Money Matters and Passport

Is your passport up-to-date? 

If not, get this done right away! If your passport will expire in the next few months it may be possible to renew now. Check with the Passport Office in your country to see if this is possible.

Money - How Much? What Kind of Funds do I need?

Although I don't know how much you personally will want to spend, I will give you an idea of what worked for me in the past. For daily expenses, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how little you need. 

Meals: Our breakfasts are delicious and very plentiful and most of our fantastic dinners are all arranged. These meals are included. You are responsible for all of your lunches. These can be very simple with cheese, breads, fruit, pastries etc. purchased quite inexpensively at the market or shops in Limoux and taken along with us. Wine at dinner is provided but if you wish to have some in the evening it is very cheap! 

Although traditionally dinner is served late in France, our hosts recognize that westerners prefer to dine earlier and so they accommodate us. You are responsible for just one dinner each week at a local restaurant, of your choosing, or bring something home from the market. 

Our daily activities: Visits to villages are arranged so you will experience real French life, rather than tourist traps. You will not have to be constantly putting out euros to pay for admission. 

The staff and I have one day off a week. Breakfast is covered in your fees for this day but meals and your activities are not. You may wish to take the train to Carcassonne for a day of shopping and visiting the old walled city. Usually a group goes together or you may travel on your own. You will be given complete instructions and directions to make the trip enjoyable and fun. The train station is an easy walk from our home base.

Souvenirs and gifts to take home: Use your credit card for these personal purchases, or give a little painting that you created to friends or family!

Tips: If you wish to leave a small tip for a waiter it is appreciated, but not necessary. In France the tax and tip are included on the bill as "service compris" (tip included). The one time that I am sure you will want to leave a tip is at the end of our stay for our guide/translator/wonderwoman/driver at Le Monastere. Generally there are three or four dedicated people who work hard, night and day to make our stay wonderful and are deserving of our appreciation.

Shelling Out

DEBIT CARDS - Do go to your bank and ask if your debit card will work at the bank machines in France. There are a variety of symbols on the back of the card that your bank will check to confirm this. Also ask which account it will work with. (Most likely only your chequing account.) You will want to be sure to have money in that account. Unless things have changed in the recent past, bank cards work only in bank machines and not at stores. There is a bank machine within an easy walk from our home base.

CREDIT CARDS - Visa and MasterCard work everywhere. You may wish to notify your card company and bank that you will be in France so as to avoid your card being "frozen".

EUROS - The rates change daily. Most banks will have euros on hand, but be sure to get your money changed a couple of weeks ahead of our trip, just in case. Alternatively wait until you get to France and then go to a machine. Although we are in very safe areas, don't carry a lot of cash.

Travellers Cheques - Traveller's cheques are not happily accepted, if accepted at all. Use euros, or credit card in shops.

So to sum it up: bring along some euros and if you need more, walk up the street to the ATM machine.

When travelling it is wise not to carry too much money with you. My suggestion is that you only keep in your pocket, purse or money belt the amount you are comfortable losing! There is an ATM just up the street from our home base.  There is a fee to get cash using your debit card. When I last checked, my bank charged $4.00 for foreign ATM service and there will most likely be a fee in France. I would rather pay $15.00 to get extra money when I am running low, than risk a stash disappearing from my pocket or pack. We are in a very safe area and no one on my trips has had any problem, it is wise to be cautious.