Current exchange rate in France? (1 Viewer)

[TerryL]

Just started organising the finances for upcoming trip to France. I've got usual payment cards sorted but I'm now looking at cash. I don't like carrying large sums so I got a Caxton card which I use to get cash from ATMs as and when I need it. But their rate for loading the card isn't currently great - I can get a better deal for cash at my village post office!

So my specific question. What rate is anybody currently in France getting when withdrawing cash at ATMs using a UK debit (or, heaven forbid, credit) card? To save time I'm not interested in changing my current banking arrangements.

 

[Just smiffy]

Revolut card currently 1.1184€ to the pound and it doesn’t change your banking.... some will say you can only get 200 cash out a month but I use it for everything and only take some cash out for tips etc.....

It really is a god send for me and a lot of others on here....

 

[pelican]

Just started organising the finances for upcoming trip to France. I've got usual payment cards sorted but I'm now looking at cash. I don't like carrying large sums so I got a Caxton card which I use to get cash from ATMs as and when I need it. But their rate for loading the card isn't currently great - I can get a better deal for cash at my village post office!

So my specific question. What rate is anybody currently in France getting when withdrawing cash at ATMs using a UK debit (or, heaven forbid, credit) card? To save time I'm not interested in changing my current banking arrangements.

Awful to admit but we currently say sod the expense lets go !

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tinker2]

Smaller German shops& restaurants will not accept anything but cash , still use Revolut and bite the bullet when I need more than £200 allowed. Exchange rate perfect just wish it would get better.

 

[Xabia]

You can increase the Revolut withdrawal to €400 a month if you upgrade to Premium.

 

[SuperMike]

You can increase the Revolut withdrawal to €400 a month if you upgrade to Premium.

At the princely sum of £6.99 per month.

But that does include other stuff, like insurance. Need to fully read T & C’s.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Stealaway]

How much cash do you expect to need?
We tend to take around 500€ in cash for a month. We keep the majority in the safe along with passports etc.
Don't forget the risk gets less and less as you spend it as each week goes by.

Actually I now think the amount of cash we take now wants re-assessing, as our Clarity card is used so much more now.

 

[Stealaway]

Just looked at my banks charges - £3.30 per transaction?

Debit card:
€100 equivalent is £88.09;
Your statement will show the Mastercard exchange rate;
The 3.75% foreign cash fee is £3.30;
Total sterling equivalent cost will be shown on your statement as £91.39.

 

[Just smiffy]

No fees with Revolut unless you go over the 200£ limit then I think is 2% which is still pretty good...

For 5-8 weeks travel I probably spend 150€’s in cash...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TerryL]

Revolut website says max £200/€200 per month, not enough for me and there is no indication about allowing extra. No way I'm spending £6.99 per month for something I don't use. Doesn't attract me to be honest.

Looks like the PO is getting an order. Or I'll just accept the Caxton rate. It's only money!

 

[Techno]

I have been using Revolut lately to buy dollars for my internet hobby purchases from hobbyking. Paypal exchange rate is rubbish.
I import brandy from Spain with the same method

 

[denisejoe]

We use a Metrocard for vash withdrawals and Natipnwide, SantandervZero credit cards, worksvfrvus as no charges.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nasher]

On my last 4 week trip to Europe, I spent a total of 16 Euros in cash. The rest of my spending (it was a snowboarding trip, so I spent a lot!) was on my Clarity card, the card for big purchases (over 30 euro) and Contactless via my phone for the rest.

Exchange rate is good & no additional charges.

I do the same in the UK and spend less than £20 a month in cash.

 

[DBK]

This is a useful site - it will tell you what exchange rate to expect if using a VISA debit card in an ATM. Today's rate seems to be 1.116 Euros to the pound, less any fees of course.

https://www.visaeurope.com/making-payments/exchange-rates

 

[TerryL]

That's a lot better than Caxton currently and I have a Visa debit card.
To be fair in the past the Visa rate has been pretty good, provided I have the transaction done in Euros.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Clickem]

On our trip to France in May/June we found very little use for cash and paid for most things with Halifax Clarity. With the contactless payment it is not embarrassing to pay small amounts (eg for coffee) with a credit card

 

[Stroppy Bird]

This was recently advertised on Money Saving Expert

https://www.starlingbank.com/campai...um=article_travel_card&utm_campaign=affiliate

Following blurb copied from MSE website

App-based has a current account that charges no non-sterling transaction or cash withdrawal fees when you use its debit card worldwide. While it's a current account, you don't have to switch to it, nor do you need to pay in a minimum amount or have direct debits set up (so you can treat it like a prepaid card). The exchange rate you'll get is set by Mastercard, which tends to be slightly higher than Visa's.

Plus, you won't have a full credit check that other lenders can see on your file if you apply for an account (as long as you don't request an overdraft), so it could be a good option if you don't want that.

Starling Bank is a new challenger bank, which opened applications to its current account in May 2017. It's regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and has the full £85,000 UK savings safety guarantee. For now it has no overseas fees, though it's possible this'll change in future. Initial feedback has been positive – please let us know your experiences with it.

Need-to-knows

• You can download Starling Bank's app for iOS or Android.
• You can make up to three cash withdrawals a day, totalling a max £300.
• Money in your account will earn 0.5% AER interest on up to £2,000 and 0.25% AER interest up to £85,000.
• You can apply for an overdraft if you want one – you won't automatically be given one.

 

[nicholsong]

Transfer £ to my € account in Europe and take Cash out before we leave - no problem finding ATMs.

I don't use cards except in emergencies or 24/7 fuel pumps, unattended.

What did people do before Debit/Credit cards? Oh yes - Travellers' Cheques, which were an even bigger rip-off.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[tuscancouple]

There was a time when we also took cash (TravelFX) and placed in our safe, however these days with such dire exchange rates since the vote to leave the EU we use our Nationwide debit card for cash and Saga card for all purchase where possible. Nationwide and Saga do not charge a transaction fee with the exchage rate set by Visa.

You never know the exchange rate might improve one day so do not want to be stuck with to much cash.

Mick

 

[JJ]

It is difficult to get the message through but I will keep on trying...

Revolut, Revolut, Revolut...

Why does it have to be so hard?


JJ

 

[Littlewheels]

It is difficult to get the message through but I will keep on trying...

Revolut, Revolut, Revolut...

Why does it have to be so hard?


JJ

Have to agree,however,Revolut will not work on the Automatic Fuel Pumps,Paeges etc

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Paul1958]

Revolut card currently 1.1184€ to the pound and it doesn’t change your banking.... some will say you can only get 200 cash out a month but I use it for everything and only take some cash out for tips etc.....

It really is a god send for me and a lot of others on here....

Thanks. I've always had a Fair FXcard. Just signed up for the revolut card.

 

[TerryL]

Yes I agree @JJ the Revolut card is a good choice. But it doesn't do what I want.

Thanks everybody for your input, I know what I'm going to do now.