Exchanging US cash vs using debit card for getting cash in Paris

Use debit card.

It's almost always cheapest to just get cash from an ATM using your debit card. Exchanging money is fairly expensive in Europe, especially for dollars. ATMs are plentiful and easy to use...there is almost always an English language option even in small villages and towns.

Definitely debit card.

Many banks in Paris won't exchange currency anyhow. This topic is discussed all the time, and the general concensus is to seek out an ATM machine attached to a bank in case something goes wrong, withdraw a large sum all at once to minimize your home bank's service charges on a percentage basis, and be sure to warn your bank of your plans before you leave home. And only under dire circumstances use a credit card to withdraw cash.

Here's why it is almost always cheaper to get cash from an ATM-

If you buy Euros from your local US bank, or take dollars and exchange them at a Paris bank, there are physical bills moving around. That currency has to be handled by real people, and shipped from one place to another.

If you use an ATM to take out local currency, the currency exchange and transfer was all electronic, and therefore cheaper.

You may think you aren't getting charged a transaction fee, but usually the exchange rate may be more. Somewhere along the line you are (almost always) paying more to exchange actual cash.

Sometimes people are more comfortable having some local currency in hand before they arrive. That's reasonable and may be worth the small cost to do so.

ATM debit card.. have used one in Europe for at least the last 15 years.. can't imagine carrying cash and trying to find a money changer( banks won't deal with you ) and then getting a money changers rate of exchange.

Leave bulk of your American money at home,, I bring like 40 bucks Canadian that I keep for just using in the transit airports when I fly over to get a magazine and a snack.

Ps My bank has an account that I use.. no fee foreign transasction fees.. ( all I have to do is keep a min. balance in that account) .. and since banks in France charge no transaction fee.. it will pay you to shop around and see whats available at banks near you.

I also had my withdrawal limit raised so I could withdraw as much money as I can at one time so I don't have to go back and forth to banks. I keep bulk in my hotel safe and only ever carry one days cash with me.. some prefer to keep it in a money belt.. up to you, but just one days cash in purse.

thank you for all the good info