[wdfifteen]

When I was last in France 15 months ago I was having problems with my stripe-only credit card. France was heavily chip&pin only then, and I'm sure it's worse now. I now have an AMEX card with a chip, but AMEX does not issue pins. AMEX customer service says all of the Euro zone will now take a chip card and signature. True?

Also, I usually try to spend down my Euros so I come home Euro-broke, but the last time I ended up in Cincinnati with about $300 Euros in my pocket. I got REAMED on the exchange rate. So if I get caught with a bunch of Euros again, what is the best way to exchange them once I'm back home here in the corn fields?