I don't take any.

Carrefour & fuel bills go on the credit card. And while at Carrefour I use a debit card in the hole in the wall to get €s. I always think (maybe mistakenly) that I get a better rate that way.

If you're camping and do a "big" shop at Carrefour when you arrive, you can keep your daily costs quite small - unless you start drinking at bars round the circuit, buying souvenirs or going out to eat. There really isn't much other than that to spend on, and if you join the social life then you won't have time to go spending anyway.

If you're planning to sit down at JP's poker night you'll need at least two grand  

Other than that I'll probably take about three hundred quid which will pay for carrefour visits, beers in the circuit, the shampoo bar, pub visit to Arnage and pub visit and meal in town centre on friday night. We tend to all chuck cash in the kitty for food and stuff.

I should point out that I tend to violently over spend and my mates are planning to take a max of £200 each.

As long as you take cash out of the machines with a debit card (or pay in shops with one) and not a credit card, you will get a better rate than buying currency before you go

Rob - you are much better off doing foreign transactions on a credit card, not debit. The exchange rate (if both cards are say Visa) is the same. If you are purchasing goods there is no interest. If you are drawing cash the charge (often 1.5%, minimum £1.50 so worth drawing £100 or more equivalent at a time) is the same. But on a debit card the amount goes from your account immediately, on a credit card you have some weeks to pay.

Then again, if you don't pay your credit card in full each month all bets are off.

But certainly agree travelling with just a (credit) card is the way to go.

Worth looking at the Post Office.  In my local town, they give an extra half cent and no commission compared to the local travel agents and banks.

Me, I've got no problem - transfer money at commercial rate to my French bank then get it for free from the ATM  

I agrre with Dukla - you get a good rate on credit card.  I got 1.43 a few weeks back when renewing the ACO membership.

DB

Had quite a bit of difficulty with Tesco credit card over the weekend in restaurants and Carrefour fuel (store was OK). The French expect the card to be chip n pin but mine isn't. Even when it work,ed transations were v v slow.

Always worth having a second source of funds available...

I'd suggest the post office for most people at the moment. The rate is about 1.42 due to the EU wobble caused by France and Holland. I'm off to get my cash today  

Now I'm getting excited (or is that another thread  

I'm off to the Post Office this morning to pick up mine, I plan to take 250 quid with me and hope for the best really. I took a little less last year and unfortunately left myself a little short after the Friday night/day in Arnage.

Chaos and me were drinking in the bar at the end of the street near the butchers and at about 5 decided that we would walk back to the campsite to get some dinner. Unfortunately we got as far as the next bar on the corner at the roundabout, and went and sat in the middle of the roundabout where we met some mental Dutch blokes. The story ends here as i can't remember much, just waking up back at the campsite after having crashed my mini moto into my tent.

Paddy, you dutch certainly no how to drink.

J.