Going to France next week and I use my phone to pay for everything (via Apple pay, and I’m with Nationwide).

Do I need to convert this to Euros still or will conversion rates apply automatically when I make a transaction, so I don’t have to do anything?

Cheers.

6 comments

  3. Apple pay will work, but if you’re going anywhere outside city centres in France I strongly suggest bringing a conventional credit or debit card if not actual cash

  4. Get a starling card, load it up with enough money to cover your expenses. No transaction fees and a better exchange rate. Probably too late for this trip, though.

  5. They’ll automatically convert it when you make the payment. Their FX rate is sometimes a bit shit and they charge 2.5% per transaction on top.

    If it’s not too late to get a Monzo card, worth doing that as they use the real fx fee and no fee on top.

    Where are you going in France? Apple Pay is not as universal there as it is here.

  6. You will be charged a % fee on every transaction depending on which account/card you have with Nationwide. See [their guide here](https://www.nationwide.co.uk/help/travel/charges-using-your-card-abroad/).

    You should take the physical card with you too. You could come across a reader that doesn’t take contactless or has a limit to the amount on it. You may also find you need cash occasionally, you won’t be able to withdraw from an ATM with just Apple Pay. Nationwide also recommends you take your card reader with you, as if you need to go into online banking for whatever reason they will probably need it.

    Note if your card is not fee-free, you can probably get another account from another provider that doesn’t charge any extra fee. Chase is a good bet, or a credit card eg Barclaycard Reward. However as you’re going next week it is likely too short notice.

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