The south of France along the Mediterranean conjures up imaginations of endless summers along the Riviera, the Cote d?Azur (azure coast), and the Mediterranean mountain island of Corsica. Millions of sun seekers travel here each year to enjoy the charm, climate, and sparkling beaches. Long a destination of celebrities and the elite, it is one of the best known resort areas in the world. The old palm-treed city of Hy?res, the most southern city of Provence, allures visitors to its peninsula with nearly 25 miles of unspoiled beaches, rocky inlets, protected marinas, and magnificent old homes built by wealthy residents of days gone by.
Many scheduled and charter carriers serve passengers flying into France. France’s national airline is Air France. The Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) international airport is north of Paris by about 40 minutes, with buses and trains on a frequent schedule into the city. Other international airports include Paris-Orly, 9 miles south of Paris; Bordeaux, which is 7 miles west of the city; Lille, 7 miles southeast of the city; and Lyon, 15 miles east of the city. Other major airports include Marseille, Nice (C?te d’Azur), Strasbourg, and Toulouse, with small airports hosting some internacional flights at Biarritz, Caen, Deauville (St Gatien), Le Havre, Montpellier, Morlaix, Nantes, Rennes and Quimper.
Departure tax
None
France is spread over a broad geographical area, with corresponding climates by region. The northeastern area has continental seasons, with distinct warm summers and colder winters. In the south, the Mediterranean climate prevails, with mountainous regions much cooler and snowy in winter. On the Atlantic coast, the weather is temperate, mild, with hot and sunny summers. On the Riviera, Mediterranean weather with strong winds occurs.
International access code: 33. The outgoing code is 00. Coinless, card-only telephones can be found throughout the country. Wireless service covers most of the nation, with GSM 900 and 1800 networks. While at gas stations, use of mobile phones is not permitted. Public fax and Internet services are widely available.
Currency: the Euro. Credit cards are widely accepted, however check with your card company to insure international acceptance. Traveler’s checks are not accepted as the bank of France no longer handles foreign currencies.
All visitors must possess a valid passport, and it is recommended to have a return ticket.
Visas are not required by nationals of Great Britain; Canada; the EU; the USA; Japan, Andorra; Argentina; Armenia; Bermuda; Brunei; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Hungary; Iceland; Israel (not including French Overseas Territories); South Korea; Liechtenstein; Malta; Monaco; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; San Marino; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Switzerland; Uruguay and Vatican City.
Requirements are subject to change, however.
France operates on a 220 volts AC, 50Hz cycle electric current. Adapters are recommended to accommodate 2-pin plugs.
Typical precautions should be taken; water is considered drinkable but not always acceptable to those accustomed to bottled water. Visitors arriving from South America and Africa must have a yellow fever certificate.
Official language: French. Regional dialects are found in Basque and Breton. English is often spoken in tourism areas.
Visitors must be aware of surroundings, watching for pickpockets in busy areas. Carrying too much cash in the pocket is not advisable. Use hotel safes to store passports. Certain redlight districts are home to hard-core pornography.
GMT +1, or GMT +2 between the end of March and October
Most restaurants add a service charge of 15% and tax. Leaving an additional small percentage for good service is customary, and leaving the change from a bill when paying cash is also the norm. If the service charge is not added in, leave a 15% tip. It is appropriate to tip porters, hotel chambermaids, taxi drivers (10 ? 15% of the fare), hairdressers, and assistants. Small tips are acceptable for ushers, tour guides, bus drivers, and restroom staff.
