I am one of those people that buys Euros before we went to Germany last year and the other day I bought 100 Euros for our trip on the 20th to Paris. Last year my bank had an international exchange in the bank and I only paid like $2.00 extra for the Euros. This year I have a different bank and they charged me about $23.00 for the Euros! I wish now I would have waited until I got to an ATM in CDG to buy. You talk about using a credit card to buy services and food at the airport/city. Does that include a debit card? Some of don't have credit cards.

I'm new to this board, but this is the second thread I've come upon with a very lively "discussion" (to be kind) on a rather mundane topic. Is this typical?

I travel alone on business fairly frequently, and I'm often "off the clock" on weekends. I like to get out of the cities and explore the countryside. While I use ATMs (a lot!), I also bring no less than 500 euros in cash from home because, although you all seem to have been so lucky, I have had difficulties with ATMs on many occasions. (Perhaps it's that pesky law of averages at work.) I've also apparently been to the only small towns that exist (quite happily it seems) without ATMs.

I was once invited to a colleague's secluded vacation home that was 20 miles from the nearest ATM which didn't work for four days over a holiday weekend. I realize this isn't the typical destination of people on this board, but I tell this tale to illustrate that although it's the 21st century it's still possible to find yourself at the mercy of the "olden days."

I think these discussions get so much feedback because everyone wants to help.
In the old days we always started with a bit more cash. Flying into Shannon very early in the AM--things were closed tight--ATM's often non-working.
To get to our home (rental) we wanted to stop for groceries on the way. Having a few Euros ( 200-300) is just a secure feeling. Living/visiting in a village often means that ATM is not as close as you might wish,

Another reason that these discussions tend to get so "lively" is that so much simply WRONG information is given. On another current thread, someone had the audacity to call most of the factual information "Utter nonsense" and then he preceded to describe how all banks charge 3% for ATM withdrawals and that the foreign banks will charge you fees as well.

People will very often say that they used a prepaid VISA card which didn't cost much and not even realize that every transaction with it cost them an additional 7%! Others claim they bought euro TCs at their local AAA, not realizing that they spent 4 to 7 percent above current rates. They don't even realize that they paid that, they only heard "no fee".

And I'm always surprised by how many people start out with "what is the best (or cheapest) way?" but end up saying, "nevermind, I think I'll spend a lot more money and just keep doing it the old way". I guess I don't know why some ask.

(This is a general comment, not in regards to this specific thread).

I asked my bank what the cost will be for AMT withdrawals in Paris. I was told the rate is... Xe.com exchange rate plus 1% and an out of network ATM fee of $2.00 and what ever the bank's ATM charges for the service = no more then 1 Euro. So for 200 Euros it would be... $275.48 plus $2.75 and $2.00 and about$2.75 = about $283.00 as of today's rate.

Sounds very right, Pinchme, and pretty standard -- except you can forget that extra euro charge. No bank in Europe will charge you anything for using their ATM.

Pinchme: As usual, most Stateside banks really don't know much about foreign currency/ATMs. The Paris bank will not charge you anything.