INTRODUCTION - France 2014 - page 20

dollar, one euro (€1) is broken down into 100 cents. You'll find coins ranging from
€0.01 to €2, and bills from €5 to €500.
To withdraw money from an ATM (known as a distributeur; dee-stree-bew-tur),
you'll need a debit card (ideally with a Visa or MasterCard logo for maximum usability),
plusaPINcode.KnowyourPINcodeinnumbers;thereareonlynumbers—noletters—on
European keypads. Although you can use a credit card for an ATM transaction, it only
makes sense in an emergency, because it's considered a cash advance (borrowed at a high
interest rate) rather than a withdrawal. Try to withdraw large sums of money to reduce the
number of per-transaction bank fees you'll pay. ATMs usually offer a choice of denomin-
ations; I select €10s and €20s, because €50 notes aren't accepted in automated payment
machines (for tolls on autoroutes or tickets at train stations).
For increased security, shield the keypad when entering your PIN code, and don't
use an ATM if anything on the front of the machine looks loose or damaged (a sign that
someone may have attached a “skimming” device to capture account information). Some
travelersmakeapointofmonitoringtheiraccountswhiletravelingtodetectanyunauthor-
ized transactions.
Pickpockets target tourists, particularly those coming in from Paris airports. To safe-
guard your cash, wear a money belt—a pouch with a strap that you buckle around your
waist like a belt and tuck under your clothes. Keep your cash, credit cards, and passport
secure in your money belt, and carry only a day's spending money in your front pocket.
Credit and Debit Cards
Forpurchases,VisaandMasterCardaremorecommonlyacceptedthanAmericanExpress.
Just like at home, credit or debit cards work easily at larger hotels, restaurants, and
shops. I typically use my debit card to withdraw cash to pay for most purchases. I use
my credit card to cover major expenses (such as car rentals, plane tickets, and long hotel
stays), and to pay for things near the end of my trip (to avoid another visit to the ATM).
While you could use a debit card to make most large purchases, using a credit card offers
agreaterdegreeoffraudprotection(becausedebitcardsdrawfundsdirectlyfromyourac-
count).
Ask Your Credit- or Debit-Card Company: Before your trip, contact the company
that issued your debit or credit cards.
• Confirm your card will work overseas, and alert them that you'll be using it in
Europe; otherwise, they may deny transactions if they perceive unusual spending patterns.