onyx007 Posted December 8, 2014 #26 Share Posted December 8, 2014 As of today.....$1 USD = 1.24 Euro.....or conversely.......1 Euro == $.81 USD. A currency exchange in the US is always the best exchange rate vs. ATM in foreign country. Yes, completly wrong, an exchange in your own country to foreign currency is sometimes easier but never, really never better then withdrawing money from an ATM in a foreign country... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corfe Mixture Posted December 8, 2014 #27 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Yes, completly wrong, an exchange in your own country to foreign currency is sometimes easier but never, really never better then withdrawing money from an ATM in a foreign country... Absolutely. I live in the UK, but spend 5 months of the year in France and, because one needs a local bank for things like mobile phone contracts, I have both UK and French bank accounts. Would you believe that, even though I can get decent rates for bulk transfers, the cheapest way to transfer funds to my French account is to take both mine and my wife's commission free UK debit cards to the ATM at our French bank and hit the cash withdrawal limit of €300 per card per day and then pay the €600 into my French bank account using the same ATM. I then repeat the exercise every day I pass the bank until I have topped up the French account to the desired level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PaulMCO Posted December 17, 2014 #28 Share Posted December 17, 2014 Duh what a strange thread. I have never been so embarassed as an American. When you go on vacation to a foreign country you make sure you have foreign currency. To the Kettle's from OK. Give me a break. I did not want to travel to Dallas to buy Euros. To all you can buy foreign currency on the Internet at rates better than Travelex. Just try ezforex.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenquixote66 Posted December 23, 2014 #29 Share Posted December 23, 2014 My bank does not charge a fee and it takes 2 business days to get the Euros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
di234 Posted January 10, 2015 #30 Share Posted January 10, 2015 AAA also sells Euros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 15, 2015 #31 Share Posted January 15, 2015 When I arrived a couple of weeks at the port in Martinique the first thing I've seen was this sign, and I had to laugh because I remembered this thread: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Survivor2013 Posted January 15, 2015 #32 Share Posted January 15, 2015 What about using credit cards? While traveling through Europe in the past that's what we did as we were told we would get a better exchange rate. Do most stores in Martinique take credit cards? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 16, 2015 #33 Share Posted January 16, 2015 What about using credit cards? While traveling through Europe in the past that's what we did as we were told we would get a better exchange rate. Do most stores in Martinique take credit cards? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk I would think in the shops it's not a problem, but I would think that that's no option for taxi, bus or tour operators... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbuddy Posted January 16, 2015 #34 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I've made a organised tour in the morning (St.Pierre and Rum distellery) and went on my own on a little walk around the town after lunch.I've not seen any shops that are really having something for tourists. There were some stalls right at the pier and I'm sure they will take U$. Which tour do you take ? Curious.....how was this tour? I booked it for April but can't find any reviews on it. Thanks for any info you can give me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 17, 2015 #35 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Curious.....how was this tour? I booked it for April but can't find any reviews on it. Thanks for any info you can give me. It was alright, you will first drive to a church, which is a small copy of the one in Paris (Sacre Coeur), then you drive a long drive on a good but curvy street through the rainforest. You will arrive at the Depaz Rum Distillery, where your tour guide will give you a tour, followed by a little degustation. The final point is the volcanic museum in St.Pierre; the former capital which was 1902 destroyed by the Volcano. I found it ok, if you like to do a tour, and you're not that comfortable with French, but I found it's a bit of a rush at the various sights. (I returned a couple weeks ago, and I took the public bus which costed 5 Euros each way per person, there is a bus from St.Pierre to Mont-Rouge which would stop halfway for Depaz; with a short walk from there, but it might be not that easy, speaking no French) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbuddy Posted January 17, 2015 #36 Share Posted January 17, 2015 It was alright, you will first drive to a church, which is a small copy of the one in Paris (Sacre Coeur), then you drive a long drive on a good but curvy street through the rainforest. You will arrive at the Depaz Rum Distillery, where your tour guide will give you a tour, followed by a little degustation.The final point is the volcanic museum in St.Pierre; the former capital which was 1902 destroyed by the Volcano. I found it ok, if you like to do a tour, and you're not that comfortable with French, but I found it's a bit of a rush at the various sights. (I returned a couple weeks ago, and I took the public bus which costed 5 Euros each way per person, there is a bus from St.Pierre to Mont-Rouge which would stop halfway for Depaz; with a short walk from there, but it might be not that easy, speaking no French) No, none of us speak French. That's why most of us booked that tour. How long of a drive would you say it is.......I don't cherish being on a bus for a long time. Oh......was the bus air conditioned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbuddy Posted January 17, 2015 #37 Share Posted January 17, 2015 It was alright, you will first drive to a church, which is a small copy of the one in Paris (Sacre Coeur), then you drive a long drive on a good but curvy street through the rainforest. You will arrive at the Depaz Rum Distillery, where your tour guide will give you a tour, followed by a little degustation.The final point is the volcanic museum in St.Pierre; the former capital which was 1902 destroyed by the Volcano. I found it ok, if you like to do a tour, and you're not that comfortable with French, but I found it's a bit of a rush at the various sights. (I returned a couple weeks ago, and I took the public bus which costed 5 Euros each way per person, there is a bus from St.Pierre to Mont-Rouge which would stop halfway for Depaz; with a short walk from there, but it might be not that easy, speaking no French) We just didn't know what else to do.........been to a lot of islands quite a number of times but this is first visit to Martinique. Really would like to see the beauty of the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Stockjock Posted January 17, 2015 #38 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I work for one of the big Wall Street firms and I have a brokerage account with my company. I'll be in Martinique and Guadeloupe soon. I was able to buy Euros and most other currencies through my firm, as could most customers. It's a 2 step process. 1. Buy the Euros (or whatever). Since I'm the employee, they gave me the option to mark-up nominally, with a minimum markup of 3 basis points (.03%). I did the minimum markup, which is also what I'd do for any good client. The currency is then purchased and shows as holding in the account on the next business day. 2. Once the transaction has settled, again typically one business day, I put in a call to "Global Currency Express". They then overnight the currency via FedEx. They gave me the option to have it delivered to my home or to the branch. Since I work there, I had it sent to the branch. It's the first time I've done this personally, although I've wired Swiss Francs to Switzerland for other clients and such, but I found it to be very easy. And the fees at roughly 2% including delivery, seemed pretty reasonable to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toes_in_sand Posted January 18, 2015 #39 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Just for clarification, there is a bus that take you from the port to St Pierre? We are thinking about doing St Pierre, but the limited information we have read is that traffic is a nightmare. My biggest concern is being stuck on a public bus in traffic and missing the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 18, 2015 #40 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Just for clarification, there is a bus that take you from the port to St Pierre? We are thinking about doing St Pierre, but the limited information we have read is that traffic is a nightmare. My biggest concern is being stuck on a public bus in traffic and missing the ship. Yeah, it's the kind of shared taxi which you find everywhere in the caribbean. Number 30; St.Pierre is the terminal stop. We had no problem with traffic, but if you rent a car, hire a taxi or go on a tour, they all have to use the same road (which is very good). The drive took about 30 to 40 minutes each way and as we understood the bus goes twice an hour. Just leave St.Pierre about two hours before you should be back on board and you'll be alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 18, 2015 #41 Share Posted January 18, 2015 No, none of us speak French. That's why most of us booked that tour. How long of a drive would you say it is.......I don't cherish being on a bus for a long time. Oh......was the bus air conditioned? No worries; when I was alone with RCI in March I did the tour as well, as I didn't know about other options. The bus was modern and I would think that it had air con. Drive time I would think: Port - Church - depending on traffic not more then 30 min Church - Rum Distillery - around 45 min Rum Distillery - St.Pierre - 10 min and St.Pierre-Port - around 30 min Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3kids1dog Posted January 18, 2015 #42 Share Posted January 18, 2015 We plan on bringing Euros for our day there. We are planning on taking the ferry over to the beaches and spending the day there. I have no idea how much money to convert. We usually bring around $120.00 for spending in ports. Can anyone give me an idea of how much Euros I would need to cover a day including ferry, beach chairs, a few drinks, lunch, maybe some small shopping. I have no idea how much things cost over there, and barely understand the conversion rate! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 18, 2015 #43 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I have no idea how much things cost over there, and barely understand the conversion rate! :) If you normally bring along 120 US, then it's around 100 Euro, that's about the same amount. I think you should be alright with that amount for one day in Martinique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3kids1dog Posted January 18, 2015 #44 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thank you so much for your quick reply. My son took 3 years of French and I am trying to have him teach me some of the basics. It is much harder than Spanish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onyx007 Posted January 18, 2015 #45 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thank you so much for your quick reply. My son took 3 years of French and I am trying to have him teach me some of the basics. It is much harder than Spanish! I would think, that in Martinique it's the same like everywhere else in the world; young people will probably understand some english, older folks will not or pretend they dont ;-) It's France after all ! But even if they understand english, they will be much nicer and happier if you make an efford to speak some french (as it happend last year in France, as a german speaking I started to talk in French and the french people answered to me in english) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bren61 Posted January 24, 2015 #46 Share Posted January 24, 2015 We are trying to determine approximately how many Euros we will need to order for our day at the beach (Anse-Mitan). I know we are able to use USD for the ferry ($10pp). Are we able to rent 2 lounge chairs and an umbrella on this beach, if so, how much & do they accept USD for that or just Euros? I assume we will need to use Euros for lunch & drinks at the beach, so what is the average cost in Euros for the following: Per Beer? Per Alcoholic Frozen Drink? Light Lunch? (sandwich & a side) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal Bennett Posted January 24, 2015 #47 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Are ATM's readely available for obtaining Euros? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erin Dreamer Posted February 15, 2015 #48 Share Posted February 15, 2015 I've made a organised tour in the morning (St.Pierre and Rum distellery) and went on my own on a little walk around the town after lunch. My son and wife have said there don't appear to be any excursions sponsored by their Royal Caribbean ship this coming November 2015. I was wondering what ship you were on because it seems you did take a tour, one that they were interested in. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbuddy Posted February 15, 2015 #49 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Royal Caribbean offers the St Pierre & Rum Distillery tour. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbuddy Posted February 15, 2015 #50 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Erin, how was that tour? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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