What about cash (euro?) when my wife & I leave for Paris?

Hi Ed,

My husband and I took $500 american dollars and then I had 65 in Euros and 60 in pounds before we left.

1. We never used the us dollars but RS recommends bringing.

2. There are ATMs everywhere and I really did not need to bring the pounds or euros before we arrived. Just go the atm when you land.

Use atms they are the easiest just check with your bank to make sure you deduct any fees. Bring a little stapler and baggie we found this helpful in keeping all of our receipts for the atm together.

Ed,
Whenever I go to Europe I try to have a few Euros with me when I land. However it's not necessary because the airports and main train stations have ATM's. Just get a debit card to get your $$.
Have fun.

If possible, it's nice to have a little something in your pocket when you arrive. Your flight might be late and you might want to hit the ground running, or get a sandwich while your spouse/kid/whoever spends 30 min. in the nearest bathroom/store/bar immediately after landing. It's just nice to have a little leeway. Maybe the automatic banking system will have a 10-hr computer glitch that hits immediately when you land, who knows. It's nicer not to have to worry.

Even in the unlikely event that all the airport ATM's go out, there are 3 branches of HSBC bank at CDG airport at which you can obtain cash. Obviously there are different opinions, but IMO it's really not necessary to buy euros before you go.

Hi Edward. When I go to Europe I take at least 100 euros in cash with me. I'm going on a 3-week trip to Germany, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam in about a month and am planning to take 200 euros. This way, I don't have to worry about finding an ATM as soon as I arrive (and can avoid ATM fees for the first part of the trip). I keep most of the cash in my moneybelt and take out 20 or 30 euros per day for spending money.

I don't get any euro in advance, but I carry at least $200 in my money belt for an emergency. (I've never had to use any of it.) If I needed to, I would use some of my dollars to buy a few euro at an airport exchange bureau when I arrived in Europe. The rate will be lousy, but buying money in a country that uses it gets you a better rate than buying that money at home.

My rule of thumb: Use a credit card for major purchases and get cash from ATMs for everything else. Be sure to notify your card providers when you will be in Europe or a computer may block the cards for what it suspects is fraudulent use.

Read this helpful article by Rick Steves: Money 101.

I concur with the other posts - I wouldn't worry about exchanging dollars into Euros before leaving the states. ATMs are generally the way to go once you arrive.

When we're at the end of our trip, we bring home some euros (whatever we have left from our last day's pockets - usually about E50-75). That way, we don't exchange the same money twice (dollars to euros to dollars - fee each time) and we have a little pocket money to start with on our next trip.

OK!!! and Thank You to all who responded. I & my wife really appreciate it.
Only a couple more weeks & we're on our way!
EdSki & Wife

The only time that I got a "wad of Euros" before I went was in 2007 when I knew that I was paying for the first 2 places in cash and I wanted to make sure that I had enough in case the ATM wouldn't let me withdraw enough. Otherwise, I would take about 100 Euro just in case. I can use the BNP Paribus ATM's without a fee, but might not be able to find one at the airport. Enjoy your trip!