chips in credit cards necessary

Don't worry about it. Your magnetic strip cards will be accepted everywhere except gas pumps, and automatic train ticket machines.

Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

You're very welcome. Also be sure to contact your bank and tell them about your travel plans so your card doesn't get blocked.

As Micheal says, self-service gas stations and train ticket machines will usually be the only problem, with occasional exceptions, usually because the person at the register doesn't realize their cc machine has a slot for a stripe card.

Just one note -- "train ticket machines" also includes metro ticket machines (but you can use coins or find one of the increasingly rare booths staffed by an attendant selling tickets (most seem to be information only these days with no ticket sales).

Diana, The older magnetic stripe credit / debit / ATM cards should work fine in France at staffed locations (ie: hotels, stores, etc.). However, if using automated ticket machines such as the rail ticket machines at CDG, those will only function with "Chip & PIN" cards (or Euro coins). You may find it helpful to have a look at This Excellent Website for further information on those. For ATM withdrawals, note that your travel funds must usually be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. As others have suggested, be sure to notify your financial institutions that you'll be travelling so they don't "freeze" your cards. If your plans include a side trip to Amsterdam, note that the Central Station there will ONLY accept "Chip & PIN" credit cards (or cash), even at the staffed ticket windows. That was the case when I was there last year and they had large signs on each window stating that. Happy travels!

My only follow-up comment is that there is no need to worry about the 4-digit PIN, at least in France. I've had a 6-digit PIN for 7 or 8 years and it's never been a problem. But it is important to notify your bank before you travel. I never used to do that before the last 2 years, but it appears to be necessary because of more stringent fraud controls by banks.

Definitely will NOT work in a train ticket machine. Likely will NOT work at a charge station in a gift shop. Should work in the bank ATM machines.
I know from experience this past spring.

What about toll booths? There are fewer and fewer manned toll booths each month it seems like. (And signs touting how they are improving things for us...) I only use a chip & pin card, so I can't test it. Thinking this could be a problem for anyone driving around France.

Same problem with unmanned toll booths. Just about any automated ticket machine will only accept the European card. Which is one of the reasons we have shift to 98% cash usage. And actually find it much easier over the last couple of trips than dealing with credit cards.

As Franks says, automated tollbooth machines in France, which are indeed becoming the norm, require a chip card or cash. It's partly the reason why I got an Andrews chip and PIN card before my trip last Spring.