Practical Information for Travel in France

Updated: April 26, 2003

GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION RESOURCES.



VISAS RETURN TO INDEX
Visas are no longer required for Americans staying in France for less than three months, with the following exceptions: holders of diplomatic passports or government employees on official missions; students on study programs in France; and ship or airline crew members on duty.

LOST PASSPORT/IDENTIFICATION RETURN TO INDEX
If you lose your passport in France, go to the nearest U.S. consulate to get a three-month temporary passport. U.S. consulate in Paris: 2, rue St-Florentin, 75001. Tel: 42 96 12 02 or 42 61 80 75. Other cities with U.S. consulates: Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Strasbourg. It is mandatory in France to carry some proof of identification at all times.

DRIVING IN FRANCE RETURN TO INDEX
A valid driver's license, issued in the U.S., is required for all U.S. citizens who wish to drive in France. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Proof of insurance coverage is necessary. Important Rules of the Road: Seat belts are mandatory in both the front and back seats throughout France, including cities. Children under 10 must ride in the vehicle's rear seat. At intersections, the driver to the right has the right of way, unless you are in a traffic circle or otherwise instructed. Driving while intoxicated carries severe penalties, and speed limits are strictly enforced. The city speed limit is 60 km (37 miles) per hour or as posted. The speed limit on toll highways is 130 km (81 miles) per hour, on no-toll highways 110 km (68 miles) per hour, and 90 km (56 miles) per hour on other roads.

MAJOR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN FRANCE (1994) RETURN TO INDEX
News Year Day January 1; Easter Sunday and Monday April 3 & 4; Labor Day May 1; V.E. Day May 8; Ascension Thursday May 12; Pentecost Sunday & Monday, May 22 & 23; Bastille Day July 14; Assumption Day-Feast of the Virgin Mary August 15; All Saints Day November 1; Armistice Day November 11; Christmas Day December 25.

HOTELS RETURN TO INDEX
There are about 17,500 hotels, inns, and motels in France. They are classified according to their comfort levels into five categories, indicated by stars: Deluxe (4*L), first class (4*), good tourist-quality (3*), and budget (2* and 1*). Rates are usually quoted for a double room, with two people sharing the room, and usually include service and tax.

MUSEUMS RETURN TO INDEX
In general, national museums are closed on Tuesday and municipal ones are closed on Monday. Some museums are open late on Wednesday.

BANK HOURS RETURN TO INDEX
Most major international banks have offices in Paris. Banks are open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Banks are closed Sundays, holidays, and the afternoon before holidays. They are also closed Saturdays in Paris and Mondays in the provinces.

POST OFFICE RETURN TO INDEX
Post offices are marked PTT and are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. In Paris, the main post office at 52, rue du Louvre is open 24 hours a day. Stamps can be purchased at tabacs, hotels, and some newsstands.

SHOPPING AND CUSTOMS RETURN TO INDEX
American visitors carrying their passports can get a refund of the value-added tax (V.A.T., T.V.A. in French) on purchases of 2,000FF or more at any single store. The discount ranges from 10 to 22 percent, depending on the classification of goods. You can combine purchases in department stores.
Upon leaving French territory, show your goods and the V.A.T. refund forms filled out by the store at customs (la douane). French Customs will keep both pink pages, mailing one in the envelope provided by the store, and will give you the validated green page which you should keep in case of dispute. Documentation must be processed at airport customs counters before you check your luggage (you must be prepared to show merchandise), at the boarder customs office, or by the train's customs officer if leaving France by rail. Refunds are sent a few weeks later or are credited to your credit card. (Shopping with a credit card makes the paperwork easier.)
Returning home, your duty-free allowances for purchases brought with you is $400. For the next $1000 worth of goods, a flat 10% rate is assessed. You are also allowed 100 cigars or 200 cigarettes, one bottle of perfume, and one liter of alcohol.

TIPPING RETURN TO INDEX
Restaurants: Most include a 15 percent service charge and tax in their prices referred to as service compris. If a meal or service has been particularly good, leaving another 10 francs is customary, as is leaving the waiter small change from your bill if you paid in cash. If service is not included in the price, service non compris, a 15 percent tip is customary. If you have been served personally by the wine waiter, you may give him about 10FF.
Hotels: 10FF for every piece of luggage to porters; 10FF a day to the chambermaid.
Taxi Drivers: About 10 to 15 percent of the metered charge. Hairdressers: 10 percent.
Small tips (around 5FF) are reasonable for cloakroom attendants, washroom attendants, ushers, and museum tour guides. It is standard practice to tip tour guides and bus drivers after an excursion.

USING TELEPHONES RETURN TO INDEX
Most public telephones only accept phone cards called télécartes, not coins. Purchase a télécarte from a post office or a café/tabac for 40FF or 96FF. The card on the inside back cover of this guide tells you how to access free tourist information. To call a region of France from Paris dial 16 followed by the eight digit number. To call Paris from the provinces dial 16 then 1 followed by the eight digit number. To be connected with an English-speaking operator in the U.S. dial "19" from any phone, wait for the tone, then dial "0011" for AT&T USA Direct Service, dial "0019" for MCI, or dial "0087" for Sprint.

SMOKING LAWS RETURN TO INDEX
Since November 1, 1992, French law restricts smoking in all enclosed public places, including on the Métro and in Métro stations. On long-distance trains, certain cars are reserved for smokers and smoking is forbidden in the restaurant cars. Hotels, restaurants and theaters are free to decide how large a smoking area they provide. Espace Fumeur designates the smoking area and Espace Non-Fumeur designates the non-smoking area.

THE METRIC SYSTEM RETURN TO INDEX
Units of capacity 1 liter = 1.7 pints = 0.88 quarts 10 liters = 2.64 US gallons 1 pint = 0.56 liter 1 quart = 1.136 liter = 2 pints 1 US gallon = 3.73 liters

Units of weight 1 gram = 0.035 ounces 1 kilogram = 2.20 pounds 1 ounce = 28.35 grams 1 pound = 0.45 kilograms

Units of distance 1 mile = 1.6 kilometers

 

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS RETURN TO INDEX

 

ELECTRIC CURRENT RETURN TO INDEX
Current in France is 220 volts AC and current alternates at 50 cycles, not the 60 in use in the U.S. If you are bring electrical appliances, you will need a voltage transformer and a plug adaptor.

BRINGING ANIMALS TO FRANCE RETURN TO INDEX

BUSINESS TRAVEL DIVISION RETURN TO INDEX