France - worth taking euros?

[Nemophilist]

Or is everything contactless and cashless now?

[deckster]

Take some Euros just in case, but it was contactless all the way last month. It probably does make a difference depending on where you go and a ski resort won't be representative of a small village in the Gascogne, but even the pop-up market stalls and the bread delivery guy were contactless and I don't think we touched hard currency all week.

[rdjohn]

The limit is €50 and so for a restaurant, you will need to push it in the slot and PIN.

Cheque books still remain to be de rigueur, but cash is not as big as UK.

[smifffymoto]

I honestly can’t remember the last time I used cash.

[smifffymoto]

I honestly can’t remember the last time I used cash.

[Tabs]

Went there 3 weeks ago. Didn't bother getting more Euros before we left, so took the 70 left over from before Covid.
Came back with 50. All contact less, apart from tips.

[JonChalk]

I didn't use a single piece of cash in 2.5 weeks of holiday across three different semi-rural locations - didn't even take any with me.

[Truckosaurus]

Was in Normandy last week and it was contactless everywhere. In fact in the one place I used cash I proffered a Five Euro note to buy a Three Euro coffee they moaned that I didn't have anything smaller.

[rdjohn]

smifffymoto said:

I honestly can’t remember the last time I used cash.

The bulk of cash that we draw out goes to get jobs done quickly for cash-in-hand, waiting for an enterprise to turn up never works. They presumably spend my cash.

Cafes and boulangeries are the only places where I hand over coins, or small notes.

[GibsonLP]

Not France but a semi-rural German trip here. 2 day stay and 4+ places (supermarket, cafe, restaurants) were cash only.

I had fully expected all cashless following COVID but would suggest having a few E in the wallet just in case.

[deckster]

GibsonLP said:

Not France but a semi-rural German trip here. 2 day stay and 4+ places (supermarket, cafe, restaurants) were cash only.

I had fully expected all cashless following COVID but would suggest having a few E in the wallet just in case.

Germany's different. They've always been reluctant to take cards for some reason and it's about the only European country that I routinely take cash to.

[Shnozz]

GibsonLP said:

Not France but a semi-rural German trip here. 2 day stay and 4+ places (supermarket, cafe, restaurants) were cash only.

I had fully expected all cashless following COVID but would suggest having a few E in the wallet just in case.

My niece lives in Berlin and its incredible how much of a cash society it is for such a progressive city. Germany is a real anomaly.

Where I am in Spain its always useful to have €100 in cash as not all places are card still. I would do the same for France.

[Jamescrs]

Recently come back from Europe (France and Germany) I took 300 euros and came back with about 50 after a week, I used mainly contactless and was paying cash in the end for things just to get rid of the Euros really. I'd suggest taking a small amount and then using card for the rest of it.

[Magooagain]

Cash,card or cheques(as long as it's a French cheque) they take them all. I don't like to be without cash here though. There are still a few places that are cash only.

[Far Cough]

Factor in coins to use public wc's and small notes for tips.

[Rushjob]

Bit of cash in the wallet but mostly we use cards.

[CAH706]

What cards are you all using to avoid the fees that are charged (I presume?) on contactless and TM withdrawals

[psi310398]

Always worth having a reserve to anticipate the not infrequent problems that arise with French technological exceptionalism. I have a card from my Italian bank account and my UK Visa card that French card readers frequently reject. Both work perfectly everywhere else in Europe.

I’d have enough to fill a tank or two of fuel for example. Many petrol stations in the boondocks are unmanned, and if your card doesn’t work, life might become awkward.

Also bear in mind the transaction charges that you will be charged if using contactless for trivial purchases eg €1.50 cups of coffee from autoroute aires.

[toasty]

CAH706 said:

What cards are you all using to avoid the fees that are charged (I presume?) on contactless and TM withdrawals

Halifax Clarity card.

[Truckosaurus]

CAH706 said:

What cards are you all using to avoid the fees that are charged (I presume?) on contactless and TM withdrawals

Halifax Clarity Mastercard.

No fees/charges on foreign usage, other than interest kicking in straight away for ATM withdrawls.