Credit cards versus cash

That works. I carry about a hundred euro for back up if the credit card is not working. Sometimes a "problem" with taxis.

when were you last in Europe? It's not all the different, use either credit or cash. Your choice most of the time, although for simplicity sake it's always easier to use a card. Especially now that it's tap and go.

I am going to differ a little on that last response. All of Europe is not the same. That isn't to say that Paris might not be, but the cash vs. credit landscape has definitely changed in many places.

Mostly CC, though having a little bit of cash is good.

For highest POS security, use a Contactless Pay CC, a Contactless Pay DC, or an Electronic Wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. In other words, try to limit dipping (inserting) or swiping your cards as much as possible.

I usually use cash for small purchases (gelato, lol!) and CC the rest of the time. This last trip in April someone on the forum posted they'd had a cab driver refuse to take a CC (machine broken, which is a likely story!). I had never had that happen but yes, it did the last trip but he saw I had cash in my wallet when I went to get my CC. So...yes, I have cash for taxis (don't use them much) or use the G7 app to schedule them and have it charged to my card via the app.

BTW, I've never had anyone refuse cash. There used to be a grocery store near where I stay that was CC/DC only but they've been bought out and take cash now as well.

Do start hoarding change as you may need it for bathrooms in various places in France.

Which tour are you going on? I'm sure it will be wonderful!

Oftentimes, the "broken" card machine magically works again when you mention that you do not have enough cash to pay the fare. My American partner is often on the receiving end of that "trick" (French is good but still sounds foreign, unlike me!).
Specify that you pay by card while getting in the cab, and you'll avoid such events!

Some places still have a 3, 5 or 10€ minimum for card transactions so having 20-30€ in your wallet at any time is helpful, including coins for tips if you desire (it's optional). More is unneeded.

Last month in France, we primarily used cc to pay for items. I did have the pin pre set up for the three cards. (2 were backup). But most machines didn't ask for the pin (but a few did). We had about $300 in Euros for small purchase items or to make purchases in villages. Most vendors (even in weekday outdoor markets) will accept cc.

A quick card tap and you are done? Maybe not. Your home bank may be charging a percentage or flat fee for every foreign transaction. It could add up if you use the card for every little transaction. So the convenience may come at a substantial cost. Better to check ahead with the card provider (and not your local bank teller.)

Thanks for the information and recommendations everyone. Very helpful. I had planned to have about $300 euro for taxis and small purchases and use credit cards for the remainder. Your comments show that this should be ideal for Paris and then the RS Loire to the South of France tour. If I need more cash, I can use my ATM card to access it. Thanks much!!

"Your home bank may be charging a percentage or flat fee for every foreign transaction"

Well, unless your CC and DC are 0% Foreign Transaction Fees cards, you'll still be paying those fees whether you use your credit card or extract the cash from an ATM machine or get the Euro, in advance, from your home bank. Since my bank offers the lousiest of the lousiest over-the-counter foreign exchange rates, I never buy from them in advance ... ever!

We travel outside of cities and pay for nearly everything in cash. In our experience many B&Bs, small restaurants, bakeries, small museums, that kind of place, don't take credit cards. The business has to pay a cut to your credit card company and smaller businesses can't afford it. In supermarkets, we've observed that most of the people in line ahead of us at checkouts are paying with cash.

Our credit union ATM cards don't charge extra for ATM withdrawals in France, but our Visa card adds 3% to purchases.

Don't rely on debit cards, because consumer protection is not so good if stolen and misused vs. credit cards.

Credit cards are the way to go these days. We always take about $500 in cash as back up, but hardly ever use it.

Some credit cards require you to let them know that you are going on a foreign trip and to what countries.

If your debit card has the VISA logo on it, you have the same protections as a credit card with a VISA logo. The difference is it may take your bank a day to two to replace funds back into your account after fraud has occurred. That isn’t an issue with a credit card where none of your actual funds were ever involved.

why risk your funds with a debit card? use a credit card, let them float you the funds with all its protections and then pay the bill immediately upon return.

But that's the thing of it all, you're NOT anymore risking funds using a Contactless Pay DC than you would be using a Contactless Pay CC.

Further, Contactless Pay and Electronic Wallets are the most secure transaction methods available today.

In three weeks in France in April/May I used a contactless CC for everything. Taxis, cafe, gelato, toilets, road tolls etc. all purchases large and small without question or comment. I got 100€ on the first day and had 55€ left that i spent the last 3 days.

I like to get 300E from a local ATM as well. I like to have some left over so that for my next trip I can pay cash for the taxi in to Paris from CDG which is 58E (to my location) plus a couple Euro tip, rounding to 60E.

I expect that will last you much of your trip and tour. There have been so many excellent Trip Reports recently on the Loire and South of France tour, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

I thought I needed Cash but by the end of my trip I had to find ways to get rid of it. Everyone took credit cards.

As mentioned above, for use of credit cards - it is best to try to use one that doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. My cards did not and hence I wasn't worried about the fee for every transaction. But if you have a cc that does charge a foreign transaction fee, while it won't break the bank, it is very annoying to see that small fee for every charge made.

"But if you have a cc that does charge a foreign transaction fee, it won't break the bank"

Exactly - a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on say $5,000 of converted Euro equals $125.