Trip to Paris

pennypinch · #1 02-01-2010, 01:44 AM

My sixteen year old daughter will be going to Paris and a couple of other places next year with her Foreign Language Club in school. I have never been out of the United States and I am clueless when it comes to traveling abroad. I have several questions, they might sound a little silly but I really just don't know how it all works overseas!

I want to send money with her besides what we have to pay upfront. I want to send her with a little spending money and emergency money just in case. Do I get the money converted into the correct currency here or can she do that when she arrives. Or.. should I just send her with a prepaid credit card?

I also want her to have a cell phone. I will get her a prepaid one. Do they all work over seas as well as here? Can she purchase and add minutes to it if necessary from Paris?

Please help a worried mom out lol!

(p.s. Do the airlines get mad if they find moms hiding in daughter's luggage? rofl!)

bigbux · #2 02-01-2010, 01:47 PM

Cell phone - yes they do work but it's incredibly expensive to call across the big pond. If you have a US issued cell phone, even calls within France will go to the US first and then to France and be very expensive. She would be better off buying a cheap one there...

Currency is always cheaper in the opposite country - Euros are cheaper in the US and Dollars are cheaper in France. Have her exchange the money in the US airport as she leaves and change leftovers back in the Paris airport as she comes home. Have her keep the money in several places, some in the pocket, some in the purse, some in something to hang on her neck under her shirt...

Prepaid cards - make sure it will work there. Has to be Visa or Mastercard issued - no other brand on it. Travellrs checks can be bought at your bank and work too - but she will have to cash them at the Hotel primarily, and I am not sure how easy it is in France to cash them. Countries vary.

Some more info here, if you scroll down a bit: http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/New..._to_france.htm

dimetime · #3 02-01-2010, 09:33 PM

I dont think that the airlines would appreciate it much finding you hiding in your daughter luggage. Not to mention your daughter would proably also be a bit upset over that discovery.

I would suggest using a prepaid credit card overseas. These would be alot easier to use. Plus if anything should happen (though hopefully not) you can quite easily add more money if needed from your computer right away. Just make sure to write down the card numbers on front and back and remember the pin number on the card.

Cell phones are an area I am not completely sure about, though they are constantly changing how they work and how much they charge so I suggest that you look into this one and check out several different brands of pre paid phones.

pennypinch · #4 02-02-2010, 01:13 AM

Thanks so much for the info guys and that website is a ton of help. I really do appreciate it. It's really scary to be sending her that far away, especially since I am so clueless but I'd really hate for her to miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime! Thanks again.

beaston · #5 02-02-2010, 02:06 PM

Don't send money along with her. What I suggest would be to get American Express traveler checks. At least then if they're stolen or lost, they will replace them (I believe) within 24 hours. I'm not sure about the details of everything, so I'd suggest looking on their website..

centsgirl · #6 02-03-2010, 03:40 AM

I found this about cell phone use the web address is--http://gofrance.about.com/cs/cellphonerentals/a/cellphone.htm.

Hope this helps you out.