ATM at CDG airport

Yes - there are ATMs and money exchange windows.

Yes. Unless you're pre-paying for lodgings in a cash amount that excedes your daily withdraw limit, I can't foresee a reason to use any other method than an ATM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur7NgbJ1G30

thanks!
one major thing to check off on my list before the big trip! :>

You should go to a bank before you leave and get maybe a hundred euros. Use a ATM machine that has a relationship with a bank in France, you will get a better rate. (I know Bank of America has a relationship with a popular bank in Paris).Always leave France with some Euros for the return home. Emergencys arise and you don't want to be caught without any local cash. I speak from experience.

. . and of course, do let your bank know before you leave that you will be travelling in Europe so that your ATM withdrawls don't raise a red flag at the bank.

The French bank that Bank of America partners with is Banque National de Paris. (BNP) You will see their ATM's all over Paris. And, there are NO fees added. You will actually get the lowest daily interbank rate. I checked it on my last trip to Paris (2009) and it was exactly the daily published rate. Bon Voyage!

Also, BNP's ATMs (in the city) will accept our dark ages American ATM cards (magnetic stripes). Lots of machines in Europe now only accept the smart cards with a computer chip imbedded.

Some previous posters here have related that (some) of the ATMs at CDG accept only smart cards.

Sales counters (with a human unit) still accept our cards everwhere.

If you go to the UK, BofA partners there with Barclays Bank.

"Lots of (ATM) machines in Europe now only accept the smart cards with a computer chip imbedded.....
Some previous posters here have related that (some) of the ATMs at CDG accept only smart cards."
I'm hoping Bill is referring to machines that take credit or debit cards for purchases, like train tickets. I've never had an ATM at CDG, or anywhere else, refuse me cash because my debit/ATM or credit card didn't have a chip.

dianne,

My experience with ATM's is the same as Norm described. My primary ATM card has only a magnetic strip and I've never had any problems using it anywhere (except for a minor "issue" last year).

To clarify one point, the automatic Ticket Machines at CDG will only accept the newer "chip & PIN" credit cards or Euro cash. However, AFAIK you can still purchase tickets via magnetic strip credit card at the staffed ticket windows. Have a look at This Website for further details.

One other point regarding ATM use is that your travel funds must be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. It's a good idea to travel with a backup card (if possible).

Happy travels!

thanks everyone for your ATM information. i appreciate it! :>

"Lots of (ATM) machines in Europe now only accept the smart cards with a computer chip imbedded..... Some previous posters here have related that (some) of the ATMs at CDG accept only smart cards."

So far in my experience, this is still a minority of ATMs, mostly found in locations infrequently visited by the average tourist. At worst, it's been a minor inconvenience, never a show-stopper.

I'm curious about these ATMs that only accept chipped cards - does anyone have any more details about this?

It's just that this is really the first I've heard, automated ticket machines yes but not ATMs. Are we sure that people's cards didn't work because they needed a chip or is that an assumption? I know I've had the odd foreign ATM not work with my smart-chip enabled card (probably a network issue.) I'd expect it to be bigger news, over here if not in the US.

If this is true does anyone also know why? From a technical point of view I can't see what the ATM would do with the chip - they already authenticate the PIN with your bank when they request the withdrawal, why do it twice?

I personally don't believe these chip-card only ATMs exist; a bit of an urban legend. It's more probable there were some temporary network problems, the card was rejected, and the user erroneously believed the card wouldn't accept magnetic strip cards.

OK, maybe I'll rephrase, from ATMs that "require a chip-embedded card" to "AMTs that consistently don't accept my non-chip card for some technical reason beyond my limited comprehension". Off the top of my head, I can think of an ING bank branch in Bruges (on the Markt) that has never accepted my card, whereas there is another branch in Leuven where I have had no problems.

Just to add to my previous post, so far ALL ATM's I've used in Europe have accepted a magnetic strip ATM card. However, some of the automated ticket kiosks that I've encountered will ONLY accept "chip & PIN" credit cards.

I've had a problem with my ATM card on a couple of occasions, but normally if I try it again in an hour or so, it works fine. It's important to keep the time difference in mind, as sometimes Banks at home are doing data backup in the "wee hours", so the machines aren't able to communicate.

I had problems again with my primary ATM card last year, but that was a "coding issue" between Banks. That was a CLEAR reminder for me to ALWAYS carry a backup ATM card!

Cheers!