Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Martinique: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
I went the ATM route in Martinique and was glad I did - airport desk rates were pretty rough. Big banks like Banque Postale gave a competitive rate. Only drawback is ATM fees, but it’s still far cheaper for bigger withdrawals.
My tip - withdraw directly with your international card from an ATM as soon as you’re in the city or even at the airport. The fee was a few euros, but the rate was much better than the booth. Airport exchanges are just quick and overpriced.
The bank ATMs in town beat airport exchange desks every time. The rate at the airport looked okay but was actually pretty bad after commission fees. I’d go with any main French bank’s ATM (Banque Populaire or Crédit Agricole) and avoid changing money at the airport unless there’s no other option.
Just landed in Fort-de-France - Banque Postale and Crédit Agricole ATMs gave me way better rates than the airport counter, even after the ATM fee. The airport’s exchange desk rate was more expensive, and their commission made it worse. I used my Mastercard and got the closest to the mid-market rate.