There is a single market rate - the one that is mentioned on, say, XE.com
Then there are actual exchange rates, spread around the market rate - made so that the bank earns some premium each time you change money, whichever way (Euros to US$ or the other way round).
And then there are one-time fees (percentage or fixed) that YOUR bank charges for the exchange.
The rates spread on an ATM are about 1-2% each way. If you exchange cash the rates can spread 7-8% away from the market rate. Especially at the places that exchange cash for "no fee" - just compare their posted buying rate to their selling rate and you will see how much you will be ripped off..

Why don't you ask the apartment owner if they will take PayPal? We did that with an apartment in Florence a few weeks ago - and it saved a lot of bother.

Sorry for the confusion but...in my case and I have been to Paris 10/2007 and last month...I had been charged a fee by my bank at home for the withdraw. I could see by the dates that the fee (I received from my bank in the US) for using the ATM in CDG was much higher then in the city itself.

tyedye: Which US bank and which French bank(s)?

Makes a difference. It really has nothing to do w/ the French bank - but whether your own bank is a partner could make a difference.

Sorry, I have no idea what the CDG bank/ATM was. My bank at home is Citizens.

tyedye33 - are you sure the fee is the "foreign ATM" fee? Some banks (like BoA here) charge a 1% conversion fee. E.g., I withdrew euros from an ATM in Spain in Feb. On my statement, I have
one line for the US$ of the amt I took out
one line for the 1% conversion fee
one line for the $5 out-of-network ATM use fee

Nope just 2 lines the amount (in USD) withdrawn followed immediately by the "Fee" for W/D (in US)

Thank you for all the replies. I think we'll get the euros at an airport ATM and not have to worry about finding a bank. It sounds like its the better option. I did check our daily limit (from reading previous posts) and my husband and I have $1,000 each.

Any large bank in the US will allow you to buy Euros in the US and you can bring them with you. Just call the foreign exchange department. I know Bank of America let's you order them online and pick up what you need at the branch. This is what we did for our last trip to Paris/Amsterdam

yes, we know that. It is how much those € will cost you that is the issue . . . . . .

"What to do?" about this issue is a question without an answer. People have differing views about cost vs. convenience vs. security.

We just purchased $200 in euros (paying more than we would in Paris) just to have currency with us to get into our apartment without having to stop to use an ATM.

It isn't the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do. It is just what we decided to do. Our mental calculation was that the additional cost was offset by the convenience. Others will calculate that differently.

Postings on this topic are most useful when they address how to do something and the advantages of doing it one way or another; less useful when they proclaim what the "best way" is. Most messages on this thread seem to be of the "useful" type.

€100 or €150 is no big deal. But we get folks all the time asking about buying thousands of € before leaving home. Sorry - but there ARE right and wrong answers to that one.

Janisj: Were you being sarcastic when you wrote this?

"Now in your scheme of things, $80-ish may not be that much. But I'd personally much rather spend that on a nice dinner in Paris."

If not, we seem to agree.

d_claude_bear: Sarcastic? Huh? If one reads the entire post I honestly do not see what even hints at sarcastic . . .

It will cost $70-$100 to get that much € currency - and I'd much rather spend $80 bucks on a nice meal than to give it to my bank . . . . .

Janisj:

Because you would "personally much rather spend that on a nice dinner" even though someone else may have a "scheme of things" in which "$80-ish may not be that much," you are sure that "there ARE right and wrong answers to that one" and that your answer IS the right one.

Did I get it right, in your own words?

Oh sheesh - my two posts have nothing to do w/ each other! <b>Context</b>, man - makes a bit of a difference.

The &lt;&lt;<i>&euro;100 or &euro;150 is no big deal. But we get folks all the time asking about buying thousands of &euro; before leaving home. Sorry - but there ARE right and wrong answers to that one.</i> &gt;&gt; was in response to your talking about buying $200 worth. &euro;100 or &euro;150 - it doesn't really matter and one doesn't lose a whole lot one way or the other. I most definitely was NOT disagreeing w/ you. My &quot;right and wrong&quot; referred to when folks ask about buying ALL their &euro; before leaving home.

The comment about it being better to spend that $80 on dinner was in response to the OP needing a lot of money on the first day and that she would spend a lot extra if she bought the &euro; ahead of time.

NOW - just which one of my posts was supposed to be sarcastic???

janisj--

Le dernier mot, c'est a vous.

if you want the last word - you'll have to work harder than that ;)

I didn't want to start a new thread regarding the same topic but can someone reassure me that I will be able to withdraw at least 600 euros in multiple transactions from an ATM to pay for the apartment I rented.

This is my 4th time to Paris but I have never had to withdraw that much money at once. The owner doesn't accept any other type of payment and wants the money once we arrive.

Thanks! :)

mv_rd: Yes - you can as long as your own bank allows $1000 a day. If not, you need to have your bank raise your daily limit.