On page 627 RS's Paris 2017, Rick gives information on the Amex Paris office. While here in Paris, I had occasion to call Amex, customer number out of the country. They told me they've closed their Paris office because of "security reasons in Paris." What a loss.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
How is it a lost? I carry an AE card and paid the fee for years until it became harder and harder to use. Finally canceled the card and left home without it without any problem. I guess Rick will have to do a little editing on the next release but not a great lost.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
If he's writing about that office near the Opera where young Americans bought and sold old cars outside or we had mail held, that's been gone for at least fifteen years, if not twenty. Rendez-vous place in the good old daze.
With no more traveler's checks or held mail, why would someone need the Amex office?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
That page just has a French phone number for AmEx cardholder services and the phone number still works.
The walk-in office on Rue Scribe and other locations were converted to another brand several years ago and provide the currency exchange and travel agent functions that AmEx used to do, but that are not much needed any more.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
With no more traveler's checks or held mail, why would someone need the Amex office?
Ah, the good old days. I remember using that Amex office for both purposes during a long trip to Europe in 1979. I even got an Amex card just before the trip for that purpose.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you Bets, et al. I'm new to this Forum. If you saw my replay to the first respondent, you know the story.
Ah, back in the day. As a twenty-something ( I'm now of Medicare age!) in the seventies, the Amex office was a home away from home.
Best wishes to all,
Nancy
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
Yep, I remember that AE office by the Opera in the 60s, 70s and 80s really well too. Trip down memory lane...
The scene in Charade, in the AE office, always takes me back...
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
Nancy--the back story didn't post. So please do tell. We're all going down memory lane now--Robert, Susan, me....
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14731 posts
And me...plus the one on Haymarket (??) in London!!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Piazza di Spagna in Roma...
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
The old AmEx office near the Opera was also a lifesaver for me in the early 90s. I could cash checks there, get travelers checks and know that people there spoke English (my French was awful initially). Oh and they had great (free) bathrooms!
But I have to say, having ATMs, the internet and better money options is something far better than relying on one place and wasting time getting there on a regular basis. I'm not really sure what one would need an AmEx office for anymore (maybe the bathrooms).
Posted by
884 posts
Ah, picking up mail at American Express! I had forgotten about that! And AE was my ATM in those days -- wrote a check and got new trav. checks. Seems so archaic!
Posted by
Sydney
275 posts
"Security reasons" sounds like an excuse. I think it is really BUSINESS reasons. Nobody uses traveller's cheques any more. If they were really worried about security they would bring in security measures like other businesses such as banks.