Credit Cards: Most establishments will take your Visa or Master Card. Fewer take American Express, and even fewer take Diner’s Club. Be sure to have access to cash while in Paris, especially since some small restaurants don’t take credit cards, along with some bakeries, sandwich stands, etc. A good idea would be to bring a debit card, which can be used at the many ATMs around the city as well as in shops and restaurants. Be sure it has the “cirrus” symbol on the back of it, and it will work for you. You get the best exchange rate this way as well.
For more information about credit cards vs. debit cards, go to this article.
** Be sure to alert your credit card company and/or your bank that you will be taking a trip overseas. Otherwise they may assume your card has been stolen and will freeze your card.
Traveler’s Checks: Fewer and fewer people are using traveler’s checks these days, but they are still a viable option. Be sure to write your numbers down and keep them separate from your checks. When cashing the checks, always look at the exchange rate that is posted. Some change windows post numbers that are confusing, making you think you will be getting more than you actually are. Shop around for the best exchange rate. Many banks will NOT cash traveler’s checks.
Banking hours: Banks are open from Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and some are open on Saturdays. If you need to cash traveler’s checks, there are also many currency exchange windows all over town, but you have to be very careful of these as they can really be a rip off.
Shop hours: Shops tend to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. Most museums and shops are closed one day a week and national holidays.
Telephones: There are public telephones everywhere in Paris: cafés, metro stations, post offices, train stations and on the street. Most of them take a “télécarte” which is a prepaid phone card. You can buy this at kiosks, post offices, metro stations and tabacs. You ask for a card for either 40 units or 120 units, which cost 7.45 € or 15 €. You can call anywhere in the world with these phone cards. Simply insert the card into the slot in the telephone, close the door, and the number of “unites” that you have will appear. As you place your call and talk, the number of unites will go down. The longer you talk or the farther away you call, the faster the unites will disappear. It’s an excellent way to keep in touch with home.
Many people also use their phone cards, and some people rent cell phones that work in other countries. This can be costly, but if you are phoning often for business it might be worth it. For leisurely keeping in touch, I would rely on the telecarte. For a good mobile phone option, try Mobal. It gets excellent reviews from multiple travel professionals.
Remember that calling in France you need the 10 digit phone number which starts with 0. When you are making an international call, you dial 00, listen for the dial tone and then dial the country code (U.S. and Canada is “1”), area code and phone number.
Tipping: Service is included in restaurants and cafés. You can see the “service compris” on the bill. It is customary, however, to leave a few euros for a job well done in a restaurant, or one euro in a café. Other tipping guidelines:
- Hotel porter: 1 € per item of baggage
Chambermaid: 1.50 € per day
Taxi drivers: 10 – 15 %
Restroom attendants: .30€
Guides: 1 €
Electricity: Adapters are needed to fit the sockets in Europe. They run on 200 volts.
Safety: Paris is a very safe city, especially for a city of its size. There are dangers, though. One thing to be aware of is pickpockets, which often are children preying on tourists. Anywhere near major tourist attractions you are more of a target. Pay particular attention in Montmartre near the Sacré Coeur.
