who rather go to ATM's, but I'm sort of liking the travelers checks idea.

Luisah

Bring up the site at the bottom of this post and then scroll to the bottom and you will see a map of 2F. Just about at 0.11 there is the symbol for an ATM and an exhange symbol, near the coffee cup. This is an AMEX. I remember seeing it when I went to the Detaxe booth almost opposite at 0.10. While you're on this site try to get a map of 2B and look for the same symbol. Also notice the blocks with I for information and ask them if you can't find it. What airline are you flying from London?

http://www.bonjourlafrance.net/air-f...erminal-2f.htm

Luisah

Sorry Anna, I didn't notice that you had written BA. I think you'll arrive in 2A or 2B and both have the Detaxe, ATMs and exchange symbols. Print the map if you can.

I prefer ATMs but understand why you're considering travelers checks. Do whatever is most comfortable for you.

Anna1013

I noticed the recent thread about OP not responding to their questions, and I felt quite guilty since I never actually said which apartment we chose!

We did pick the St Louis apartment (thanks to everyone's kind advice and input), and everything went very smoothly with the agency, and they went out of there way to accomodate our wishes - hopefully everything will also go smoothly when we arrive!

In the whirlwind we still are in trying to finish all the planning, I didn't really think about if the apartment would be a good choice in regards to transportation. We did want to do some walking vs. always taking the metro, and I believe some metro stations aren't that far away if we want to use them. But, it seems like the pros of staying on the Island outweight the cons!

fishee

I'm confused why you need traveler checks to pay the balance in cash.

What's wrong with all of you hitting an ATM when you land at CDG? Aren't you going to be using ATMs regardless of whether you have a traveler's check for the rent?

Also, if you're dealing with a hands-on owner, I've found that the ones requesting cash payment are generally quite understanding about the ATM limit. If they're around, they seem O.K. about collecting the money on the first and second day.

Leburta

If you can make the initial deposit by credit card, might the owner's allow you to pre-pay by credit card if you pay early enough? With the euro climbing as it has been, it might be worth it to pre-pay the entire amount ahead of time anyway, IF you can establish that the owner is trustworthy. Try another thread asking if anyone has rented that apartment and can recommend it. Perhaps the owner has some references and can provide you with people you can e-mail for comments.

Anna1013

Leburta,

I had posted a thread here in Nov asking about both the rental agency and the apartment, but go no replies.

The agency is alacarte, and they seem to get good reviews here. If I do pay the rest before we leave with credit card, it would be with the agency, and not with the owner.

You mentioned the steady rise of the euro - do you think we should pay now instead of at the end of May when we arrive? I'm a bit hesitant paying the full amount without actually seeing the apartment first.