Question: I vacation in Europe frequently and lately have been appalled at the high cost of buying euros. Even the credit card companies are taking an extra cut. Do you have any tips on the best rates or methods for buying euros?

Answer: For starters, don't use a credit card to get your cash. Credit card companies treat currency purchases as cash advances and charge hefty fees for the privilege. Better to buy your currency from a bank before you leave, says Kelli B. Grant, senior consumer reporter at SmartMoney.com. "The rates are usually competitive," she said. "But don't wait till the last minute, because it will take one to three business days to get your cash."

Bank of America, for example, does not charge a fee for the purchase of foreign currency online. It does charge a delivery fee of $7.50 for orders under $1,000, though, so if you're part of a large group, consider combining your purchases. There's a $100 minimum for all orders. You don't have to be a Bank of America customer to buy currency there, but if you want to use your debit card — and you do — you must have a savings or checking account there that can be debited, or a Bank of America check card with a Visa logo.

But say you don't want to carry a lot of cash during your trip. (Smart thinking.) In that case, get a small amount of euros — say, $100 worth — before you leave to pay for taxis and incidentals when you arrive, then replenish your funds along the way from ATMs, which are ubiquitous abroad. Yes, you will be charged fees for using overseas ATMs, but you'll probably still end up better off than if you'd gone to a bank or currency-exchange counter, because credit card companies generally have better exchange rates.

One more tip: Shop around before your trip for the best credit card deals. Capital One is one of the few major credit card issuers that do not charge a foreign-exchange fee, Grant said. With other cards, you may end up paying as much as 4 percent on each foreign transaction. Checking credit card fees "is on my checklist of things to do anytime I go anywhere," Grant said. "It gets complicated, but in the end it's worth it."

Question: I am flying through Paris in January en route to Mali and have a nine-hour layover in Charles de Gaulle airport starting at 6:30 a.m. Any suggestions?

Answer: You're smart to avoid spending more time than you have to at Charles de Gaulle, possibly Europe's least enticing airport. And nine hours is plenty of time to take the express train into the city and have a look around. To be safe, allow about two hours' travel time round trip.

Buy a one-day Paris Visite pass for about $25 and take the RER B line to the St. Michel-Notre Dame station. Voila, gargoyles. See the cathedral, stroll along the Seine, do some shopping, have a meal. Lots of options here, but you can't go wrong wandering the St.-Germain-des-Pres or Marais neighborhoods (if you haven't done the Picasso museum, now's the time). You can also hop on the Metro with your Paris Visite card and see the Eiffel Tower and other farther-flung sights.

Question: We're spending two nights in Valencia as part of a trip to Spain. Do you have any suggestions on not-to-miss spots?

Answer: Most people visiting Valencia expect orange groves and Mediterranean charm, but that's not really the vibe there. Spain's third-largest city has more of an industrial feel, and two days might be more time than you'll want to spend.

Still, there's plenty to see, including the legendary Holy Grail. Yes, the city's massive cathedral, which dates to 1262, claims ownership of the chalice Jesus is said to have used at the Last Supper. Also check out the City of Arts and Sciences, a sort of permanent world's fair with four dramatic buildings designed by award-winning architect Santiago Calatrava. Its aquarium is billed as the largest in Europe. If you like art, there are lots of museums to explore. Don't miss the Museo de Bellas Artes, whose collection spans centuries, and the Museo Nacional de Ceramica, with one of the best collections of ceramics in Spain.