Paris & The Heart of France - ATM's

Never been on a tour.

Never seen a village of over a thousand souls that did not have an atm.

Absolutely! Not a concern...but if you anticipate a problem area on your tour, just make your concern known to the tour guide and s/he will let you know if there is a 'problem area' on your itinerary...but that's not likely.

Put that on your list of questions for your guide at the first meeting along with "are there any hotels where they do not want you to do hand wash".

Did that tour summer of 2013 and had no problems finding ATM's outside Paris. After all, French people use the same type of banking arrangements we use in the USA...

I suggest you withdraw what you will need in Paris. You will be wearing a money belt, right?

Do what is most comfortable for you, but I don't see a need to "load up" in Paris. I would never let my cash dwindle to zero, but on an RS tour you'll have free time most days, and you'll likely being staying in hotels right in the center of towns or near shops/businesses/banks. So, pop out early morning or one of your afternoons and use an ATM. And, yes, I've been on RS tours and have never failed to see an ATM. Probably won't see one on Omaha Beach, but, hey, you never know. You'll see banks in Amboise, Bayeux and other towns along the way.

I was at Omaha Beach in May and (believe it or not) there's a gambling casino there now. I bet there's an ATM nearby! Agree with what everyone said about checking with your guide. He/she will cover administrative items like this on the bus as you are arriving in a town. No problem. Bet you will really enjoy this tour, it was one of my favorites.

Pam, better to ask forgiveness than permission! =P

@Chriss, on the 21 day tour 2 hotels had big signs saying not to do sink washes. I would like to have known that ahead of time. Not sure Kathy will run into that on her tour but it's going to be a question I ask from now on!

I could always wash my clothes in the shower then. Ha

So I took Ed's kind advice and looked on Google Maps. Bourges has tons of banks but Amboise only has ONE! I'll just make sure I ask the guide about which towns to not be low on cash.

Thanks everyone! Sorry to nitpick every little detail and I'm sure this won't be my last dumb question until I can proclaim to be a seasoned European traveler as well! :-)

Then you did something wrong. I just pulled the stunt on Amboise and saw six within a couple of blocks of one another. And, not every atm will show up as 'bank' or anything else - - not by a long shot. They're there. Dump me in Amboise right now and I could find two dozen in an hour.

Look, I live out of foreign atms at least six months out of the year. It's not something to think about -- that's the way the world works. Take my first response and embroider it on the inside of your eyelid.

Amboise only has one bank?

Dunno where that came from, but where I parked near the river if I had had a slingshot I could have potted half a dozen without breaking a sweat.

There are plenty.

French for bank is Banque. While some maps may find ATMs they are more likely to strike one with a Distributeur des Billets or guichet automatique de banque (GAB).

Best thing, just look around. They're everywhere.

I searched exactly like Ed said and it only showed one bank in Amboise. But I get it now. I have never been to Europe and i just didn't know. So no more dumb questions. Discussion closed. Thanks for everyone's input!

It isn't a dumb question if you don't know the answer.

By your posting the question, dozens if not hundreds of other people have learned.

Thank you for posting the question.

While on two tours in France, I always use the ATM at the Post Office and never had any problems. In every town in France, you will always see a Pharmacy sign and Post Office. I would advise getting a nice amount out at the Post Office ATM.

Kathy,

You shouldn't have any trouble finding ATM's in any of the towns you'll be visiting. I've travelled from Paris to Nice on a tour and in various other parts of France on my own, and have had NO issues at all finding ATM's. As someone else mentioned, the Guide will know where ATM's are located in each town. Keep in mind that the locals also need access to cash, whether they live in a small town or a larger city.

Don't forget to notify all of your banks and credit card firms that you'll be travelling, so they don't "freeze" your cards when they detect transaction activity in Europe. Also, I would highly recommend packing along a "backup" ATM card, just in case there are any problems with your primary card.

I understand it now. I know there is probably a bank in every town but my concern was that we would be visiting remote areas and, being on a tour bus, would have no transportation to track down a bank. Basically, if they are on every corner, I won't have to worry. I WILL have cash but just wanted to ask the question for emergency purposes. Thanks everyone! Got it!

Kathy.. remember the guide needs money too.. and its doubtful they would be carryings it all with them either.. so he or she will be a great help to you that way.. just ask.

Do NOT forget to notify your bank with the debit card and your credit card companies at LEAST two weeks in advance so they don't cut off your credit, thinking it's fraud!

Yes, thanks Donna! Can't forget that!!

Kathy, I was just in Paris this past Oct. There are HSBC Banks & ATMS (based out of NY) all over Paris and France. I had not problems getting cash.