<BR>How is the transition to euros going in France. I'll be there next week. If I purchase something, will I get change back in just euros or a combination of euros and francs? Are francs still used? Are US dollars accepted anywhere? What is the conversion rate and does the euro seem to make things more expensive/inexpensive? How do you bargain in an antique market? To make it easier, should I just use my ATM/Visa/Mastercard? Where is only cash accepted? Oh, so many questions! This will be soooo exciting. Thanks to all of you on this Fodors forum. I do feel much more prepared than if I had just read guidebooks.

The Euro is roughly equivalent to $1US. You will receive change in euros. No American dollars accepted. You bargain in the antique market the same as here--"will you take X?" Use your credit cards as much as possible

You wil be dealing exclusively in Euros. So it easy to figure out. <BR><BR>One note re credit cards vs cash. If you are trying to haggle with antique dealers always offer to pay in cash - you are more likely to get a bargain (the merchant has to pay a credit card fee). If you are willing to go to an ATM and get cash you will often get a better price.

As of 18 Feb 2002, the Franc definitely ceased to be legal tender in France and anywhere else. All businesses are now exclusively traded in euros, you get only euros back in coins or bank notes if cash is used. If you attempt to use Francs, they will certainly be refused. If you are left with Francs from previous trips, either in coins or banknotes, they can still be exchanged with euros in any bank until Dec 31, 2002. After this date, they can only be exchanged in offices or branches of the "Banque de France".

A correction to this:<BR><BR>&lt;&lt; If you are left with Francs from previous trips, either in coins or banknotes, they can still be exchanged with euros in any bank until Dec 31, 2002. After this date, they can only be exchanged in offices or branches of the "Banque de France".&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>They can be exchanged at any bank until July 1st, 2002. After that the Banque de France will exchange banknotes until 2012 and coins until 2007.<BR><BR>PB

Just got back from Paris. The French are a bit flustered and confused about the euro. It is worth about 87 cents. All change must be given in euros. Dollars not accepted anywhere. I used my ATM card to get $$ - use cash at most of the antique markets (depending on which ones you are talking about). Most store owners are using euro/franc calculators and are displaying prices in both euros and francs. Be sure to clarify in the markets if the price being quoted is in euros or francs - it is not always evident. Have fun, too!

The franc is -sniff sniff- gone. I was in Paris two weeks ago and most everyone seems to have gotten a handle on it. I think prices were cheaper this trip, but more because of the economy than the change in currency. The euro is worth about $.88 so I just rounded it to $.90 (in other words, reduce everthing by 10% to convert to $US). Coins are 1, 2, 5, 20, and 50 cents; 1 and 2 euro coins. 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro bills.<BR><BR>At flea markets, have small bills and lots of 1 and 2 euro coins. It's easier bargaining if you offer a 20 euro note for an item ("will you take this?") vs haggling. Many dealers speak English; if they don't, you can write down offers and counter-offers. The only time I'd use a credit card for a flea market purchase is for a big ticket item, like a $700 fauteuil at St Ouen; otherwise, I use cash.<BR><BR>In big cities, street markets, local boucheries and boulangeries, and small cafes are usually cash only. Some taxis take credit cards, but cash is more common. In small towns and villages, cash-only restaurants, hotels, and museums are more common.

Sandy, how interesting to look at it from the French point of view. Of course they are going to be confused (much easier for us since the Euro is so close to the dollar). I still remember in the 60s, years after the devaluation of the franc, people continued to refer to one franc as "cent balles." (Now THAT was confusing to me!)