ATMs in Martinique keep asking Charge in EUR or Charge in USD - what does that mean? Shows high charges for this
Fellow travelers told me those Martinique ATMs love to push the charge in USD option hoping you'll pick it by mistake. That soon adds a nightmare 12%+ fee through ATM conversion. Using Société Générale ATMs, I always pick EUR and then check my Chase card for the rates, which are way better. French banks’ fees are high anyway, so avoiding added ATM conversion fees is a must.
French Caribbean ATMs ask you to choose EUR or USD so they can perform dynamic currency conversion, which often means higher costs. I used my Mastercard at Crédit Agricole and always selected EUR. Letting my bank do the exchange saved me a lot. Expect to pay about €5-7 withdrawal fees regardless, so plan your cash needs carefully.
I used a BNP Paribas ATM in Martinique and accidentally picked USD once. Major regret! The ATM added a huge markup, around 10% or more, and extra fees totaling about €7. Always pick EUR and let your card company handle the conversion; it’s cheaper despite the bank fees. French banks have high ATM fees generally, so use cards like Revolut if you want to save.
At ATMs in Fort-de-France like those from Société Générale or BNP Paribas, the “Charge in EUR or USD” pops up. Choosing USD lets the ATM jack up fees and apply a bad exchange rate; picking EUR means you're charged in local currency and your bank converts. I found declining conversion better overall, especially with Visa and Mastercard. Still, French banks charge roughly €6-8 per withdrawal, fee-free ATMs are rare.