Euro Cash / Travelers Check / ATM
 

What is the best option for carrying money in France? I'm little concerned about carrying a lot of cash. I've read somewhere that ATMs are the best option and good exchange rate offsets the small fee that is charged. Any advise is much appreciated. Thanks

ATM card.

ATM card is the only way you will want to exchange cash. What it will cost you, beyond the 1% currency conversion fee exchanged at mid market rates, is strictly a function of what your bank charges you. You should ask keeping in mind that many banks charge you nothing.

Atm card. I take out as much cash as I can at a time( I have my bank raise my limit) usually its 3-4 hundred euros.I leave bulk of it in my hotel safe, or if travelling , I wear in a moneybelt under my clothes,, and then I just carrry one days spending cash in my purse. Simple.

I use my credit card for hotels and trains. Cash for most everything else.

Travellers checks are a supreme pain in the butt, hard to cash, fees for cashing, and most places like small shops, cafes and restaurants, will not take them. I haven't used them in over 15 years.

Rajesh, what does your bank advise? I'm guessing from your name that you may not be from the US or Europe, and banking practices in your country may be different for all I know. For us, inter-bank agreements make ATMs the simplest and best value option for smaller cash purchases, as everyone else advises, and credit cards for bigger ones. Either way, you'll need to let your bank and card provider know when you'll be in France so they don't suspect fraud - and they may have a partner bank they advise you to use.