Travellers cheques..

[Mike Jones]

.. I haven't used these in Europe for many years (usually take cash only and top up with credit cards if needed), and when we last did, many places wouldn't accept them as currency, you had to cash them(for a fee!) at a bank etc... how do you use 'em in Paris, particularly around the parks?

 

[Cyrano]

Similarly you have to cash them. SIL was not impressed with the fees
Hence we use a combination of small amount of Euros and Nationwide debit and credit cards. Advantage of no commission fees and better than tourist rate for currency conversations for ATM's and credit card transactions

 

[Mike Jones]

Similarly you have to cash them. SIL was not impressed with the fees
Hence we use a combination of small amount of Euros and Nationwide debit and credit cards. Advantage of no commission fees and better than tourist rate for currency conversations for ATM's and credit card transactions

... so, cash, and using CCs to top up is probably a good idea... to the best of everyone's knowledge will my Maestro(switch) debit card work ok then?

 

[Cyrano]

Hopefully someone will have experience of this

 

[Disney owl]

We go to France most years for our hols, though last year it was Italy! haven't used traveller cheques for years. too much hassle.

We take cash & credit card & debit card. We use our debit card to withdraw cash from cash machines, very easy to do. Some supermarkets & I think the one at Val d' europe ask for ID if you use your credit card.

 

[Architect]

We take cash & credit card & debit card. We use our debit card to withdraw cash from cash machines, very easy to do. Some supermarkets & I think the one at Val d' europe ask for ID if you use your credit card.

Likewise. Martin at Moneyfacts would doubtless recommend a Nationwide card, as there is no weighting on foreign transactions, not that I have one myself.

 

[TandCmum]

last year we used our visa credit card and our nationwide cash card with no problems, although i cannot remember if we used the cash card in DLP to withdraw cash but we have used it no problems in other ATM's in rural france.

TC's are a pain so we just take a bit of cash and withdraw the rest when we need it or use the visa card

 

[ely3857]

... so, cash, and using CCs to top up is probably a good idea... to the best of everyone's knowledge will my Maestro(switch) debit card work ok then?

Maestro will work fine at any atm home or abroad (subject to availability of course!), Not sure where atm's are located in the parks but at DLRP there is one outside the train station.



Jodie

 

[mickeymousepal]

we take a prepaid post office visa card on hols you can buy it in euro currency so that there is no exchange rate fee costs £10 for 2 years but you are not carrying your main credit cards you just top up at the post office before you go accepted everywhere that shows visa and you get the loss protection if it is lost or stolen its handy for a backup and you dont need passport etc to spend on it you know what your balance is in euro before you go plus in an emergency someone can top it up from home for you at post office its on the post office site only takes 24-48hrs to set up may or not be of use to you but may be of intrest to someone else but still a lot easier than travellers cheques

 

[A Small World]

We used a similar system this year which we read about on threads here before we went- American Express card. Pay £20 to set up over internet and then can top up as needed with no commission.

It proved to be invaluable as we found it accepted everywhere in the resort where as sometimes the normal switch card was and sometimes wasnt