What is best/cheapest way to get some Euros prior to arriving in Paris ? Is it best to wait until I get to CDG and use the ATM, or is their a possibility that the ATM will be out of cash, or may be "compromised " ? Also, is it best to go inside any bank and use their ATM, versus using one one on the street? Any help is appreciated.

It is best to use an ATM upon arrival. However, until you are making your second trip, you will never be confident that your card will work, so if this is your first trip, you need to have cash on hand -- either euros converted at a rip off rate back home, or the possibility of changing euros at a rip off rate at the airport in Paris in case your card doesn't work in the ATM. (With cash, you will lose at least 10% in your exchange operation, so you would never want to change more than about 100€ tops.)

ATMs are usually the best/cheapest way to get cash. Let your home bank know your travel dates and the regions you will be traveling to. Check your daily limit while you're at it, ask them to raise it if necessary. Ask what their fees are and if they are in partnership with any banking systems in Europe. Get a local US number (not US toll-free number) where you can reach them if the need arises. Using an ATM within the interior of a bank probably helps minimize the prospect of card skimming but not always. If using exterior ATMs, use the ones of major banks and avoid free-standing generic ones in shops. Keep your printed statements. As with anyplace, check your surroundings, beware of staged diversions by people and guard the keypad from view when entering a PIN.

Hi H,

If you convert some dollars into about 100E before leaving, you will lose about $7 on the transaction, but you won't have to worry about not being able to get money upon arrival.

If you stand near the exchange kiosk and hold out some dollars you can sometimes make a private trade that will save both you and the person arriving from Europe some money.

Enjoy your trip.

If you are a member of AAA, use them. I always go through them for a little cash before I leave.

If the idea of obtaining cash in euros is only a backup to having some unforeseen problem with an ATM, a most unlikely event, then why would you exchange dollars before you arrive? It won´t cost any more, and might actually cost less, to simply exchange dollars for euros when you arrive.

In my many decades of traveling to France, I have never seen a situation where all exchange bureaus at an airport were closed and exchanging cash was impossible. On the very outside chance that you arrived with dollars and couldn´t immediately exchange them for euros, taxis now virtually all accept credit cards or the RATP machines at T1 and T2 (the CDG RER departure points) will accept credit cards, even magnetic strip credit cards.

There is absolutely no realistic scenario that would require your obtaining euros before your arrival, probably the most expensive means by which euros may be obtained. You risk absolutely nothing by waiting ans using the CDG ATM machines.

I should mention that I have become so confident about ATMs over the years, that I even arrived in Hanoi without cash and just used the ATMs in the airport terminal. (However, I will admit that I had already been to Saigon in the past and knew at least that ATMs existed in Vietnam and that my Visa card had worked in all of them.)

Thank you all for your replies. I would be happy to lose $7 on the transaction, but last year, when I took 200 Euro out at the Travelex ATM in Dulles airport, I was charged $309.11. (the transaction fee was 5.28 Euro). That works out around $1.51 per Euro..........and that's before my Bank added it's charge. At the time, the exchange rate was roughly $1.34. I expected the total to be about $267 plus a transaction fee. I figure I was ripped off about $30. There has to be a cheaper way.

Yes, the cheaper way is always to run screaming from anything related to Travelex. And never to exchange money before getting on the plane. There is simply no need to.

Lesson learned ! Thanks.

Hi S,

>I have never seen a situation where all exchange bureaus at an airport were closed ...<

What is the point of arriving in foreign country with which you are unfamiliar and having to search for an exchange bureau, where they will charge you a 7-10% premium, when you can do it before you leave, in your own language?

One would want to use an ATM and avoid the cost of an exchange bureau, wouldn't one?

Hi H,

If a Travelex ATM is the only way you can get Euros in your home town, then you will be much better off waiting until you get to France.

Your home bank will charge you the same out of network fee, but the French banks don't charge for ATM use.

<i>One would want to use an ATM and avoid the cost of an exchange bureau, wouldn't one?</i>

That´s exactly the point. There is no realistic need to obtain euros any other way and certainly no need to pay exorbitant exchange rates and excessive fees to have them in your pocket before you leave.

ok. Euros from an ATM at CDG is how it will be. My sincere thanks to all.

The first time we arrived in the Nice airport the exchange bureau was closed and the ATM wasn't working. So it can happen.

Dare I ask if $7.00 wouldn't allow for peace of mind? I/we always take about 100E "just in case"!!! But do let your bank and cc people know you are going and where!!!

Yes, exchanging a little cash before arrival is fine - you will eat it a little bit on the exchange rate and/or fees, but it is nice to have a little cash on hand just in case.

<i> it is nice to have a little cash on hand just in case.</i>

In case of what exactly?

Is it possible that unknowing souls wave the <i>peace of mind</i> banner as rationalization for their needlessly paying exorbitant transaction fees, imposed by their local banks, simply to have a foreign currency in their pockets on an airplane?

Those who subscribe to the peace of mind philosophy will, in all likelihood, continue with their ritual but others, possibly those traveling to France for the first time, might find better ways to spend their money, and arrive at CDG with the assurance that they will find more ATMs available within the terminals than payphones or restrooms.

I also just order a few euros from the local bank ahead of time. I like to have cash in pocket, especially since I am half asleep upon arrival and am not proficient in any language except English.

AAA usually has 100 dollar packs which has about 60-70 euros in them for initial cab ride or snacks or whatever. Always a good thing at least for people like me who like peace of mind!

I also have two atm's when I go just in case one doesn't work right, I have a small account just for travel which I can access if I have trouble with the other one.

Everyone is different.

I always bring enough moneys to pay for the basic necessity for one day.Cab, food etc..,On my last trip I had problems using my ATM card.

Luckily I traveled with my daughter and used some of her cash to pay for small items that I needed and my credit card for major purchases.