Joan,
I did ask the Cap one people if they could expedite the cards. She said no. I didn't ask for a supervisor though.

Robespierre, you posted useful rules for spotting and dealing with DCC. But shouldn'nt step 3 read:

3. If it's in US Dollars, ask for the merchant to re-run the charge in the local currency. Go to 1 (but only once).

disneymania4444..

It might not hurt to call and ask to speak with a supervisor. You never know what you might get..from very helpful to not wanting to give you the time of day! How much time do you have before leaving?

Joan

Disneymania, I hope you have a wonderful trip and all goes well for you!!!

<i>3. If it's in US Dollars, ask for the merchant to re-run the charge in <b>USD</b>. Go to 1 (but only once).</i>

Robes, just to clarify:

Did you mean local currency?

Thanks.

KY, a good description

What we are trying to do here, kind people that we are, is to show people options, and identify those that are: cheaper and mroe convenient. Having options allows people to choose what suits them best. But..a big but...we should be clear on what the pros and cons are for each option. Correcting fuzzy or wrong information is just one way to allow for choosing the proper option.

Hey, I've used Amex TCs, bought tons of euros before going, even bought US$ (I'm Canadian) and brought all that over. But time and experience has changed how I now handle currency.

That was my interpretation of Robes's steps also. Very helpful feedback to help us to make an informed decision. Thanks to all!

Your Canadian readers should be wary of the Capitol One MasterCard, frequently recommended on other travel forums as well as this one. While I am a fan of Capitol One, the company does charge a foreign exchange fee on its cards issued in Canada. Currently the rate is 2.5 per cent. As well, international purchases are converted into US dollars first, and then converted again into Canadian. Any conversion will cost the customer something -- financial institutions make their profit from selling currencies at a higher rate than they purchased the money. CapOne is competitive with other Canadian credit cards, but not a bargain.

That's too bad that you don't have the same CapOne benefits in Canada that we have in the US.

You may have to do some searching to see if there is another one that is best for Canadian users.

Joan

My system for a trip of approx 1 week(may not be appropriate for everyone):

(a) Bring about 75-100 Euro in cash (left over from previous trip) in case there is a problem at the airport...split evenly between my wife and me.

(b) At the airport, get another 300 Euro with my credit union ATM card (very small surcharge) for use during the trip where only cash is accepted.

(c) Use my CapOne credit card (good rate, no surcharges) everywhere a credit card is accepted. NOTE: Every place I've charged in Paris, the numbers are in Euros, so I can't comment on DCC.

(d) Get more cash if needed during the trip and be sure to carry home about 75-100 Euros for my next trip.

NOTE: If there is a significant hotel discount for cash, I use the ATM for that.

Hope this helps. Forgive me if there is some repetition from an earlier post of mine, but I wanted to summarize my system.

SS

Yes, step 3 should read <B>re-run the charge in <U>local currency</u></b>. I guess my latest chemo treatment took out that part of my cognitive ability. Temporarily, I hope. Thanks all for the heads-out.

Interesting about the Cap One and Canada. Wasn't aware of that.

ssander,
Thanks for the succinct review.

Robes,
Good luck with your treatments and thanks for the correction.

as some more useless(ful?) information, I just did a wire transfer to Spain and was charged an exchange rate of 1.6614, while XE.com says the exchange rate is 1.63017. So it would seem that the customer rate for wire transfers is a 1.9% mark-up over the interbank rate, and then the charges for the wire transfer itself.

Best wishes RP.

It is not rude to point out that it's ridiculous to pay a local bank a 7-10% markup and foolish to travel with large amounts of cash.

There's a big difference between staying in a posh apartment with a safe, keeping mostly to the local neighborhood, using a private car service, as opposed to using public transportation to/from CDG and all over Paris day and night and visiting all the touristy destinations where it's just not a good idea to carry a lot of cash, especially in a wallet or purse.

Robes, I was pretty certain that was what you meant, but I just wanted to be 100% certain. I made the adjustment to my word document and added it to my Trip Portfolio. Thanks for the advice. I hope you are feeling better very soon.

Semi-exciting event for me in Canada...my new CC has the "chip"...and it worked in London. Call me a techno-leader :)

djkbooks,

What may seem foolish or ridiculous to one person, may be exactly the way another person prefers to do it. To criticize because you feel differently I do think is rude. Think as you wish, but do it in silence. That is the way I was brought up.

For me, I do not use ATM's as IS the most common way that others do, but not my preferred way. It is very simple for me to get the euros before going and the fee is small for the small amount that I take, and well worth it to me. I really never take large amounts of cash. Probably only 600-700 euros for my stays of at least a month. My credit cards take care of everything. In fact, I always have excess cash to get rid of in the last week. I like to return home with about 100 euros.

My apartments do have safes, but I don't use them. I never carry all the cash or all the credit cards with me at any one time.

I prefer the bus for transportation. I use the Navigo Decouverte. It is great. I do use private transportation to/from the airport for 40 euros each way. They are waiting for me when I arrive with my name on a sign.

I have been there, done that, with many of the peopular tourist attractions, so probably do not go to them. I do keep very busy all over Paris, walking, bus mainly and use the metro as little as possible. Rarely do I take a taxi. That has been several years.

So, you see, there are so many ways to do things and so many choices that we each can make. Whatever makes one happy is the way they should do it. Each of us thinks their way is the best, and it is the best for each of us.

I would never consider telling another that they were foolish or ridiculous because they did not do something the way that I considered the best, because I am only doing what is best for me, not for them! I don't know why all don't look at it in the same way.

Joan

gracejoan: exactly - You don't visit/stay the sorts of places most first timers do. So to even suggest they should handle their money the same way you do is not that helpful. In fact it could be downright harmful.

"<i>Think as you wish, but do it in silence. </i>" Nope - that is what these forums are for. If someone is giving iffy/bad/terrible (or anywhere along that scale) advice it is our right (and responsibility) to say so.

What you choose to do works for you -- but IMO and the opinion of 90+% of the folks posting here - it would be a BIG mistake for most travelers.

Yes - sheep seem to hold all sorts of fascination for colonial visitors. Most folks I've taken on trips (not SCQ btw) have taken lots of photos of the sheep. And if it was lamb season -- scores of photos. Maybe some Welsh blood in there somewhere :)

My very first morning on my own when I moved to England (a wet/cold January day) a ram broke through the fence and led his entire harem into my (rented) back garden. Me a city girl from CA had not met up w/ roaming sheeps before and had no idea rams are mean. Well I can testify!

I did get them out of the garden but not before getting drenched, angering that ram and scaring the living daylights myself. Oh but the babies ARE cute . . . .

oops - that last ended up on the wrong thread :D Can I blame it on Fodors being "twitchy today . . . .