Just back from Paris-a few problems
#1
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Just back from Paris-a few problems
Hi everyone- just returned from Paris last night...a few problems I ran into: <BR> <BR>The people who fill the ATM's with cash are on strike! No one can get any cash from the ATM's! <BR>The Orangerie Museum has been closed since January and will be for several months. <BR>The Musee d'Orsay was closed for "technical problems". <BR> <BR>Otherwise it was the most fabulous place I ever visited. Have fun!
#3
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Thanks Brian- <BR> <BR>Actually, I never did get more Francs. I started using my credit card everywhere! Once I realized that I couldn't get any more cash I divided the amount of cash I had with the number of days left on the trip and I didn't go over that amount no matter what. It frightened me at first, but you really can use your credit card almost everywhere (except Versaille). I ended up leaving the country with .70 cents! The only thing I regretted was not being able to tip our hotel maid who was fabulous! As far as the merchants go, I only had one experience where the only bill I had left was a $200 franc note and I was paying for $32 francs, she was a little upset about giving change...but what could I do, she wouldn't take a credit card and that was all I had!! One more thing, I asked my hotel if they would charge an amount to my credit card and give me the cash, they said they would do that for about $200 francs...not much but it was cab fare to the airport!
#4
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I was in Paris earlier this week and sometimes I had to go to three or four ATM's to find money, since they are everywhere it was not a real problem. However, if you get 500 franc notes, take them to a bank and exchange them for smaller francs. There has been a rash of counterfit 500 franc notes, and some merchants will not take them.
#6
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Myrtle- Once I realized I couldn't get any more Francs I had to ration my money to 300 Francs a day. That was fine to get around on the Metro, buy things from street vendors, cold drinks, small gifts, etc. and I used my credit card for everything else. P.S. when you get there I strongly recommend buying the Museum Pass - this gave access to most major sites and museums and saved a ton of time that would have been wasted standing in line with a million tourists buying tickets to enter each site. Have fun!
#7
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April, where did you stay? I take it from your converstion that there were no problems with using credit cards. Was there any word about how long the strike was expected to last? <BR> <BR>Did the Musee d'Orsay reopen while you were there? We're going in July and that was high on my list. Thanks. Glad you had a good time.