Comments on: France travel tips

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:55:00 +0000

For years I have avoided the foreign purchase fees on credit cards by using the debit card on my brokerage account. They get the industry exchange rate and no percentage fees!

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 07:09:00 +0000

g58- yes, the NYC subway is also hot in August but ah what relief in the subway car--when the AC is working that is...

Gayle, thanks for that tip. I have pasted a link to your story here since it got cut off on the comments section.

Cheers,

By: Gayle Keck

Gayle Keck — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:56:00 +0000

Good point about the credit card 3% rip-off. There are a few cards that don’t charge the 3% fee (certain Capital One and MBNA cards, for example).

Another scam to watch out for are places that automatically convert your charge to dollars at the point of sale. DEMAND THAT THEY RE-RUN THE TRANSACTION IN LOCAL CURRENCY. Otherwise, you will get a terrible exchange rate and your credit card may also tack on a fee. Typically, this happens at restos and shops frequented by tourists, and is much more prevalent in Ireland than France. To read more about the burgeoning scam, see my story in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/29/AR2005072900927.html

By: g58

g58 — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:24:00 +0000

Bois de Boulogne is another place — more wooded and breezy than Jardin de Luxembourg — for a picnic. It’s been cleaned up a bit, and quite recommendable — at least during the day.

I must say though… I just got back from NYC and having AC in the subway cars makes things no less odorific when you get periodically stranded on platforms that are 135 degrees! Whew!