Cash or Credit in France?

I find that managing cash reserves can be stressful and like to use credit where I can. If you don't have transaction charges, use credit everywhere you can!

As long as the business accepts the credit card and doesn't charge extra to use it you should be OK.

I think the main reason for this advice is that not all merchants will take your CC. Some little bakeries and brasseries won't take them at all. A lot of times there is a minimum amount that needs to be charged (you'll see signs like "CB a partir de XX€" - 10 or 15€ is typical) You also run in to the chip&pin problem, with some places unable to take a CC. Most restaurants in Paris will take them, but I've stayed at a little out-of-the way B&B that didn't even take French bank cards. So, depending on where you're going and what you're trying to pay for, it could work out just fine, or you may find you'll need the cash anyways.

Our very loose rule of thumb is under 50 euros, pay cash; over 50 euros, credit card. Using a credit card for larger purchases gives you the benefit of consumer protection laws in the unlikely event of an error or disputed charge.

There is no hard rule about cash vs. credit. It obviously is personal preference. We use cash all the time. Just find it more convenient, easier, and safer. Don't have to worry about cc number being compromised, wrong charge, etc. During our last three trips totally more than 30 days I think we had only three or four charges. One was for a hotel that would not give a discount for cash and a couple others were towards the end of the trip when managing cash flow. We live to come home with a couple hundred Euro for the next trips so towards the end we may use the credit card.

Also consider that merchant fees for accepting credit cards (% paid to the cc co by the business owner off each transaction) are higher in Europe than here - can get as high as 10%! So, for small businesses - especially mom & pop operations - I pay cash. Since I prefer B&Bs and small family-run restaurants, I make sure that I have enough cash to cover. Why enrich the banks with money that is hard-earned by these folks? It's my personal philosophy on this... and my version of ethical travel. Chain stores (like grocery stores), gas stations, and places like museums, sightseeing stops & train stations, I will use a credit card.

" As long as the business accepts the credit card and doesn't charge extra to use it you should be OK. I have never found an economically priced hotel that accepted credit cards. I think I could count on one hand the number of restaurant I've been in that accept credit cards. Public transportation costs a lot less than rental cars and they usually accept cash, only sometime require a credit card. So in essence, by being more expensive to start with, business that accept CCs do "charge extra". One of the secrets of traveling economically is to use cash. Last year I arrived at the Freilassing Bahnhof in Germany to take an 8 min, €2,10 trip to the Salzburg Bahnhof to go to Mondsee to see the SOM wedding church. The counter was not yet open and the Nahverkehr automat accepted only plastic. I had to use my credit card for $3 (and pay 3¢ for currency exchange). That was the only time on that trip that I used a credit card. Even though 4 nights were in Munich, I averaged €33 for overnight w/ breakfast.

In Paris and all over France we have found that all the economical hotels take credit cards, Lee. We have spent 20 years travelling to France. Also most of the little restaurants and bistros take credit cards. We , also, mostly use credit cards for hotels and flights etc, But they are taken many places, even in smaller restaurants and hotels. We get euros at ATM's and we take euros left over from previous trips, also.

For restaurants and cafes, we have often used credit cards in France. It depends upon the context. If it's a small amount, like under ten Euros, I would use cash. Museum admissions, depends upon what is convenient at the moment. Transit tickets, always cash but I do not have a good reason, just my practice. In some vague way using a cc in a metro station seems more risky, but it's probably an unfounded concern.

Do whatever you'd do at home. CC's are taken exactly like they are here-sure, at some small mom and pop places you might need cash (just like here), or you might feel funny using a card for a small purchase. But at most places you can use one with no issues.

I don't have any experience in France, but last year in Italy I used a Capital One card. My card also had zero fees for international use, and I had no surprises on my statement. We used the credit card wherever possible (which turned out to be a lot fewer places than I expected), and then used cash (from the ATM) when needed.

Use your credit card like you use it here: not too many places will take a credit card to buy a candy bar, so use your cash for simple transactions, and credit for the others. (if you don't want to carry around wads of cash) We use our credit card whenever we can; lodging (of all types), meals, gas, tolls, entry fees, etc.

Hi, I started using credit cards in Europe since 1987, before that cash. There is a difference between travelling in France and Germany, both on a budget level. More establishments in France accept a credit card than what you would find comparably in Germany. If you're staying in 2 star hotels and Pensionen in France and Germany, the one more apt to accept a credit card is the one in France, even if the amount is the same for same length of stay. True, I have come across restaurants in Paris, as pointed out, that have a minimum charge amount, at least 10 Euro. Hostels accept Visa...if I'm staying after, say 3-4 nights, I am paying with a credit card, just as I would at a 2 star hotel or B&B, if there's no surcharge for doing so. I use the credit card for TGV tickets and reservations, other point to point tickets in France...comes in handy.

Use a credit card everywhere that will take them (assuming your bank doesn't charge fees) and conserve your cash. Getting cash can be a pain and you need to break the larger bills the ATMs give you down.