Pay by cheque or cash abroad

Pay cash abroad

This solution is of course facilitated throughout the euro area.

In other countries, you can obtain money through your credit card (check in advance with your bank in order to have an estimate of the costs) or by changing your liquidity in euro from the local banks or foreign exchange agencies.

When you withdraw money in a foreign country using your credit card, the commission levied by your bank includes a lump sum and the rest varies proportionally to the amount collected. To avoid paying too much fixed commissions, attempt to remove large sums, while remaining vigilant. Some banks also have partnerships with banks abroad in which you withdraw money from your card without charge.

Most often the exchange agencies located in airports collect significant costs. Does therefore not too change is money if you're in a large city because you will certainly be able to find better rates then.

The foreign exchange transaction has a cost: changer typically take a commission and the exchange rate may vary in your disfavor from the day of purchase and the day of debiting your account.

For the most common currencies worldwide (US dollar, pound sterling, yen...), it is possible to get currency from before your departure from your bank. It is however take you in advance. It is the least expensive solution in general. For other currencies, you can request from the Bank of France.

Use travelers cheques abroad

Conventional cheques will be not useful overseas: little used, written in French, they will hardly ever be accepted.

On the other hand, it is possible to serve you from traveler’s cheques, provided that order them before leaving. This is checks in a pre-established amount issued in a particular currency, mostly in euros or dollars.

You pay the cost of issuance, but this means of payment is relatively safe and convenient since it is accepted everywhere in the world and guarantees a high security in case of theft or loss.

You can exchange at a bank in the country of destination for cash, or deal directly with some traders (e.g. hotels).

If the currency of the country where you are travelling is not available in traveler’s cheques, make sure that it will be possible to change euros on the spot. Otherwise you can get dollar traveler’s cheques and change them on the spot, but you will then pay twice a commission (for each change of currency).

Be careful to keep the receipt that is provided to you at the time of their purchase: it will allow you to oppose in the event of loss or theft, and especially to make you repay these values on site, quickly and free of charge.

Before leaving, sign each of your cheques only at the top and left. You will be asked for another signature, at the bottom left at the time of convert them into cash. This countersignature must be affixed before the bank employee to whom you ask the Exchange.