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Like Viscount Bisquet, we take few euros with us, and use our cards in France for cash withdrawals or purchases.  We get a better exchange rate this way - and don't have huge amounts of cash with us at any time.

In answer to the question, we've stopped at loads of Aires over the years, and I can only remember seeing one Aire with an ATM - and can't remember where that was!!!   This may be a 'memory' problem, or there may not actually be any others.   At one time you could exchange money at the cash desk, but I haven't seen those signs recently, either.  We tend not to use the autoroutes much now, so use ATMs in towns and villages, and the large shopping malls nearly always have an ATM.

I alsways use ATMs for cash.  Cheapest way by far of getting it provided you have the RIGHT card!  I've found that most motorway services have a machine - the adverts alongside the road usually say if they have one (piccy of cash).  All the ones I have used have been your definition of 'free' ie the machine company haven't made a charge.

There'll be a whizz of comment now about the cheapest way to get cash.

Here's the Cirrus ATM locator.

Personally, I would no sooner go abroad without a hundred or so cash Euros on me than leave my driving licence. You just never know how its going to pan our in the first few houes after arrival, and peace of mind is worth a great deal more than a pint of beer I would have thought. Does your wife know that this is what you intend to do? I'd know what I'd be doing with aforementioned pint if my OH came up with a plan like this.

Agree with Val, we usually have a hundred pounds or so of Euros each to begin with and then use cashpoints thereafter.  Gets us through the first couple of days - we split them up and hide them in different places too.

Ali

The Nationwide are now charging on their cards .... the days of free withdrawls in Europe are over!

We always have the fuel and  tolls money plus the first 2 or 3 days 'allowance' so we dont have to worry .... mind you last year we took all the Euros with us so we didnt bother about cash points until the way home as we had over spent!

Thanks all.  I have located cash machines (DABs) at the Aires of Vemars and Assevillers using the SANAF's (the Autoroute operator) website.  Within an hour or two of arriving on French soil I'll be able to add to the €136 I have already.

Valk_scott - If you need help in suing the charm school, I'd be delighted to assist