To keep your travels as stress-free as possible, we have three simple tips for you to keep in mind before you handle transactions in cash. In the case of France, this is Euros (EUR).ĪTM fees can be confusing to understand especially if communicated by a machine in a foreign language. The long story short: always choose to pay in the local currency. The exchange rate they will charge is not only higher than the market rate but is also often significantly worse than a traditional bank’s exchange rate (we’ve seen margins of up to 8% and 10%). When withdrawing from an ATM, this fee is charged by the ATM operator. When making a purchase at a local merchant, this fee will be charged by a card company like Visa or Mastercard. 3 - Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)Ī DCC is a special kind of currency conversion fee that allows you to complete a transaction in your home billing currency instead of the local currency - and this fee is always optional. Euronet will often exchange your currency at an even weaker rate. Many French ATMs at banks or the post office will exchange your currency at an exchange rate 1% weaker than the real mid-market rate. Instead, they may do the math at a rate of 1% or 3% higher than the market rate. The local provider - who is taking your pounds, for example, and giving you back Euros - will rarely use this rate. using your debit card linked to your British bank).Īt any given time, there is a so-called “ mid-market exchange rate” - this is the real exchange rate that you can see on Google. This hidden fee applies when travellers spend with non-local currency (i.e. Have a look at locations here:Ģ - Currency Conversion Fee, or ‘Exchange Rate Margin’ Post office ATMs in France, like French banks, do not charge withdrawal fees. To find ATMs in Paris and in other parts of France, see these locators: While BNP Paribas is your best bet, other banks in France do not generally charge fees for ATM withdrawals either. BNP Paribas Global Alliance ATM locator (free).Let’s explore the main French cash machine providers below: French BanksīNP Paribas is the only French bank that currently participates in the Global ATM Alliance, which is a network of banks that waive international ATM access fees.įor free ATM withdrawals in France, find a participating BNP Paribas ATM branch here: (Most credit cards in France will work so long as you have a 4-digit PIN code.) The easiest way to find machines that accept your foreign debit cards and credit cards in France is to use an online ATM locator for Maestro and Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover. If you have ever travelled to a country that didn't use your home country's currency, you've probably been prompted by ATMs and payment machines to choose to pay in either the local currency or your home currency.Īs we will discover in this article, you should always choose to pay in the local currency - Euros (EUR), for the case of France.ĪTMs - called distributeur automatique de billets (or DABs) - in French can be found at airports, post offices, or banks in cities and towns across the country. Should I Pay in Local Currency (€) or My Home Currency in France? Monito's guide to ATMs in France will help you find the best ATMs to use in Paris and in France, what fees you may be charged, and what debit cards and credit cards you can use to avoid some unnecessary charges. While French vendors and restaurants are moving quickly toward cashless payments, like much of Europe, cash will still come in handy if you want to leave a tip to your server (5 to 10% is common) or if you want to purchase local produce at your neighbourhood market. Over 89 million visitors per year enjoy the country's meticulous cuisine, its unmatched art collections, and its iconic cities. No country receives more tourists annually than France.
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