Cash for a Paris trip?

A hundred euros should be enough. If not, you can always get more from an ATM in Paris. Most everything will be paid for with credit cards. Technology is great when it works, but there are times when the little green men in the computers misbehave. That's when it's good to have some euros. We take some with us from the last trip so we don't have to hassle with an ATM when we get there. Check with your credit card people and banks to see if you need to put a travel notification on the account. Some do and some don't.

Thanks! That sounds good. One more question: Is there a good place to get Euros over here? I know banks have them if you have an account. Our credit union does not offer them. Thanks.

If you are a AAA member, they offer that service for a nominal fee. The only thing is that you have to go in person to order and pay for the Euros and then return a few days later to pick them up.

Honestly, there’s an ATM in the airport run by a bank. There’s no need to spend money to get euros in the United States. The cab to the hotel will take a credit card.

Great ideas. Thanks!

Hi,

When I went last in July, 2024 I took $17 Euros left over from a previous trip in late 2023. That was it. I landed at CDG, purchased an RER B tix with my debit card and took the train into the city. I put almost everything on debit/credit cards and used an ATM once or twice during the week while in downtown Paris. (I still kept two $50 u.s. bills hidden in my wallet just in case).

Thanks! (Is an RER card only for trains?)

What's the best metro card to get for a 10-day stay?

I have a different philosophy than most people on here seem to have. You need very little cash if all goes as it “likely” will. However, if bank machines or credit card systems crash while I am traveling, or worse, what is the minimum, at least, that I need?

In a foreign country what would I need? Money for food, money to get to my hotel or prepaid transportation, etc. You can always spend the money at the end or bring it home for the next trip. My family was once stranded on a Caribbean island. Our plane did not show up and wasn’t going to show. One large plane landed at this small airport, I forget which airline. They would only take us if we could pay for our seats in cash, which we could so we got off the island. Now this was 40 years ago. Tech has come in so if that fails the outcome would be worse. So I am a fan of decent emergency cash, especially when away from home. Granted I have had risk management experience in my past work life so I think differently, but this is what I do.

So I am a fan of decent emergency cash, especially when away from home.

We are of the same mind set as Wray. Never had anyone turn down cash.

I hear you. I like to be on the safe side too. Thanks.

As far as where to get Euros at home, try calling a local credit union. I am a member of a credit union now, but before I would useAAA. One time for a reason I cannot remember, they were unable to accomodate my euro order and referred me to a local credit union (not my current one) that charged a flat fee of $5 to nonmembers. Both that CU and my current one always have euros on site so you do not need to preorder. You just need to order other currencies.

Thanks. btw AAA has stopped providing foreign currency. I went by today and they stopped a few months ago, at least here in Charlotte.

I live in France. Almost never use cash. Pay by debit card. At restaurants the tip is all ready included in the bill.

Occasionally at street markets in rural villages cash is required

Good advice. So debit card better than credit card?

Do you need some coins for toilets, like at a Metro station?

Don't think so/ Would probably get something like what they used to calla carte d'orange for there metro.

So debit card better than credit card?

Others might disagree, but in my opinion, using a credit card is better for paying for things. Of course a debit (or old fashioned ATM) card will be needed to get cash when overseas.

If a debit card is compromised, your entire bank account is at risk of being drained. If a credit card is compromised, you have many more protections. You can cancel the credit card, dispute the transactions that are fraud, and, as generaly rule, your liabilty for loss is usually limited to $50.

Depending on your credit card, you may have to pay a small foreign transaction fee, but that is a small price to pay for the additional security of a credit card. And that extra cost is minimal when compared to the cost of the trip.

Thanks! Appreciate the advice.

TC is on the money about CC. None of mine charge intl fees. Bury your debt Card in your money belt with some small US bills (we take 100 ea in 20s) for emergencies. My credit union refunds all ATM fees everywhere. We find an ATM before we leave the airport and get divide 100 between us. Use Apple Pay (or Google pay) saves taking out a CC. Enjoy your trip.

Thanks..... appreciate the tips.

I hope that you are able to return to Europe after your April visit. If so, make sure you take some Euros home with you so that you have that for your next trip. I think we have @ 27 Euros to take with us the next trip in September. We use them almost exclusively for the chambermaids in the hotels. We also rely on the person at the hotel desk for info on the best/nearest ATM.

hey hey jmorrill634
couple things to think about or food for thought. many different feelings here about getting cash.
several years ago, landed in rome and was planning to use ATM getting off plane. OMG had 2 ATM's one broken and the other had a long line. it was crazy!! borrowed from my friend until we got into town. never again
went to well's fargo bank and bought 200E for a fee of $20, was so worth it me. make sure get small bills (5's, 10's, 20's) did not want a 100E note.
same thing when using a city ATM (go inside a bank in case card gets "eaten up"). i ask for 75 or 85 to get mixed small notes
take a ride to charlotte airport since it's international, look where ATM/currency exchange are to see if able to buy from desk or machine. do not use travelex, they charge large fees.
any friends going to euro country before you, have them get for you by giving them some money. my friend's husband travels to poland every year and he always brings back for us or family to be prepared. works out fabulous.
hope all works out and you will have a fabulous fun time, BFF is french basque and her favorite city is paris so of course we have to stop there for a week or so, fly home from CDG. enjoy
aloha

Well, if you’ve never had anyone turned down cash, you obviously haven’t been some places I’ve been in Europe.

Over the last few years, I’ve been in numerous places where they did not accept cash. I have seen a couple of Americans have a fit, but the locals seem perfectly fine with it.

We usually take €300. Small food purchases, chambermaid tip, pay toilettes, etc. I found some placemats I really liked in Eze. She gave a discount because I could pay in cash. If you get to the end of your trip and have some left, use it instead of credit card. Could we get by with less cash? Of course, but we like having a little cash cushion.

I used to travel between the U.S. and Europe (mostly France and Switzerland) for work before I ended up being transferred to France.

I never brought cash with me. I always got it from ATMs after landing.

And for those who suggest always using a credit/debit card and never using cash, well that would require doing transactions in a somewhat censored set of institutions and would make buying a pack of breath mints, a bottle of water, or a cup of coffee rather strange indeed.

My advice? Don't carry euros to Europe. They have plenty of them there. Just get some from an ATM after you arrive and carry a little cash with you at all times. It will come in handy.

Take the cash with you. In France and Germany I use both even when I can pay with a card using the tap option. Then , why should I just rely on the card?

In Paris charging your meals can be easily done, chances are all the eateries you go to all accept the card. I use the cc at restaurants too in Paris.

Have 100 to 200 Euro on you.

Thanks again for all the advice (even if it is a little conflicting). ;)

I remember the days of Travelers Checks when one of the first places you'd go in a new capital was the American Express office.

Hi OP (JMorrill)
I posted my response a couple days ago and didn't return until this inquiry appeared at the top of my list today.
To answer your question, the RER B ticket I purchased with my debit card at CDG was a single ticket on the Paris version of what I call the "commuter rail train", as opposed to the Metro tickets. I think it was about $13 euros for one ticket from CDD to downtown Paris. In all my trips to Paris over the years, I've never used the Navago cards as I do a TON of walking in Paris (I think it gives me a better view of the city).

As I posted earlier, I took $17E with me in July, 2024. However, I had called both my local bank (Citizen's Bank) and my credit card company before I left Boston, told them I was going to France, and received verbal assurances from them that my cards would work overseas. This was also my ninth time visiting Paris so I felt a sense of comfort in going with so few euros in my pocket. With that said, upon reading the various responses after my post, I will state that when I went to Paris in November, 2023, I went with a buddy of mine. We did six days in France and two nights in Frankfurt, Germany where we saw an NFL football game. My buddy's ATM cards worked perfectly in France, but for some still-unknown reason, his debit cards did not work in Frankfurt, which is allegedly the banking capital of Germany (he used the same cards in Munich in October 2023 during Octoberfest without issues). He had extra euros with him so it wasn't an issue for him when we were together. So, take that for what it is worth.

Going out on a limb here--I only use cash traveling. Yes, my apts are prepaid as are my train tickets. Will use a cc to buy my Navigo pass and going to Lourve and Giverny, since I need to go at a specific day and time, buy my tickets ahead of time, which can lead to a whole other discussion. So for bottle of water, snack, gelato, croissant, toilets, etc use euros or the currency of the country I am in. I've always been a pay by cash person and really dislike most technology, which can lead to a whole other discussion. And actually on my last trip in November 2024 although I had charged numerous apts, train, tours for Italy on my cc before and during my month long trip, midway through the cc company blocked my card while I attempted to buy a train ticket. Although I had another card, without cash might have been really stressed. They said it was "just because" they wanted to make sure it was not fraud. As there was no need for a travel advisory, I was very annoyed.

Buying some fresh produce at the Wednesday market in Sarlat, two different produce vendors didn't take credit cards. And paying the caretakers to clean the house we rented for 10 days was a cash transaction. We always take about 100 euros each with us just in case we are in some small town and need to buy something (e.g. some honey and confitures at a small farm we passed on our way to Le Pegue-pop. about 180). Also, we use cash for donation boxes in some small churches and tiny local museums, and the collection plates during a mass. If we have a lot of euros left, we just spend it on drinks or meals. But normally we bring it home to use on our next trip.
I order it from my bank ahead of time, requesting small denominations. I don't let them choose. I make specific requests.
Ten days in Paris...I would guess about 100 euros for both of you, especially since you won't be out in the countryside. As I said, just spend it down on your last day...coffee and a snack at CDG as you wait to board your plane? We had enough left last time to get two bottles of Ricard at the duty-free shop. Same price as at the markets in France. It's harder to find than Pernod here in the US, and my husband prefers it. Score!