Why can’t I change my cash into euros?

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

The Mont Blanc massif near Chamonix attracts hikers and skiers

Q At the moment I am skiing in Chamonix, France, which I have been doing for almost 30 years. Today I was shocked to be told you can no longer change cash into euros anywhere in Chamonix. The post office in Chamonix said the nearest place was the Swiss boarder at Martigny. Why is this happening?

Darren W

A For decades, foreign exchange in Europe was a lucrative business. But tourists have moved en masse to paying with plastic – and, often, pre-purchasing online services such as hotels and train tickets. Even many bars and taxi drivers, which have traditionally run cash businesses, now accept contactless payments.