I will be going to Paris for 10 days 11/22/02. Shoul I have my money coverted to Euros before I leave the states or when I get there?<BR><BR>Thanks

Some will say to have some euros when you arrive, but I never do. You can get them at ATM machines in the airport and ATMs all over Paris. You get the best exchange rate without paying the commissions, providing your card doesn't charge a fee. If it does, get one that doesn't Neither my Mastercard or VISA check card charges a fee. <BR><BR>If push comes to shove and the ATM machine at the airport is out of order, you can use $$$ for porter tips, etc. Everyone takes them -- I haven't been refused yet.<BR><BR>Enjoy Paris. I'll be there in February.

I object to what Mike said at the end of his post.<BR><BR>It is insulting, and a typically American attitude, to use dollars in a foreign country. Mike, if you were a bar tender, would you want to be tipped in Euro???<BR><BR>I thought what Mike was going to say is that if worse comes to worse and the ATM machines are not working, you can always go over to the airport currency exchange and exchange US currency for Euro or whatever the local currency is.<BR><BR>It always amazes me to see Americans, and they are basically the only ones, who think the US dollar is the only currency in the world. They go to Canada and think establishments should take US dollars. The fact is many establishment do, but they murder you on the exzchange. But individuals on the street and tips??? Do you think you can use dollars to pay for a taxi ride from the airport into Paris? Are you that oblivious????

I always suggest arriving with $100 in euro, just in case there are long lines at the ATMs or they have a problem. Also, when you arrive you're excited, nervous about getting to your hotel, and it's nice not to have to worry about getting money. Once settled in, you can get more at ATM's all over. However, always pay for everything possible with a credit card for best exchange rate, record of your purchases. In France they accept credit credit cards for almost everything, including tolls on the autoroute. For more Paris information go to www.anamericaninparis.com

Fred,<BR><BR>Sorry for interrupting on this thread - - but hoping that Fred might take a look att this thread again since he just posted here.<BR><BR>I am looking for a recent thread on which you mentioned le Gue du Holme - - do you remember what it was called? Must not be indexed yet.<BR><BR>I want to add the name of a place I was trying to remember at the time I posted on that thread.<BR><BR>Thanks in advance if you remember.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Hi Leslie,<BR> Many travelers exchange about $100 at the airport before leaving. That way you will have money for transportation when you get to where you are going. The exchange rate is poor, but you won't have to bother with ATM's at the airport.<BR><BR>Despite XXX's outrage, I have found that if you give people in any country enough dollars that they will take them.

XXX -- relax. Most of the porters in airports take $$$ if that's all you have. Who are you kidding. Of course I wouldn't use $$$ in bars or stores, but most airports, if not all foreign airports, take U.S. currency. And most taxi's take credit cards.<BR><BR>Not trying to be insulting at all -- just telling the truth. You are the one who is insulting. So, back off, fella.

We bought 200 euro before we left. We just wanted to avoid looking for an ATM just after arriving. However, ATM's are everywhere in Paris. The best ones to use are at BNP Paribas-no fees.

I would certainly have Euros when you get there, it's just so much easier.<BR>When I arrived in Paris in March, I had Euros and my girlfriend didn't. We were in the train station, couldn't find a place to convert in time to catch the next train. I paid. It just makes sense to be prepared. GET EUROS. I bring my extra ones home for the next trip, now that you can use them in so many countries, it doesn't always pay to convert them back to $$$. Have a great time.

XXX -- relax. Most of the porters in airports take $$$ if that's all you have. Who are you kidding. Of course I wouldn't use $$$ in bars or stores, but most airports, if not all foreign airports, take U.S. currency. And most taxi's take credit cards.<BR><BR>Not trying to be insulting at all -- just telling the truth. You are the one who is insulting. So, back off, fella.

I once got in a taxi in France which had just had an American in it. He had paid in dollars. The taxi driver was muttering and using some colourful French words until I lightened the situation by saying &quot;A dollar, please let me hold it etc. etc.&quot;<BR>The driver then joined in the fun and said how honoured he was to receive a mighty dollar. I think I'll try paying my next New York taxi driver in pounds.

Yes, Mike you are right. They will take dollars rather than nothing. I suppose if push came to shove, a waiter in Tulsa would accept a European handing him a ten euro note rather than stiff him. Or he'd accept 5 pounds rather than nothing. But it would still be insulting for the visitor to have given those to him rather than having had the intelligence and taken the time to get dollars used in the country the visitor is in. End of discussion. If you are intelligent enough to go to Europe, then you should be intelligent enough to figure out how to get and use their currency.

Mike...<BR><BR>xxx is right and was far from insulting in his or her answer. Remember, people who know very little read these boards to get info and some of them reading your post might think the thing to do is to use US currency in Europe.<BR><BR>Now it is quite true that international airports take US dollars but at an absurd rate. Shops at Heathrow take dollars but convert using a rate of $2 per pound. But once you leave the airport, I agree with xxx, it is insulting to even think of using US dollars in say France.<BR><BR>Go to a city like Buffalo. Try using Canadian currency in Buffalo which is just across a bridge from Canada. Nobody wants to take Canadian currency. But if Buffalo folk go across the river, they expect establishments to take US currency.<BR><BR>As far as bringing Euro from home, it's no big deal one way or the other. I don't bring Euro; it is no big problem to get them at an ATM. And if there is a queue, I don't bother as I take public transportation into town and the RER takes credit cards for the fare. My m.o. is to use credit cards for every purchase no matter how small if they are taken. The Paris metro now takes credit cards for fares as low as 1 Euro. In many European countries, credit card use has become as universal or even more so than it is in North America (Germany seems to be a notable exception). Some shops have that stupid rule about a minimum for using a credit card but the French discovered during the strike of May 2000, which was not just a strike about ATM's contrary to public opinion but rather against the banking system, that credit card use made this strike a minor inconvenience. I am sure that as technology evolves, you will soon be using credit cards at tabacs and even at the toilets. Can you imagine, if you have to go, you stick your cc in the slot and 40 euro cents is charged to your account. It will put all the little old ladies out of business....<BR><BR>But on a serious note, you can do it either way. My advise is if you feel more secure arriving with Euro in your pocket than do it, understanding you are losing about 15% by buying Euro in North America. OTOH, it is 99.9% certain that it will be very easy to acquire Euro at the airport either via the ATM or by exchanging US or Canadian currency at a currency exchange.

The US dollar is a universal currency and the Euro and pound are not. You can pay for just about everything anywhere in the world with dollars as everyone knows what they are worth. The same is not true of euros or sterling. Occasionally, I have found myself in situations where I do not have any local currency but do have some dollars. The only time I have not been able to pay with US dollars was on a bus in Peru. I offered the bus driver 20 dollars for the ride which only cost about 20 cents. He refused to accept it. Fortunately others on the bus were more entreprneurial and set up a cambio for me (at a pretty poor excchange rate!) I agree that is far from ideal not having the correct currency but the US dollar is universal and works pretty much everywhere.

So John, let me understand this. If I am British and I run low on local currency I shouldn't expect my money to be as good as US money....that's the attitude some of us are objecting to.<BR><BR>In many parts of Eastern Europe for a long time US currency was a defacto underground currency but so were pounds, francs, marks etc. In some really far out places, US currency also might serve as a defacto currency but that is more a function of the number of Americans who pass through.<BR><BR>But in most parts of Western Europe, rarely were locals all that happey to see American money flashed by Americans. And that attitude...well I was in a boutique in Paris once listening to a clerk talking to some American and he told her the item cost 800 FF. The lady looked at him like he was crazy and casually asked, &quot;How much is that in cash?&quot; What a stupid attitude like our money is better than yours. And that's the impression, unfortunately, many Americans have when travelling in foreign countries.<BR><BR>Just one other quick story to show just how naive Americans are (and to show my age). I was at Expo 67 in Montreal all those many years ago, and I could see so many dumb Americans putting US postage stamps on the cards they were sending home. And the fact that they even had to put signs up saying Canadian stamps had to be put on mail posted in Canada....<BR><BR>It is a big problem of attitude that many (of course not all) Americans bring when they travel to Europe. Just like expecting distances to be posted in miles and to have temperatures explained to them in the decrepit idiotic Farenheit scale.<BR><BR>With all due respect to anybody easily offended.....

Tiresome.

abc<BR><BR>Obviously it would depend where you are, you fool. In most of Europe people are aware what sterling is worth. In Latin America, Asia and Africa, however, sterling is not a currency that most are very familiar with.<BR><BR>I never said I agreed with trying to use the wrong currency and I understand why people get upset when Americans seem to expect to be able to pay using dollars. When I have been in the odd situation where I have had to pay with dollars I have always apologised for having been caught short of local currency and have overpaid to compensate.

If you go back to the original question, yes, if you want to pay the 15% at the airport to convert your $$$ to Euro, be my guest. If not, there are plenty of ATM's in Paris. I have never had a problem.<BR><BR>Using the $$$ around airports is certainly acceptable until you can get to an ATM. For the first time traveler, if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, go ahead and pay the extra to purchase Euros before you depart.

If you go back to the original question, yes, if you want to pay the 15% at the airport to convert your $$$ to Euro, be my guest. If not, there are plenty of ATM's in Paris. I have never had a problem.<BR><BR>Using the $$$ around airports is certainly acceptable until you can get to an ATM. For the first time traveler, if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, go ahead and pay the extra to purchase Euros before you depart.

<BR>Of course you should always try to use the local currency, but what Mike said is correct. Like it or not the dollar will be accepted anywhere around the blue marble -- and in some cases is greatly preferred to the local currency.