For anyone in Paris from the US - any advantage/trouble using the chip-and-pin cards that Travelex issues? We are planning to be there next week (Christmas-New Years)and wondering if the high exchange rate is worth it.

Also, I am planning on getting a local SIM card for my cell phone there. Any suggestion
(ease, difficulty, preferred vendors)would be hugely appreciated.

There is another active thread on this exact same topic.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...tiff-price.cfm

My feeling is the 15% premium makes this a non-starter gimmick that preys on the fears of unsuspecting Americans who fear they'll be stuck in Paris with an unusable US credit card.

I don't know much about Travelex's chip-and-pin card except that it's a rip-off and there's no reason you should need one except to buy gas at autoroute gas stations at the aires in case your regular card doesn't work. (And getting cash from an ATM in advance would be the better alternative anyway)

There's hardly anything you'd need it for in France that your ATM card wouldn't work for. NO, I wouldn't get one and don't see any advantage.

Go to FNAC or an Orange store for your SIM card. Make sure your phone is the proper band-width and is unlocked.

J62 and StCirq - thanks, both of you, for the info. Will check out the other thread as well. The Travelex conditions are quite steep, I thought.

I have been able to use my phone with a local SIM card elsewhere. Let's hope it works in Paris as well.

While I wouldn't use the Travelex card (exchange rate is exorbitant!), I can see how it could come it handy.

While in France this past Fall, my car's gas gauge was on empty and the nearest gas station was a station with no attendants. None of my ATM or credit cards would work, and those pumps don't take cash.

I luckily found another gas station close by that did have an attendant so I could use my credit card. But, I was pretty worried about running out of gas! ;-)

Last I checked (a few months ago), a Lebara SIM is the most economical, by far. A BIC phone with SIM and included minutes is a very good deal, too. Both require registering and topping off, though, which can be more than a nuisance.

If you have an unlocked GSM phone and plan to use it only for emergencies or a few short calls, it may be easier and almost as economical to just use your home carrier. Or, consider Call in Europe or Roam Simple. I've used both with excellent customer service and accurate billing. That you receive the SIM (so have service immediately upon landing) and everything is in English are huge advantages.

Also look into Skype.

A phone card is still the best way to call home, especially if you'll have lengthy conversations.

djkbooks,

Thanks a lot. I did check the Lebara SIM rates and they appear to be the most economical.

If the main purpose is unmanned gas stations, it would make more sense to not let your tank be close to empty.

Christina,

We're not planning on driving, though your point is well taken. The issue is mostly of avoiding lines at train stations. Also, we'd prefer to not carry a lot of cash on us.