My son- senior in high school is going with a group to Paris next month. I am concerned about the best way to exchange money without excessive exchange fees. Would a debit card be a wise choice?? Easy to find ATM's? I have heard differences in their PIN numbers??? Help!!

ATMs are super easy to find. Usually only your bank will charge you for using an ATM other than their own-the French bank will not charge you. The only possible difference with the PIN is that the letters may not correspond the same way they do in the US, so just make sure he knows what his PIN is in numbers, not in letters. If he has a Citibank account, I am pretty sure those are in Paris and then he wouldn't have to pay any fee to use those ATMs.

If he has a Bank of America account, tell him to use BNP Paribas machines. BNP Paribas is a partner of Bank of America, so he will get a good exchange w/o fees. Bank of America also told me to make sure the PIN is 4 digits and doesn't start with a zero.

An ATM card tied to a checking account with a 4-digit pin number is best. Yes, it is easy to find ATM machines.

Maybe a small amount of US cash to exchange sa an alternate way, but this is definitely not the most cost effective.

A charge card or travelers checks for a true emergency could be a backup method.

just to reiterate what's been said by suze.... make sure the debit card is for a chequing account. Most European ATMs will only allow you to access a chequing account.

I agree with the others, the ATM with a debit card is the way to go. Machines are all over the place and work just like they do here. I would have him try it out here before he leaves.

I also usually go to my local bank a few weeks before departing and get $100 or so in Euros just to have it handy.

JoeG

Hi bq,

You might want to create an account for him to which you can add money as necessary.

In case he loses his card your banck account will be safe.

I suggest you get a card that is good for ATM only, not useable as if it were a charge card.

He should have a 4 digit (no letters) PIN.