France:

The official currency in France is the euro (€). The coins come in denominations of 2€, 1€ and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents The notes or bills are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros.

Virtually all ATMs in France take MasterCard and Visa, and most are linked to the Cirrus and Plus systems. American Express has ATMs in major cities. Note: Most French ATM keyboards have numbers only, so if your PIN contains letters, remember the number equivalents. Four- and five-digit PINs are acceptable in France.

Credit cards are accepted in a large number of shops, hotels, and restaurants. Shopkeepers often state a minimum charge.

Currency exchange can be made in most banks and post offices as well as in some large stores, train stations, airports and exchange offices near major tourist sites. Look for a sign indicating "Change". Remember that even though exchange rates are fixed, agent commissions vary: they must be clearly displayed.

Switzerland:

The official currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF). Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 francs. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 rappen and 1, 2, 5 francs. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, airports and major hotels.

ATMs are common in major cities and towns. However, may be less common in rural areas

Credit cards and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere. The most common credit cards are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Maestro.