getting money in france....can i use a uk debit card?

[chimchar]

...should we take cash/travellers cheques or can we use our debit cards to pay for things?

anything obvious i need to know for my first trip abroad in YEARS!

Yes , you can use your debit card to make purchases. Your bank may charge a small fee but it usually works out about the same as they give a better euro/sterling rate. You can also get money out of a cash machine with your debit card, again for a fee. Obviously take some cash with you too. I've never used travellers cheques so can't advice you , only that the people I know who do take them always seem to be struggling to change/cash them! Have a good trip!

great. thanks for that. my dad is old skool....hence the travellers cheques question!

Tell your bank beforehand that you are going to be using your debit card abroad.

best debit card to use is nationwide, if you happen to have an account with them or have time to open one before you go - they don't charge commission

eg when I was there earlier this year credit card rate was 1.16, nationwide rate was 1.20 - I know it's not a lot overall but it's nice to feel you're getting a bit extra!

(also they don't require to be told that you are going to be using your card outside the country - personally I wish they would, but presumably they will always take the hit if some other bugger starts using your card)

If you bank with certain banks you can avoid paying a fee on withdrawals from ATMs of partner banks - e.g. for Barclays use BNP Paribas - but it isn't worth doing if you have to go out of your way to find the right ATM.
My experience is that if you put a UK card into an ATM in France you will often then get the instructions for use in English - which may help!
Otherwise, as said below, just use your debit card to pay for goods/services as you would in the UK.

IME most ATMs in France let you get money out without a charge (large supermarkets generally have an ATM in the entrance)

moneysavingexpert has some helpful stuff

brill. thanks everyone.

If the shop asks you if you want to pay in pounds say no.

Apparently Nationwide are to start for using abroad.

The credit card from the Post Office used not to charge, but don't know if they have started.