US dollars converting to Euros in Paris

To answer part of your question, no ATM's do not accept cash and/or convert it to Euro. The exchange rate is not going to be favorable if you go to exchange facilities, you'd be best to leave it deposited in your financial institution at home and use your bank card, you'll get the best rate this way, also do not use a credit card for withdraws, a credit card transaction would be a cash advance which you don't want either. Also be sure to let your financial institution know when and where you'll be in Europe because when their security sees foreign transactions they will probably freeze the card, you can also increase your daily amount for your travels, ask them to do that when you notify them of your trip,

There are currency exchange business like Travelex all over the place that will happily exchange your dollars to Euros. You can find them at the airports, train station, or anywhere else tourists congregate. You can't miss them:) If you need a specific location in a neighborhood. Go to google maps and do a search.

When the wife and I went to Europe in January, I doubt we had $35 cash between us. Certainly nothing worth exchanging. But we did have plastic, as in debit cards for ATM cash and credit cards for buying stuff and paying for hotels.

American dollars do you very little good in Europe. You really don't need to take them there just to exchange them at a poor exchange rate. Once in Europe, just walk up to the ATM and withdraw Euros (or English Pounds if you are at Heathrow or CHF if you are in Zurich). Yes there are Travelex booths everywhere but the exchange rate is yucky.

Suggested reading: http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/cash-currency-tips.htm

Sandra, if you are going to take cash, at least give yourself a fighting chance by knowing the daily exchange rate for the Euro. Get that either from the internet or a daily newspaper. That way you can judge who is going to screw you the least. Expect about 8 to 10% premium for exchanging dollars for Euro. Be careful of exchange bureaus that advertise no fee. They just bury the fee in the exchange rate by using a higher exchange rate. There will be exchange bureaus at the airport, probably the easiest to find. After that exchange bureaus can be hard to find. Sometimes they are associated with internet cafes. Local banks are not interested in exchange dollars. That is not their business. American Express offices will exchange but they are mostly gone. You might goggle AE and see if they have a presents in Paris. Obviously carrying US cash is not the best way to go.

You might also wish to create a cheat sheet detailing the conversion of different amounts of US dollars into euros. A handy website to create one utilizing current interbank exchange rates is found at Oanda.com.

Hi, The American Express is still in London on Haymarket and in Vienna on Kärntnerstrasse, where they have always been. In Paris it was on Rue Scribe next to the opera house. Check on that, but I believe it's still operating.

"...There will be exchange bureaus at the airport, probably the easiest to find. After that exchange bureaus can be hard to find..." They're not hard to find in any big city in Europe. For example using Google Maps it lists 10 within walking distance of Notre Dame, and 7 along to the Champs-Élysées. Just to give two examples.

Maybe I should have said, harder to find than ATMs. They are around, just not on every street corner.

When it comes to currency remember that "exchange" means you LOOSE money. In thirty years of going to Europe we have done every thing you can imagine in paying our bills. Three things work. Buy some Euros in the US for the start of the trip. Get Euros while in Europe from an ATM with a debit card. For credit card use a CapitalOne VISA to avoid the fees of 2 to 4% on each and every transaction (% varies with each credit card company). Keep a few dollars in your pocket/purse for returning back through US airports. Don, San Antonio

When it comes to currency remember that "exchange" means you LOOSE money. In thirty years of going to Europe we have done every thing you can imagine in paying our bills. Three things work. Buy some Euros in the US for the start of the trip. Get Euros while in Europe from an ATM with a debit card. For credit card use a CapitalOne VISA to avoid the fees of 2 to 4% on each and every transaction (% varies with each credit card company). Keep a few dollars in your pocket/purse for returning back through US airports. Don, San Antonio