Sending money to France
 

What is the best/cheapest way to send money to a niece in France. We want to send her some money to her for her birthday but citibank.com and westernunion.com charge $15.00. <BR> <BR>Can I just send get some French Francs over here and ship them registered mail? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>Hans

Yes, and you could also send travelers' checks in ff as well. <BR> <BR>If her birthday is after the first of the year (or close to it), send the money in euros. <BR> <BR>If she has a bank account, you could deposit the money to the account so she could withdraw it with an ATM card or write a check (if she has an account with an American bank, it's easier - just depo the money in $US and she can withdraw the money in ff). <BR> <BR>

welcome back, elvira!

Hans, <BR>I think Elvira's suggestion is a good one, but depending upon where you bank, you may be able to have your bank draw up a French draft in francs to send to your niece. The bank I used to work at never charged more than $5 for this service. <BR> <BR>Best Wishes, <BR>BC

hi bc <BR>I sent a wedding gift in drachmas to Greece last year, and I found out after the fact (yes, I should have asked) that Citibank charged <BR>me $25 for the service. <BR>Your bank was much kinder! <BR> <BR>I think American Express offers <BR>gift certificates of some kind, at least they used to,that card holders can purchase and send. When the certificate is used, the amount is charged to the cardholder.