France Question ?

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   We are going to France later this year and wondered if we should take euro
or sterling travellers cheques .
Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Great idea for a web site by the way , hope it gets busy !!

Dave

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daveo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 09 August 2002 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Quote Reply Topic: France Question ? Posted: 10 August 2002 at 17:57
	We are going to France later this year and wondered if we should take euro or sterling travellers cheques . Any advice would be gratefully accepted. Great idea for a web site by the way , hope it gets busy !! Dave

boltonuk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 August 2002 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 158	Quote Reply Posted: 10 August 2002 at 19:44
	we have been across several times, with our tourer and late season to statics near St Tropez. Would advise the following...for fuel use credit card,Visa or Mastercard, and try to fill up at hypermarkets, most will take car / van outfit and are the lowest priced for fuel,petrol or diesel. Take Euro travellers cheques and they can be encashed at any bank without exchange rate rip off ( especially Credit Lyonnais ! ) and most sites will take them.Take a moderate amount of euros in cash, also remember that if you want to make a side trip into Italy or Spain or Belgium or Germany or Holland etc they all use euros as well as France, we have mainly travelled using Visa with a translation of the fact that UK Visa cards may not have a microchip such as the french ones have but we have never had to use it ( the translation ). The Riviera is fantastic mid September to late October. Enjoy your trip, we are missing out this year as her indoors has a broken leg due to slipping on wet grass at the Caravan Club site at Wharfedale in April, cast on until end September boltonuk !
	Most people can still caravan after heart surgery - I know, I've had it done three times and still caravan

zebedee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 10 August 2002 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Quote Reply Posted: 10 August 2002 at 20:04
	I tend to take some Euros (used to be F Francs!!) and credit/debit card (Visa). You can get tucked up using travellers cheques although I can understand why they're used. But it's easy to use cards for fuel, autoroute tolls and in supermarkets and restaurants. Holes in the walls work well and this way you don't get taken for a (exchange) ride. I'm sure you'll have a great time - where are you heading for?. I'm going to the south coast for the second time this year in mid september and really looking forward to it. It so easy on French roads and autoroutes - they have rest areas where you're not kicked out in two hours!! When will we learn??? Bon voyage
	Zeb

Steve Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 11 August 2002 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Quote Reply Posted: 11 August 2002 at 16:08
	travel each year to France. started by taking travellers cheques. Once we gained experience only took credit cards and a small ammount of local currency. But if you insist on using such things I would suggest Euro. But only take what you need as you will loose out on the exchange on return, while sterlng will be cashed here at no loss.
	Steve

TONY Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 09 August 2002 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Quote Reply Posted: 12 August 2002 at 18:36
	hi what l normally do is say to the wife sort it, no joking apart we normally take a few euros and a credit card there are to many charges on travellers cheques. if you have a debit card you can go into any bank with a cheque book and cash a cheque it takes longer to clear that way. have a nice time where ever you r going tony
	PRESTIGE

boltonuk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 August 2002 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 158	Quote Reply Posted: 18 August 2002 at 15:12
	the following from visa may be of help and worth printing out to take with you if your French is no better than mine... credit cards issued by French banks now contain a microchip unlike cards issued in the UK which have (mainly ) a magnetic strip.If you experience any difficulty we suggest that you quote the following: "Les cartes Britanniques ne sont pas des cartes a puce, mais a pistes magnetique. Ma carte est valable et je vous serais reconnaissant d'en demander la confirmation aupres de votre banque ou de votre centre de taraitement." The English translation for this is: "British cards are not chip cards, they have a magnetic strip. My card is valid. I should be grateful if you would confirm this by telephoning your bank or authorisation centre." We always take the above with us to show if need be. boltonuk
	Most people can still caravan after heart surgery - I know, I've had it done three times and still caravan

Maurice Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 19 August 2002 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Quote Reply Posted: 19 August 2002 at 18:47
	Just gotten back from France --- found that all we needed was Euros -- to spend -- Visa - Mastercard for credit - Switch for drwaing cash from banks. and Stirling for when we came home.