ATM cards and credit cards work well everywhere in France. Traveler's checks must be changed at banks and there is a commission charged by the bank. During the week, the biggest expense is lunch which may be consumed in a student cafeteria or in a more expensive dining room which is cafeteria - style and where many university professors and employees eat. Tickets to the cafeteria may be purchased in the university. Students can also go to a boulangerie or patisserie and buy the delicious French equivalent of fast food, an individual pizza or baguette with ham or salami.
Personal budgets vary according to the amount of travel one does .
Train travel is reasonable for students. Currently the dollar is strong in France. However, a meeting time and place is arranged at DeGaulle-Roissy airport for pickup to take the group to Compiegne. Mme Behin, our French director from the UTC meets the group and takes students directly to their host family. There is no individual transportation for students who do not arrange to meet the group.