Page 366 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

364  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Local Currency MoneyGram. Banque Postale,
also known as La Poste, is an
Visitors to Paris will find that the banks usually offer them the agent for Western Union and
best rates of exchange. Privately owned bureaux de change, can facilitate bank transfers.
on the other hand, have variable rates, and care should be Often, the money is
taken to check small print details relating to commission and transferred to the main bank,
then on to the relevant branch
minimum charges before any transaction is completed.
and can take 2–5 business days
to arrive in the French account.
French credit and debit
cards operate on a chip-and- DIRECTORY
PIN system, so you will need to
know your PIN (code personnel) Foreign Banks
for making purchases in shops. Barclays
If you have a card that does not 24 bis Ave de l’Opéra 75001.
use chip-and-PIN technology, Map 12 E1.
ask for your credit card to be
swiped in the magnetic reader. HSBC
Société Générale bank Be sure to notify your bank 103 Ave des Champs-Elysées
and credit card providers 75008. Map 5 A5.
Banks and Bureaux before you leave for France. ∑ hsbc.fr
de Change
Some banks forbid foreign Bureaux de Change
The main French banks are transactions for security
BNP Paribas, Société Générale, reasons unless they have been Change Group
Crédit Agricole and Crédit notified ahead of time. 134 Blvd St-Germain 75006.
Mutuel (CIC). Be aware, though, Map 12 F4.
that few are now prepared to Tel 09 64 08 24 70.

handle currency exchange 49 Ave de l’Opéra 75002.
transactions for non-clients. Map 6 E5.
Even if they do, you may find Tel 09 63 26 25 42.
that counter rates are not as Travelex
favourable as the interbank 125 Ave des Champs-Elysées
exchange rates that can be 75008. Map 4 E4.
accessed by using an ATM. Tel 01 47 20 25 14.
Private bureaux de change Gare du Nord (opposite Eurostar
offer poorer exchange rates arrivals), 18 Rue de Dunkerque.
than banks. In central Paris, Credit and debit card reader Map 7 B2.
they are usually open from
Monday to Saturday, and Pre-Paid Currency
they can be found along the Pre-Paid Currency Cards Cards
Champs-Elysées and near the Pre-paid currency cards are
main tourist attractions and also widely accepted in Paris. FairFX
Tel 020 7107 1206.
monuments, as well as at You can use them to withdraw ∑ fairfx.com
airports, train stations and some cash at an ATM, pay for
international hotels and shops. purchases or make travel Visa
reservations. You can load up ∑ usa.visa.com
your card with credit ahead of
Credit and Debit Cards Lost Cards and
the trip, and top it up online or
Major credit cards such as Visa by phone while you are abroad Traveller’s Cheques
and MasterCard, and debit via such companies as FairFX. American Express
cards such as Switch, Maestro Most credit card companies, Tel 08 00 83 28 20.
and Cirrus, are widely accepted including Visa, MasterCard MasterCard
by most businesses in Paris. and American Express, also Tel 08 00 90 13 87.
Most banks have ATMs (outside offer pre-paid cards. A charge
or in an indoor area) which is generally applied to top Visa
accept these cards. This is the up your card. Tel 08 00 90 11 79.
quickest and most convenient
way of obtaining money in the Wiring Money and Wiring Money
local currency, although a small Banque Postale
charge for this service will be Bank Transfers (Western Union)
deducted from your account. Bank transfers and money wires 111 Rue de Sèvres 75006.
Be aware that many French can also be arranged – either Map 15 B1.
businesses do not accept bank to bank or via companies ∑ labanquepostale.fr
American Express credit cards such as Western Union and

364-365_EW_Paris.indd 364 03/04/17 10:58 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.1)
Date 13th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm