Is your passport up-to-date?
If not, get this done right away!
How much and what kind of money 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 great and very plentiful and most of our fantastic dinners are at arranged. These meals are already paid for in your fees. You are responsible for 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! "Coca light" is not. 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.
Souvenirs and Gifts: Use your credit card for these personal purchases, or give a little painting that you did 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 in France. There are a variety of symbols on the back 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 works only in bank machines and not at stores.
CREDIT CARDS - work at most shops.
EUROS - I checked just today on the exchange rate to convert Canadian dollars to euros. You can buy 100.00 Euro for 137.52 Canadian Dollars at the Cash rate of 1.37525. The rates change daily, but this will give you an idea of the rates. Most banks will have euros on hand, but be sure to get your money changed a week or so ahead of our trip, just in case.
So to sum it up: bring along a few hundred euros and if you need more, walk up the street to the ATM machine.
Travellers Cheques - Traveller's cheques are not happily accepted, if accepted at all. Best to use cash, or Credit card in shops.
My suggestion is that you only carry in your pocket or money belt what you are comfortable with (or comfortable losing!). There is an ATM just down the street from our home base and although there is a fee to get cash, when travelling it is recommended that it is wise not to carry too much money with you. When I last checked, my bank charges $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.
