Suggestion - best choice to exchange $ to Euro's at CDG Paris, arriving on a Sunday.

Do not ... Repeat NOT ... bring dollars to exchange for euros. Bring a debit card to use at an ATM to get euros from your bank account at home. You will spend many valuable hours seeking a bank in Paris where you can exchange your dollars.

Shuttles are notoriously unreliable, by the way. Be kind to yourselves and take a taxi to Bastille. Probably it will cost you 50 or 60 euro but you will have a nice comfortable transfer after a tiring flight. Get some euro from an ATM in the airport for the cab, or get your bank at home to order a hundred or two so you have some on hand.

See also tomsguidetoparis.com and parisbytrain.com

A stated so many times here: Your bank ATM/Debit card into a bank owned ATM. No fees at their end, and your own money withdrawn in Euros at the normal exchange rate. Do not use an exchange -it's not an exchange, it's a purchase. At a mark-up, either in the exchange rate, or in a commission.

(Edit -Didn't mean to repeat the last answer, it was not there when i started typing_

sonblest.. you will not be able to change your dollars into Euros at any bank in France. They simply will not deal with you unless you are a customer. In fact in many, you won't even get in the door.
Using the exchange kiosk at the airport is usually a rip off.

I bring some euros from home.. I live in Victoria bc and have never had a problem getting 50-100 euros to take for taxi and etc.
Then on first day.. never mind what day it is because I do not need a bank, I simply find a bank machine in the city. They are all over the place and they do not charge you for withdrawals( what your bank does is another matter) .
I use my ATM card to remove money from my chequeing account.. been doing that for almost 20 years now. Works fine.

I withdraw a large amount( have my limit raised) put the bulk of it in my money belt ( which I then leave in hotel safe ) and just keep a days spending money in my purse .

We like to have 100-200 euros with us when we land. That is enough to get transportation, something to eat, and just get settled in. As mentioned above, then you can look for a BANK ATM to stock up so to speak. As a general rule, currency exchanges in airports give you the WORST deal you will get. Just be sure you let your bank know about your plans so they can put a travel alert on the card or it might be blocked. TC

Thank you ALL for your responses and suggestions - very helpful!

For lots of great money tips, read all the links in Rick's money page, and you'll be an expert: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money

And take seriously what Pat says about banks. If you do, against all good advice, want or need to change USD for EUR, you will need to find an exchange booth. They're around in tourist areas. But ATM's are everywhere, and really are the way to go, not only for cost, but for convenience.

I'm not sure why you think you would be "better off avoiding a taxi." Given that there's at least two of you (since you said "we"), that this is your first trip, and you have some luggage, plus the fact that traffic is lighter on a Sunday so the fare won't be higher due to the taxi getting stuck in traffic, I'd say a taxi is a smart choice. On your return to the airport, when you will be much more familiar with the city, you can see whether you want to take a taxi or a cheaper method.

Use the taxi and save your back to enjoy the trip. Make sure you let your bank know about travel but also call the credit card company. I had the experience of the bank not telling credit card company. Make the extra phone call and check again before leaving. Enjoy the trip and treat yourself well. Keep smiling Letro

I have never been to an international airport that did not have an exchange, almost always there's one in the luggage carousel area and at least one once you're through customs. Though I don't know for sure, I would venture a guess that whatever rate you get for $100-$150 dollars is going to be better than what you'd get in the U.S. beforehand.

I've also always been able to withdraw euros from an ATM at international airports. Do get an account with an ATM card that you can use in Europe. It will be cheaper, faster, much more convenient, and ultimately safer, than carrying lots of cash and looking for banks or exchange points.

The only caveat I can think of to the ATM card is that many US banks go off-line for a few hours a week, usually between midnight Saturday and very early Sunday morning. Depending on the time you arrive in Paris and the time zone of your bank, it is possible that you will need money during that down time. Then look for an exchange at the airport.

A trick I learned to use in Amsterdam is if I need a few euros, I'll buy something - even a bottle of water - and use a $50 bill. You will always get change in the local currency. Do this a couple of times. You won't get a great rate, but at least you'll have enough cash to start your trip.

Have you thought about taking the train from CDG to the city, then a taxi to your hotel?

While in CDG this past Oct, in Terminal 2, Concourse E & F there where HSBC ATMs (based out of NY) and Currency Exchange windows with a live person or their ATM off to the side of the window. Also, in the main hub of Terminal 2 across from the Sheraton Hotel was a bank. I used Paris Shuttle, www.paris-shuttle.com, for my return trip (Hotel - CDG) because I was leaving early in the morning. They were on time and I lucked out with no traffic. Enjoy your trip.

Unlike most I purchase about 500 Euro from AAA prior to my trip. I also do carry on and do not check bags. When I landed at CDG this past September I hoofed it to 2A to meet my friends flight and took a taxi to Central Paris for about 40 Euro. I had cash on hand to pay and the 500 lasted me for 4 days before I had to hit an ATM and make a small withdrawal. Paid my hotel bill with the debit then trained to Switzerland and used the debit there to withdraw Swiss Francs. Easy breezy. I agree take a taxi.

On my two trips to paris, once I used a shuttle (reserved ahead of time) and once I used a private car service(reserved ahead). Neither worked satisfactorily picking me up at the airport. However, I used the same companies to return to the airport and it worked well. I have decided to take the RER into the city this next trip this summer. Not only is it cheaper, but reliable. I might opt for the other kind of service to return to the airport.

It depends on your luggage. If you just have one rolling piece each (with a small side piece), the train might work for you. If you take the train, you get off at a station that is a hub for many metro lines and you can take the metro from there. If however, you have more luggage, you might be better off with a cab. I have to admit that this third trip is the first time I have been brave enough to leave CDG on the train.

I am also 60+ and the Metro is very easy.

I am on the side of getting 100-200 Euro before I go. Even from my tiny Idaho bank it only takes 3 or 4 business days. I found that I feel slightly spacy from jet lag and excitement when I land and it sort of stresses me out to have to think about getting money right away. I then go to an ATM the next day to get Euro from my debit card. Since I do bank at a couple of small financial institutions in Idaho, I actually go in to notify them face to face when I travel. It just goes smoother that way. In a more sophisticated area you probably don't have to do that.

I have just gone to the taxi rank at CDG to get a taxi in to town and then have had my hotel arrange for me to get a taxi back to the airport for my flight out. A friend and I went out to CDG to meet a friend who didn't think she could get in to town by herself. We took the RER out there, but opted to take a taxi back to the hotel and we both decided we would just budget taxi fare in to our travel plans in the future! We are 60-somethings too.

Exchange booths will as a rule be costlier than your own bank at home for a bit of seed money. We always take about 500 Euro home from each trip to be stocked up for the return. Of course the recent drop in the Euro makes these Euros now pricey - -but in the past we have done fine. Years ago we got Euros when they were on par with dollars and so spent thousands on a trip at deep discount -- alas no more.

Shuttles and private car services are less reliable than taxis -- no problem when leaving the airport -- all you lose is time -- but on the way TO the airport a no show could cost you your flight. Taxis are not always available on short notice for airport runs. We either take the train or a taxi in and generally book a taxi the night before for the return.

A taxi to central Paris for 40 euros.. that's really really amazing.. I have seen taxis to the Montmartre area for about 45 euros., but one should assume it would be closer to 50-60 euros for central Paris if one is putting aside cash to pay taxi.