FF or Euro?
 

Hi all,<BR><BR>Thanks for all your good advice on Paris. We're going in mid-April. Here's my (hopefully not too dumb) question. Are French Francs still viable as a currency? Or is everything done in Euros now?<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>David

David: The FF is definitely gone (since Feb. 17, 2002)!<BR><BR>Get Euro and have fun!

My understanding is that for next couple months you can exchange any francs that you have at banks in France, even tho they can't be used "on street" since 2/17.

Sue,<BR>I don't know if your information is correct. In Belgium it is different at least. Local currency can be changed in the bank until December 31st, 2002 BUT ONLY if you have a bank account to which the money will be transferred!

No, FF "died" this past Saturday evening. They are not accepted anywhere except at a particular bank which will exchange them for Euros.

I was in Paris on Saturday, Feb 16, 2002 and could not get FF to save my life!! Even went to the Post Office in the lower level at the Louvre, where I heard people were exchanging their remaining FF and could not get them either. Quite a historical moment, after 600 years of use, I was there when the "switch was flipped". Amazing.

I haven't tried it but you are supposed to be able to exchange small amounts of francs for euros FREE at any commercial bank or post office in France until 6/30/02. After that, you can do it at the Bank of France for free for 10 years. That is according to the French Embassy.