Headed to Paris - Need Advice re: Euros and Cell Phones
Feb 18th, 2005, 08:32 AM
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Headed to Paris - Need Advice re: Euros and Cell Phones
Hi. I am going to Paris for the first time next week and need advice. Can anyone tell me what's the best way to get euros? Based on what I have read, I am under the impression that I should wait until I get to Paris and then use a credit card at a cash machine. Is that true? Also, we would like to be reachable by cell phone, since we are leaving the kids at home. Is there a way of making our cell phone usable in France? If so, what about the rates? Just curious about what other people have done. Thanks!!
Feb 18th, 2005, 09:21 AM
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Yes, the best way to get cash is from an ATM machine at the airport. However, I would use a debit card instead of a credit card because there's usually a big hit to get cash from a credit card. I save this option for an emergency.
If your cell phone is a triband, it will work in Europe. Otherwise you can look into renting a phone in Europe for the duration of your trip.
If your cell phone is a triband, it will work in Europe. Otherwise you can look into renting a phone in Europe for the duration of your trip.
Feb 18th, 2005, 10:24 AM
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When using that ATM card, make sure you have moved money from your savings to your checking account because that is the acocunt where the money will be withdrawn. You will not have the choice as you do on US ATMs. If you use your credit card, you will be paying interest from the date fo withdrawal until you get home and pay the bill.
Feb 18th, 2005, 01:51 PM
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I agree about using ATMs there for getting cash.
What is your current cell phone carrier? T-Mobile has international roaming - 99 cents a minute. Seems high, but we figured that for a week, it was worthwhile. It was especially good, because the people who needed to reach us knew our phone numbers from the get go. We have Motorola V-60 world phones (I think they ended up being free after rebates). The connection was great.
We were glad that we had done this as my 88-year old MOL needed to call us before we had a chance to call her. Additionally, had we gotten separated, we would have been able to call each other.
We explored buying a cell phone in Paris, but, for us, this worked better.
What is your current cell phone carrier? T-Mobile has international roaming - 99 cents a minute. Seems high, but we figured that for a week, it was worthwhile. It was especially good, because the people who needed to reach us knew our phone numbers from the get go. We have Motorola V-60 world phones (I think they ended up being free after rebates). The connection was great.
We were glad that we had done this as my 88-year old MOL needed to call us before we had a chance to call her. Additionally, had we gotten separated, we would have been able to call each other.
We explored buying a cell phone in Paris, but, for us, this worked better.
Feb 19th, 2005, 07:50 AM
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Hi imm,
As noted, get cash from ATMs using an ATMcard, not a charge card.
Use your CC for everything, pay cash only when necessary.
What will you need your cell phone for? If only for emergencies, you can get a good deal on a phone from www.mobalrental.com.
As noted, get cash from ATMs using an ATMcard, not a charge card.
Use your CC for everything, pay cash only when necessary.
What will you need your cell phone for? If only for emergencies, you can get a good deal on a phone from www.mobalrental.com.
Feb 19th, 2005, 04:29 PM
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Wow, thanks to everyone for all of the great information. I really appreciate it!
My husband called our cell phone company (we have a Motorola V400 phone and service through Cingular) and we're set up for use in France; it will be $1.49 per minute in either direction, which is fine since we only want to be able to use it in an emergency (I purchased an international phone card for non-emergency calls; 18 cents/minute).
As for banks and credit cards, I made some phone calls and found out that if I use my Sovereign ATM card in Paris, I will be charged a $5 per transaction fee on top of whatever fee is charged by the ATM I use. Not a huge hit, but good to know that it's best to make as few withdrawals as possible!
I also discovered that if I use my credit card to charge something over there, whether or not I get charged an additional fee depends on which card I use. For example:
Citibank AA - charges 3%
Bank of America - charges 3%
MBNA - charges 1%
Capital One - charges 0%
USAA visa - charges 0%
Suffice it to say, then, that it's worth checking with your credit card companies before you go abroad. One last thing I discovered is that due to fraud concerns, some credit card companies will automatically deny any charges made abroad unless you notify them in advance of where and when you intend to travel.
Thanks again for all of the help!
My husband called our cell phone company (we have a Motorola V400 phone and service through Cingular) and we're set up for use in France; it will be $1.49 per minute in either direction, which is fine since we only want to be able to use it in an emergency (I purchased an international phone card for non-emergency calls; 18 cents/minute).
As for banks and credit cards, I made some phone calls and found out that if I use my Sovereign ATM card in Paris, I will be charged a $5 per transaction fee on top of whatever fee is charged by the ATM I use. Not a huge hit, but good to know that it's best to make as few withdrawals as possible!
I also discovered that if I use my credit card to charge something over there, whether or not I get charged an additional fee depends on which card I use. For example:
Citibank AA - charges 3%
Bank of America - charges 3%
MBNA - charges 1%
Capital One - charges 0%
USAA visa - charges 0%
Suffice it to say, then, that it's worth checking with your credit card companies before you go abroad. One last thing I discovered is that due to fraud concerns, some credit card companies will automatically deny any charges made abroad unless you notify them in advance of where and when you intend to travel.
Thanks again for all of the help!
Feb 19th, 2005, 06:15 PM
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MBNA - charges 1%
Capital One - charges 0%
USAA visa - charges 0%
I would venture to say all three of these charge 1%, simply because that is a VISA-imposed fee, not the issuer's. These cards are preferred for overseas use because they add no <i>additional</i> fees of their own on top of VISA's 1%.
Capital One - charges 0%
USAA visa - charges 0%
I would venture to say all three of these charge 1%, simply because that is a VISA-imposed fee, not the issuer's. These cards are preferred for overseas use because they add no <i>additional</i> fees of their own on top of VISA's 1%.
Feb 20th, 2005, 07:07 AM
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Feb 20th, 2005, 07:57 AM
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Make sure you have 24 hour phone numbers for all the financial institutions associated with your cards, whether ATM, debit or credit cards. Also, phone these institutions prior to the trip to inform them of your overseas travel plans. I would even get the name of the person at the bank you notified.
Make sure you know what are the daily withdrawal limits for each card.
Ensure that the PINs do indeed work and that they are 4 digits only.
Make sure you know what are the daily withdrawal limits for each card.
Ensure that the PINs do indeed work and that they are 4 digits only.
Feb 20th, 2005, 08:06 AM
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Yes, but irrelevant. Quoting from the article,
"Let's say you use a credit card to pay for your meal at a café in Paris. Visa or MasterCard converts the cost of your meal from French francs to U.S. dollars and charges your bank a 1-percent currency-exchange fee for the service. Most banks pass this 1-percent fee on to customers."
The operative word in the above excerpt is <b>most</b>. Because if you shop carefully, you can find a card that <u>doesn't</u> pass the fee through. Talk with someone other than a phone-answering drone at the card-issuing institution, and make sure they are aware that they are in <i>competition</i> for your business.
"Let's say you use a credit card to pay for your meal at a café in Paris. Visa or MasterCard converts the cost of your meal from French francs to U.S. dollars and charges your bank a 1-percent currency-exchange fee for the service. Most banks pass this 1-percent fee on to customers."
The operative word in the above excerpt is <b>most</b>. Because if you shop carefully, you can find a card that <u>doesn't</u> pass the fee through. Talk with someone other than a phone-answering drone at the card-issuing institution, and make sure they are aware that they are in <i>competition</i> for your business.
Feb 20th, 2005, 10:43 AM
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Hi Robe,
Which card do you use that doesn't pass through the 1% MC/Visa chrage?
Hi imm,
>I will be charged a $5 per transaction fee on top of whatever fee is charged by the ATM I use.<
The European ATM does not charge, if it is owned by a bank. The $5 fee from your bank is quite high. Mine charges 75 cts.
Which card do you use that doesn't pass through the 1% MC/Visa chrage?
Hi imm,
>I will be charged a $5 per transaction fee on top of whatever fee is charged by the ATM I use.<
The European ATM does not charge, if it is owned by a bank. The $5 fee from your bank is quite high. Mine charges 75 cts.
Feb 20th, 2005, 09:46 PM
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If your phone is GSM (and uses French frequencies -- check with your cell provider), you can buy a SIM card in France and call the US for a lot less money than the International rates that Verizon or Cingular will charge.
You must "unlock" your phone first. Google unlock cell phone before going. I unlocked my phone for about $6 US.
Then go to any cell store in Paris and have them fit you with a French SIM card (essentially a small chip about the size of your thumbnail). (SAVE your old SIM card so that you can put in back in when you get home!!!).
The local SIM card will be on a pay-as-you-go basis, which you can buy at any Paris cell store. SIM cards usually cost arond $20 US and you can refill it for most any amount.
Otherwise, google cell phone rental france, and you can have a phone delivered to your home before you go. I used to use travelcell.com before I got a GSM phone.
You must "unlock" your phone first. Google unlock cell phone before going. I unlocked my phone for about $6 US.
Then go to any cell store in Paris and have them fit you with a French SIM card (essentially a small chip about the size of your thumbnail). (SAVE your old SIM card so that you can put in back in when you get home!!!).
The local SIM card will be on a pay-as-you-go basis, which you can buy at any Paris cell store. SIM cards usually cost arond $20 US and you can refill it for most any amount.
Otherwise, google cell phone rental france, and you can have a phone delivered to your home before you go. I used to use travelcell.com before I got a GSM phone.
Feb 22nd, 2005, 12:54 AM
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Robespierre...
The article you quoted is very dated...the last time you could use French Francs to pay for a meal in Paris was a long time ago....
I do not know of any bank that doesn't pass along the 1% currency exchange fee of mc and/or visa...why should they, they'd be losing money...
The article you quoted is very dated...the last time you could use French Francs to pay for a meal in Paris was a long time ago....
I do not know of any bank that doesn't pass along the 1% currency exchange fee of mc and/or visa...why should they, they'd be losing money...
Feb 22nd, 2005, 09:47 AM
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Salomon Smith Barney doesn't charge any markup or percentage, but a $1 transaction fee.
The article was published in 2001 (6/17 to be precise), but I think its author may have been thinking retrospectively. Indeed, there are many businesses in France that post prices in FF as well as € because a lot of older people are more comfortable to know "what's that in <u>real</u> money?"
Before you pay anyone to unlock your cell phone, google <b>unlock [model]</b> (where [model] is your cell phone, such as A210) and see if you can't do it yourself for free using obscure keypad codes.
The article was published in 2001 (6/17 to be precise), but I think its author may have been thinking retrospectively. Indeed, there are many businesses in France that post prices in FF as well as € because a lot of older people are more comfortable to know "what's that in <u>real</u> money?"
Before you pay anyone to unlock your cell phone, google <b>unlock [model]</b> (where [model] is your cell phone, such as A210) and see if you can't do it yourself for free using obscure keypad codes.
