How to Travel in France with a Credit or Debit Card
When traveling to France, the most convenient way to make purchases with the best possible exchange rate is to use a credit or debit card. Major credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard, are accepted virtually everywhere, with a few exceptions. With credit or debit cards, you don't have to worry about carrying around loads of cash in a strange city. Another benefit is that you will receive the best possible exchange rate on your purchases, the interbank exchange rate. This exchange rate is significantly lower than fees from an ATM and money exchanger booths.
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Instructions
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Before leaving home, read your credit card agreement and select cards with the most favorable international transaction fees.
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Bring cards that have the least amount of surcharges. Each card company has its own fees as well as additional charges for French transactions. Some fees are reasonable, while others are high. The only credit card that does not have surcharges for French transactions is a Capital One Visa; you only pay the interbank exchange rate. Other cards add a Visa/MasterCard surcharge fee of 1%. Some cards tack on 5% for each transaction in addition to the 1% surcharge. If you are planning to spend a lot during your trip to France, get the Capital One Visa card.
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Call your credit or debit card company before leaving for France. Card companies have automated fraud-prevention services that will cut off a card if your spending pattern deviates from the norm, such as an influx of transactions from a foreign country. To make sure your card will work, tell your card company that you are going to France, and give your trip's start and end dates.
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Travel with more than one credit card. As a safety precaution, you should carry one credit card on your person and leave another in a safe where you are staying, if available. If you lose a card or find that the card is not accepted, you'll have a backup. Write down your account numbers and the toll-free numbers for contacting your card company in case your card is lost or stolen.
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For debit cards, use a four-digit personal identification number. Most French debit card machines only accept PINs that are four digits. If your PIN is longer than this, shorten it before taking your debit card to France.
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Tips & Warnings
If your credit or debit card does not work, make sure that the clerk is swiping the card correctly. In France, the card is swiped in the opposite direction from the way it's done in the U.S. Ask the clerk to try swiping in the other direction.
Unlike U.S. cards, French credit cards do not have a magnetic strip. They are embedded with a smart microchip that contains personal cardholder information, such as a four-digit PIN. In France, you can't use a magnetic strip card at automated train-ticket machines or for gas payment at the pump. Make sure your gas tank is filled before the evening, when transactions are paid by machine. When buying train tickets, add extra time to wait in line at the ticket window, where you can use a U.S. credit card instead of the ticket machines.
