France holiday spending: cash, or cards and Google Pay?

[CaptainCarrotsBigSword]

Hey all

I've not been out of the country on holiday for ages and have a feeling I may be horribly outdated!

Going to France in a weeks time for a two week holiday in a eurocamp campsite. So, all self catering, some shops etc on site and then obviously we will be out and about as well.

Should we take cash? Is cash still widely accepted? Ideally I'd like to give both kids some spending money in cash so they can keep track of their spending, but I don't want to end up stuck with a load of cash they can't spend.

Is it better to just spend on our bank cards / Google pay?

We live in France. Lots of places still take cash, our fishmonger only accepts cash and cheques! It’s always handy to have cash to pay for things like coffees and drinks. Kids will be fine with some cash spending money.

Before using your UK cards check for bank charges because they can be extortionate. Your credit card might be free to use if your debit card isn’t. Make sure you choose pay in Euros if you are ever offered the choice between Euros and GBP. This quite often happens in places where there are a lot of tourists. Pay in Euros and you’ll get the Visa or Mastercard rate which is basically as good as it gets because they do so many transactions. If you pay in pounds the merchant converts it themselves and their rate will be to their advantage not yours!

Have a fantastic holiday!

Pretty perfect first reply.

I haven’t taken cash on holiday for years. I have a revolut account (you can open one instantly) and convert money into the currency of wherever I’m going before I go. Then it’s free to use there. Highly recommend revolut.

you can have a physical card, and a Cats on google pay do if you need to withdraw cash there you can.

Have a lovely time!

I haven’t used cash overseas for years, including rural France. Everywhere seems to take cards (note I don’t self cater do no idea about fishmongers @MamaBobo) I think most places do technically accept cash though so it doesn’t hurt to have euros, I just can’t be bothered to change it

I don’t take much cash, if any, and top up a monzo account and use the debit card. No exchange commission.

I haven’t used cash on European holidays in the last few years.

I take a card that I could use to withdraw cash from an ATM but I haven’t needed to do so. We’ve been to various places in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Germany.

Those that don't take cash, do you never tip?

I tip on the card.

I leave tips when there’s a tip option on the payment station. If there’s no tip option on the screen then tipping isn’t expected.

I mostly pay on card, but always have a bit of cash because a lot of small shops won't accept cash under 5/10 Euro, I saw a sign to that effect in Mallorca last week.

Many UK debit and credit cards these days don't charge for overseas transactions but you need to check yours as some do, generally the mainstream banks. Worst case scenario is the fixed fee per transaction which will add up significantly if you pay for every coffee, ice cream etc.

We just came back from France and used both. It was a joy to use cash again! My DD11 was able to change gifts from grandparents into Euros and spend in the shops. I wish we encouraged both methods here and kept things as flexible as France!

Plenty of places in the UK do accept cash and often prefer it. Unless they have a sign up saying they're a card only business, you're free to use cash.

Card/apple pay is fine for almost everything. We do go to a small restaurant sometimes (very rural in a tiny village in the var) that is cash only, and I tip ski instructors in cash, but if you come across something like that, which is unlikely at eurocamp, it isn’t exactly hard to pull money out at a cash point. I don’t think you need to sort cash before you go or anything.

Eurocamp site we were on had a limit for cards for the site shop - 5 euros I think. So if you want a bottle of water you'd end up spending more. And public toilets expect cash!
I'd just bring money for those and tap for the rest

Just back from France. First poster is spot on. Some boulangeries have a minimum card payment of €10 or €15 and you may need a € coin for supermarket trolleys or lockers (but my SuperU gave me a plastic token when I forgot!)
Happy holidays!

I also recommend revolut - you can have kids accounts too (not sure how old your kids are) where they can save into different pots, you can control their cards ( can use on phones too).

We normally take about €50 in cash just in case and mostly end up spending it on the ferry on the way back!

We have a Halifax clarity card which is charge free and so is our Lloyds platinum current account. Like others have said always pay in euros.

Have a great holiday!

Cash is accepted widely in France and cards are sonewhat less widely accepted than in the UK although much more so than previously. We've just been to a large Eurocamp and a few things were cash only or cash only for small transactions (circus was cash only; some rides were cash only unless buying 4 places etc). DH got a taxi and they took a card, which surprised us.

Agree with a lot of the above.

Revolut works most places most of the time.

Some smaller shops will only accept cash for small transactions (e.g. <€10).

Tipping? Generally please don't, and certainly not a fixed percentage. Traditionally at places like Cafes when paying cash you might leave some of the change but not a lot...most places these days that option has gone with the demise of cash and a tip on top of what's on the bill is not expected, certainly in most parts of the country.
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Let's not get into American habits when not in America.

We generally take a Monzo card and a couple of hundred euros in cash when we go to France. Cards are much more widely accepted than even a few years ago, however there are some hold outs - traditional bars and vendors in town market halls are often cash only still (or "pas de CB" in French) and cash is still popular in street markets. Some public transport in smaller towns - particularly buses - still require cash for tickets on board if you are not coal enough to have Oyster type card or the local app.

As for tipping, it is not required or expected in France - some bars or stalls in market halls may have a small jar for a "pourboire" but it is not expected and will be a matter of popping a couple of euros in after your purchase.

"As for tipping, it is not required or expected in France - some bars or stalls in market halls may have a small jar for a "pourboire" but it is not expected and will be a matter of popping a couple of euros in after your purchase."

Exactly, the clue is the "for drinks"...

Tips (if any) were once upon a time a means of bartenders/waiters etc maybe ending up having a little bit of cash in pocket in the end of shift for a coffee or something before heading home...so customers might be perhaps expected to leave some small change, maybethe odd handful of centimes

It was never seen as a source of primary or even significant income for staff (FWIW national minimum wage is quite high).

That said I do know some of the major tourist traps expectations these days have become somewhat contaminated by some tourist behaviour....

The last time we went to France, I took cash and DP used his card. He said it was quite an expensive way of doing it.

Because I was using cash, I did pay more for it than face value, but I only spent what I had.

Everyone likes a tip!!!

Well of course 'everyone likes a tip' but it makes no sense to tip people who carry a drink or plate of food to your table, but not those who sell you a baguette at the bakery, an ice cream at a kiosk, sell you a ticket for the cable car or tell you about local attractions in the tourist information office etc etc. Despite all those people likely being paid similar wages for being part of your holiday experience.

Service is included in France bars and restaurants and like the UK, hospitality staff are paid at least minimum wage.

Unless you want to leave a token few euros for good service (the aforementioned pour boire) it really is never necessary to tip in France.