Money Matters in France

[Mippy]

What's the best way of taking out/getting money in France? Which are the best cards to use? We've heard there are problems using Visa cards and that when getting fuel you can only use a French credit card.

Louise and Jon

[zeta]

Been a few years since I was in France but my VISA worked everywhere, even gas pumps. May have changed but I think a VISA card should be fine, get current rate at ATM's also.

[GordMay]

Visa and Mastercard are (more or less) identical in France, because they are in the same bank card system, Carte Bancaire (CB).

[Jacques2]

Hello,
I am a citizen of the world..., but I have a .... french passport...
I can tell you I have a Visa card and a Mastercard and both of them are working in France ( and in Europe and in Turkey...)..
Don't mind, everything is OK
Enjoy your travel...

[anjou]

All cards work fine across europe.

Dont draw cash at a ATM on a credit card as the interest rates are higher than on your debit cards

[Pete7]

Bit of confusion here. Yes of course your credit or bank card will work in an ATM, shop or restaurant, this is France afterall, French women live to shop.

However, many of the French fuel pumps in marinas we have come across stretching from Normandy to South Brittany are self service. Worse they only take a French credit card.

There is a solution, but it means a trip up to the marina office normally to discuss this with them and pay them by either cash or manual card transaction first before you get fuel. Interestingly at Crouesty the fuel pontoon is on the opposite side of the marina to the office, so you have a long mile walk, or ask a local to do the honours and give him the cash plus a bit for a drink.

Pete

[tomcat1]

All cards work fine across Europe - except at french gas stations. Automated stations often accept only french CB-cards. Some foreign cards seem to work, but I have not been able to recognize the system in it. This is not a real problem - along autoroutes most gas stations still employ humans at the pay desk, and there all major credit cars are accepted. The same is true at most gas stations besides the motorways. At major shopping centers - where gas is often cheapest - it depends on the time. Pay desks are normally open during peak shopping hours, outside you will only find automated pumps which only accept french cards.
No real problem, just don't try to drive on fumes.

[goboatingnow]

The self service problem has largely gone away. My visa has worked everywhere in French self service stations and marinas. This was am issue some years ago but not now

Dave

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The self service problem has largely gone away. My visa has worked everywhere in French self service stations and marinas. This was am issue some years ago but not now Dave

Dave, its still a problem however, it can be resolved. Just needs a trip to the marina office.

Pete

[goboatingnow]

Where , didn't happen to me all along the cote d, azure. Last summer. Also had my car there card worked fine in self service stations and on the toll booths , these were the areas that caused problems in the past. My ATM card works most places too

Dave

[Pete7]

Dave, from the channel port of St Vaast, down to La Balle in Southern Brittany. Didn't seem to matter whether it was a big modern marina or one of the old harbours run by the local council. Wasn't just my cards either friends had the same problem, but as I say it can be over come, providing its not lunchtime 1200 - 1400 hrs when the country stops. Very quaint so long as your not in a hurry.

Pete

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by anjou

All cards work fine across europe.

Dont draw cash at a ATM on a credit card as the interest rates are higher than on your debit cards

It depends. When I was in France last year, it seemed like all my credit cards wanted to charge me an extra fee for out of country transactions. However, I was able to use my BofA ATM card for cash without any extra fees at any BNP Paribas ATM. Dunno how that translates to the fuel dock, but we ended up using cash for almost everything.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Dave, from the channel port of St Vaast, down to La Balle in Southern Brittany. Didn't seem to matter whether it was a big modern marina or one of the old harbours run by the local council. Wasn't just my cards either friends had the same problem, but as I say it can be over come, providing its not lunchtime 1200 - 1400 hrs when the country stops. Very quaint so long as your not in a hurry.

Pete

Agh Brittany, well that explains it , not really part of France Brittany !!

Dave

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Agh Brittany, well that explains it , not really part of France Brittany !! Dave

We take care to fly the local Brittany courtesy flag rather than a tricolour when in their waters.

Pete

[goboatingnow]

Same it's always a good move !