Credit card acceptance in Europe?

[Kalcium]

I am going to Paris and possibly other countries in Europe in May. Just wondering if I need to carry EURO cash or if credit card is widely accepted in those countries? I have Visa and AMEX.

[Dash]

I used my Visa all over Europe w/o any problems. But like anywhere, there are places that only accept Cash. all in all, if they accept credit cards, Visa will be one of them.

[redpattison]

Call your credit card company and let them know when you will be out of the country and where.
Reason...strange payments out of the country and with the information they will not query the transaction.

[Goldilocks]

Credit cards are accepted everywhere, but they ask for accompanying photo id in a lot of places.

[Talamasca]

AMEX is not widely accepted outside North America so make sure you bring the VISA.

The exchange rate used by the credit card companies is usually pretty good too so it's the best way to buy something.

[Kalcium]

Thanks for the responses.

[gleberental]

i had no problem using my CC in europe/UK in 2003-04.
although perhaps fewer small merchants on the Continent accept them than here

however, another consideration is extra fees charged:
* many more retailers charge an extra 3% to cover their transaction cost, whereas this is rarely the case in north america.
* also, you should check out what fees your CC charges for foreign currency transactions (flat fees, uncompetitive exchange rates)
i think a lot of them recently started applying new fees.
might be cheaper to take wads of money out of ATMs occasionally.

cheers,
michael