we are going to paris!?

Question

my boyfriend and i want to go to paris in july 08... when do we need to get passports? how much are they? and how long do they take to process?

also, once we get to paris, are there alot of banks and stuff where we can trade american money for euros? or is it best to just stick to credit cards?

also, whats the weather like around july there? what kind of clothes should i pack?

Answer 1

You can use credit cards in Paris, as well as your bank debit card - you will get euros. It's always a good idea to bring some travellers cheques with you because if you lose your wallet (cash, credit cards, etc.) it will give you some cash even if you lose your travellers cheques. Ask at your bank.

Also, take a photo of all of your credit cards and keep it in a safe place within your bags. Make a note of all of the toll-free numbers to call in case you lose all or any of your credit cards.

Depending where you live, you will most probably need a passport to enter France. Contact your federal government office online to get instructions on getting a passport. You will need a passport photo and you should be able to have one taken at any photo store for a few dollars.

Have a good trip!

Answer 2

In July it will be summer, so warm weather. You can bring your normal summer clothes but remember that Europeans only wear shorts if it is real hot. Also bring some jeans for when you have a colder day.

Bring your credit card, and your bank card, check that it can be used abroad and what each use will cost.

Traveler cheques are a thing of the past, you have to pay to get them, loose on the exchange rate and often pay again to get your own money, and there are not many places that accept them anymore.
Your credit card will also be replaced if stolen, and if you report your card as stolen within the set time (a couple of hours mostly) you will not loose anything either.

There are plenty of banks and exchange offices, and ATMs.

About passports, you know it took forever last year, so you might want to get it going early, so you do not need to worry.
I do not know what they cost. But if you google on Passport how to get one, you should get the right site.

Use your credit card for bigger bills, say $25 and upwards, and use money from the ATM for all smaller payments.

Do not worry to much about speaking French.
The French appreciate it when you say hello and goodbye in French, but if you are polite and speak clear English, with a smile, you will be helped too. (I do not speak French but have never had problems. It are the ignorant and rude people who get a rude reaction.)

Answer 3

Get your passports early. Summer is peak time for travel to Europe plus the US is implementing some new requirements for travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The last time that the government tried something like this, the passport office was overwhelmed with applications and processing got far behind. There is no advantage to waiting until the last minute.

You can find everything that you need to know at the US State Department website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

You can easily get money in Paris with your ATM card as long as your bank is on one of the major ATM networks. Plus, you'll get the commercial exchange rate which is much better than the retail rate that is used for travelers checks. Your bank may charge a 1-2% conversion fee but that is still usually cheaper than paying a bank commission. I stopped carrying travelers checks 10 years ago and I've never missed them.

Credit cards have the same advantage. You get a better exchange rate than you do with travelers checks. I use them whenever possible to minimize ATM fees for obtaining cash.

It can get very warm in July, so dress to keep cool. However, note that some churches don't care for visitors with skimpy clothing if you are planning to visit any.

Have fun!

Answer 4

You will need a passport for each of you and I think it takes about 6 weeks at this time.. I don't remember the cost but I think it's about $90. There will be a lot of places to exchange dollars, remember that for each dollar you will receive about .69 euro (69 cents)...

Answer 5

Its hot in july, my advise is for you to learn basic french because not many people speak any english in france