Travel Tips--Money, Travelers Checks, Debit & Credit Cards, etc.

Currency:

• The official currency of France is now the Euro.  It is no longer the French Franc.

• The great advantage is that you can now travel from one country to the next in Western Europe using only one currency.

Common Sense Rules:

• Don't put all your eggs in one basket.  Carry a mix of cash, travelers checks and debit and credit cards.

• Split this up among tour participants.  If one person has all the cash, and his/her wallet gets stolen or lost, you're in trouble.

Cash and Travelers Checks:

• You can walk into any European bank with dollars (small denominations) and a passport for identification and get Euros instantly.

• THE PROBLEM:  Finding a bank branch that is open and convenient.  I know there are banks in Verdun, in Varennes, and in Clermont.  But if you're 30 minutes north of one of those towns, you've just lost a hour of time driving to the bank.

• Also, banks typically offer the customer a poor exchange rate, and there could be service charges.

Plastic:

• I have been told that you can get much more favorable exchange rates by using your debit or credit card at an ATM machine.  The reason:  The card companies aggregate millions of dollars in purchases every day, versus the small customer who exchanges only $100.

• WARNING 1:  Have multiple cards in your group.  In one rare case my card became de-magnetized, and I could no longer use it.  American stores will call the card company directly with the credit card number.  The French store clerks would not (or could not) do this.

• WARNING 2:  Know your PIN before you go.  If you don't know your PIN, you're not going to be able to take cash from the ATMs.

• WARNING 3:  Make sure your PIN is a four-digit PIN.  Some travelers have told me that they could not use a six-digit PIN overseas.

• WARNING 4:  Look on the back of your cards before you go to see if your banks are part of larger electronic systems such as NYCE, MAC or Cirrus.  This greatly enhances the usability of your credit card overseas.

Bank Hours:

• While it may vary, consider the following hours to be safe:

• Tuesday - Friday:  0900-1200 and 1400-1700

• Saturday:  0900-1200 and 1400-1630

• Banks are closed on Monday

Locations of Banks and ATMs in the Sector:

• I would like to provide a complete list of banks and ATM machines in the region.  Please email any information you can provide.

• As the largest city in the region, Verdun offers the widest choice of banks and ATMs.

• I have also used the bank in Varennes, but I do not remember if it has an ATM machine.

• There is also a bank in Clermont with an ATM machine.

• Also, can somebody provide the hours of operations at French banks?

Basic French ATM Terms:  (From the book Savoir Flair!)

• ATM                Point Argent or distributeur
• PIN Number    code secret
• Receipt            reçu
• There will be a green button that you press to confirm (valider) your order.

In Small Towns and Small Businesses Cash is Still King:

• While it is becoming easier to use plastic--even in rural France, it is not accepted everywhere.
• You're probably best off keeping an adequate amount of cash on hand, and replenishing your cash supply through ATM withdrawals when you get back to a major city in the region.

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