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- - ATMs in Paris (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/atms-in-paris-215137/)

This is going to be our first trip to Paris and would like to use ATM machines instead of TC. Our French is very limited and we hope that ATMs have directions in English as well. Do they? Are there any ATMs located in CDG after or before we claim our bags? Thanks for your help. Any other tips? This is our first trip abraod

Most machines will have a choice of language or just French and English, so you'll have no problems. The money amounts are listed in Francs so figure out how many you want before you get up to that step! I always take about $200.00 in Francs in cash , whichI purchase at my local bank, so I don't know about the locations of ATMs at CDG. That way if I can't find one or it is broken I have money for the taxi, etc. I guess after the first of the year , the machine will be converted to Euros.

<<we hope that ATMs have directions in English as well. Do they?>> Yes - no problem <<Are there any ATMs located in CDG after or before we claim our bags?>> After, in the main terminal <<Any other tips?>> It pays to have backups (cash, TC's,a second account)in case your card gets a scratch and doesnÕt work, thereÕs a problem with your account back in the states, whatever. Also I suggest bringing a hundred dollars or so worth of francs (euros after January)in case there's a problem with the ATMs at the airport, you're in a rush to get into Paris and there are long lines. For more Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

Thank you both for your help. Would you suggest exchaning US$ to FF in Newark airport? We will be coming this evening from Burlington, VT and there is no way we will be able to get any francs before we get on a plane. However, I like an idea of having some francs with us.

Cathy-there is an ATM machine inside CDG.It is near the exit to where the taxis wait to take you into Paris.(after you have your bags).~All the ATMs have choices of language, you just pick the one you speak, while picking the amount you want,etc-and depending on where you are staying, they have banks with machines outside and inside little alcoves all over, we stay on the Left Bank and there are at least 6 in the area around Blvd St Germain between rue de Bac and rue de Bonapart.It is happily- quite easy-I was worried the first time we went, after your first time at it, you will feel like an old hand at those machines:)

You don't need to wait until you get to the airport, you can order FF from your bank, we use Oanda.Order online and it comes FedEx right away to your door.We did this with Lira also~c

sorry:) there is also an exchange at Newark Airport.C

I've not had any problems with the ATMs landside at CDG. Personally I'd wait to exchange in the country of arrival so you don't lose a significant % at the out of country exchanges. Have a great time in France.

I was in Paris the week of Thanksgiving and had problems with the ATMs (the one at CDG right outside of arrivals and one on the street near the Bastille metro). Both told me I had asked for more than my limit (not true, I asked for $400 worth and I have a $1,000 daily limit) and did not give me any money. But, the funds WERE debited from my account (be sure to hold on to all your receipts). My bank filed a dispute for me and the funds were deposited back into my account but I didn't even know about the problem until I returned home and checked my balance. I have used my ATM all over the world and this is the first time I ever had a problem. I was able to withdraw $100 worth at a time, repeatedly until I had as much as I wanted and my bank refunded the $1.50 service charges for having to do so. ATMs are still the easiest, fastest, and best way to get money. Sandy

The last time we were there, (Novenber) the machine just outside customs at CDG was on the fritz . . not a big issue because we had the driver stop at a post office on the way to the hotel and got francs that way. The Post Offices seem to have the most dependable machine. We used them almost exclusively. By the way, if a bank ATM has your card (VISA, Mastercard ect. . ) and the ATM does not work, the bank is obliged to advance the money under the terms with the card companies . . they don't tell you this, but twice I had to go inside and ask for it. Enjoy Paris . . I always do! . . Rich

French ATMs I have used had language choices of some sort, but... it is not always in ENGLISH itself, that is choice between the United Kindom flag vs the French flag, or some other variations. Nothing difficult to decipher eventually. ATM are usually always available, but they do fail to give you money for the same reasons US ATM machines fail plus few more since they need to connect back to your bank in the US. Although the exchange rate in not good, I always have one day worth of spending cash at hand before leaving so I can at least get to the hotel and eat at places that do not take credit cards and buy few necessities. Penalty for exchange in the US vs ATM in France is just few dollars for that kind of money and it is a cheap insurance to prevent having to start a trip with no local currency for wanting to save just few dollars. Always have backups. I carry two cards from the same account (joint account, my wife and I) so that if the ATM swallows one card, I have another card for use against the same account. I also carry ATM card from different bank on different network (PLUS vs CIRRUS) so that if one bank is not accepting any ATM transaction, I can use another bank's ATM card. I do not carry TC. With 4 ATM card scheme, I had to use the second card about once a week for one reason or another but never had to exhaust all 3 backup methods. Not all ATM cards that work in US works in France. After talking to many custmer reps and bank managers, I am in an opinion that in each bank, there are limited few tucked in the corporate office that know exactly how to setup an account for oversea withdrawl. You can increase the chance of correct setup by using ATM on pure checking account, 4 digit pin. If you ask the bank if your ATM card would work in France, you will be told it SHOULD work. I had enough of that; one that did not work as recently as this March. ATM in France did not give me choice of account to withdraw from. This does not mean that if the ATM card is tied to one account only, it would work - it does not. The account has to be correct type -- and the problem is a plain customer rep or their supervisors do not know when the account is of the wrong type. The problem Sandy reported also happened to me, but in Scotland. I got debitted without giving me money. I EVENTUALLY got my money back AFTER the trip. I was told this is due to communication timeout between the ATM and your bank; the ATM requests withdrawal, the bank debits your account, sends OK signal to dispense money at ATM, but it this takes too long, ATM times out without giving you money, but after debitting your account, bad deal. My strategy is to try to use the ATM when transatlantic communication is less hectic, morning in Europe. I had more problem using ATM in the late afternoon in Europe when both Europe and US are during during business hours.

Many of the previous reply have answered your questions, but make sure you PIN number is all numbers and no letters in it. The ATM's in France are not capable of entering letters for your PIN number. Take a couple of credit cards is good advice. I had one card that would just not work over there this year and I was glad I had back-ups. I usually exchange about $100 at the Detroit airport before I get on my plane for Paris. The exchange rate is not the best, but it is convenient. Be careful when exchanging money in banks in France. I found one this year that wanted about $15 to exchange $100 into Francs. Inquire about the cost before you make the exchange. Your best bet is to charge everything you can on your credit card and only use cash when you are forced to.

Our ATM card is a PLUS card-most machines in Paris accepted it, therewas always more than one machine on a block to use,English was always a choice on the machines,once when we had used the card a couple of times, the machine said we had hit our limit, we both have cards, used the other one and it worked,same account,his and hers cards.Have fun, don't worry,they make it really easy for you to spend your money:)

Cathy, do not buy francs at Newark. If for some reason, you can't get francs from the ATM at CDG, you can always walk over to one of the numerous currency exchange booths in the airport. The rate won't be great, but it should be better than what you'd pay at Newark. And beware those "francs by mail" services. It's a nice convenience, but you're going to pay dearly for it.

Brian, Oanda did not charge us much at all for Francs in October.I think much better rates than banks, because we called and checked around before deciding to do it that way.There is a place in NJ called Repex, they are the ones we bought Lira from this year and they had very good rates.Best thing to do is call around first and find out~C

Hi C. I checked out Oanda and found that today I could receive FF1,360 for $200 plus $8 for shipping. Based on today's wholesale rate plus 2%, using my ATM card in France, I could have gotten the same number of Francs for $191 for a difference of $17. Not a lot of money, but enough for a couple of $7 iced teas on the Champs Elysees.

Brian, gotta ask - where on C/E did you find "iced teas"...?? Or, just a figure of speech?..

Hi Alice. It's sort of an inside joke for those of us who've been on this forum for much too long. Someone posted long ago about paying $7 for an iced tea on the C/E but that it was the best iced tea he or she ever had. Time to go find something stronger than iced tea. Have a good weekend.

<<Would you suggest exchaning US$ to FF in Newark airport?>> Yes. Just $100 or so. The exchange rate won't matter for that amount and it's one less thing to worry about. In Paris, at your leisure and are out walking you can exchange more. But pay for everything possible with a credit card. For more Paris information e-mail me: [email protected]

Thanks Brian,good to know~enjoy the iced something :)