If I'm planning on using credit cards for most expenses on a 10 day London/Paris trip, how much local currency would you recommend for incidentals, etc. We've purchased travel passes, so we won't need any for tube etc.

Last year we used credit and debit cards for our trip. I tried to keep around 50 Euros on me to buy little things like water, light lunches, ice cream, and gifts. I found we were running back to the ATM every other day (there were two of us). This was fine since my bank does not charge a fee for this.

I don't think anyone can answer this question without knowing some basic information: How many of you are traveling? What kind of shopper(s) are you? How many museums and sights are you planning to see? Will you use public transportation or taxis to get around? At any rate, as long as you have an ATM debit card, you can withdraw - usually up to about $300 a day - whenever you feel you need more cash.

Use credit cards for anything over 10 pounds, and your cash from the ATM for anything under. You should probably do fine on 100 pounds a week.

I'd carry the same amount you would carry in cash in San Francisco. I gave known plenty of people who _never_ walked around without a big roll of "cecils" (as one of my friends calls them - - hundred dollar bills) in his pocket. And some people get nervous if they have three twenties at the same place at the samae time.

So, it's personal style more than anything else.

Best wishes,

Rex

In 2000 while in Venice and Florence I used a local (California) Credit card to secure cash from ATMs. This year we will be in Rome and Naples. Do debit cards still work in ATMs for cash?

Hi OT,

Yes, debit cards work at ATMs. Muchbetter than using a CC, which gives you a high interest cash advance.