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The Survival Guide to France. Part Five: Useful Information

Motoring
Seatbelts are compulsory
for all passengers. Children must be properly protected up to the age of ten
(car cots for small babies, and baby or child seats.) Crash helmets must be
worn for all forms of motorbike travel.
Unless otherwise indicated
the speed limit in urban areas is 50 kph in built up areas, 90 kph on other
roads, (80 in the rain) and 130 kph on autoroutes (110 in the rain).

It is an offence to drive
with more than 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood. (About two glasses of
wine).
The Bison futé system
has been set up to try to prevent traffic jams. The map proposes alternative
routes indicated by green and yellow panels and the word bis.
Carry your insurance,
car log book - original not a photocopy, (or a letter from the car hire company
if it is a company car), and your driving license with you at all times whilst
driving. It is an offence to not to do so.

Planes and trains
France has 80 airports with two international airports for Paris. Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle
in the north, and Orly in the south.
Train tickets are sold at ticket counters and from ticket machines in stations, SNCF retail outlets, and in
travel agencies. Reservations can also be made by telephone using a credit card. Tickets must be reserved for the
TGV trains. Bicycles can be taken free of charge. The SNCF personnel wear red jackets and are available to help
with directions and information.
Taxis
Taxis may be hailed in the streets, ordered by telephone or found at cab
ranks indicated by the letter T. You will be charged for the journey to pick
you up as well as the distance you travel. There are supplementary charges
for each piece of luggage weighing more than 5kg and for bulky objects as
well as journeys to and from stations and airports
Car Hire
In general, you must be 21 years of age and have possessed a driving licence
for at least a year. You must take out the insurance offered when you hire
a car. See our Car
Hire page on our travel website www.frtravel.com
for more information.
Metros and buses
Most cities are served by a bus or tram network. Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseilles Toulouse and Rouen also have
metros. Tickets are sold at ticket counters in metro stations, in the Paris high speed RER underground, as well
as on buses and trams. Single tickets, or booklets of ten can be purchased. The booklets can also be bought at
tobacconists.
Telephoning
Most public call boxes now use telephone cards which are sold in tobacconists, post offices, SNCF or RATP ticket
offices and other retail outlets.

To call abroad the code is 00 + country code + area code + number you are
calling. The code for the U.K.for instance would be 00.44. then the area code
omitting the first zero (0) The code for the U.S.A. is 00.1.
Post offices
Post offices are generally open from 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays and from 8 am
to midday on Saturdays. Some are closed from 12.30pm to 2pm for lunch. Traveler's
cheques and money can also be changed here.
Stamps can also be purchased at tobacconists.
Changing money
Currency

France is part of the Euro zone. There are 8 euro coins denominated in 2 and
1 euros, then 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

There are 7 euro notes denominated in 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 euros.

Foreign currency can be changed in post offices, stations or airports as
well as banks.
ATM machines

Visa, Master Card, Euro card (any bank with the CB sign)

American Express a few in the very large cities and elsewhere via Le Credit Lyonnais Bank

Cirrus via Le Credit Mutuel and Le Credit Agricole

It is very easy to get cash with Visa, Master Card and Euro card possible with
American Express, difficult with Cirrus and Plus.
Credit cards

Accepted everywhere. Look for the sign CB in green-blue Visa, Master Card, Euro
card (Carte Bleue network) AmEx, JCB (sometimes, and nearly always where there
are tourists)
Travelers cheques

Easy to cash at any bank. There are often charges if the cheques are not in Francs. Can also be changed at post
offices.

Foreign exchange

Best rates are usually given at banks or at the American Express offices. It is easier to change a foreign currency
into Francs than Francs into something else since banks have a limited stock of foreign currency.
Shopping
Shops open from Monday to Saturday between 8 am and 10 am and close at about
7 pm. In the provinces the shops close between 12 noon and 2 pm for lunch.
Monday is a bit hit and miss as far as shopping is concerned, some shops and
restaurants are closed. On Sunday mornings there is often a market and some
food shops are open.

Following the withdrawal of duty free facilities within the European Union,
customs authorities in all member countries have introduced guidance levels
for the import of tobacco, alcohol and other products purchased by visitors
for their own use. These levels should be checked with HM Customs. Travelers
who buy more than the amount specified, must be able to satisfy Customs Officers
at both the point of departure and arrival that the goods are for their personal
use.
Public holidays
Banks and most shops will be closed on these days.
Fixed Public Holidays
1 January ~ New Years Day

1 May
~ Labour Day

8 May ~
Fête
de la Victoire 1945 (WWII Victory Day)

14 July ~
Bastille Day

15 August ~
Assumption

1 November
~ All Saints Day

11 November
~ Armistice Day

25 December ~
Christmas Day

26 December
~ 2nd Day of
Christmas (in Alsace Lorraine-only)

Health care

If you live in an EC country you should obtain an E111 form before you travel
to France. This can be obtained from your local post office and must be date
stamped by them. You will then only have to pay a part of the cost of your treatment.
American citizens should check with their insurance broker before leaving.
Land Measurements
When buying a house in France land is usually quoted in Hectares.
1 Hectare is 2,2 Acres
British Embassy in France
The address of the British Embassy is 35 rue du Faubourg St Honore, 75383 Paris;
tel: 01 44 51 31 00 (0033 1 44 51 31 00 from the UK).

British Consulate Generals are situated at Bordeaux (tel: 05 57 22 21 10), Lille
(tel: 03 20 12 82 72), Lyon (tel: 04 72 77 81 70) and Marseille (tel: 04 91
15 72 10).
American Embassy in France
The address of the American Embassy is 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris; tel:
01 43 12 22 22 (+33 1 43122222 from the the US). American travel notices
can be found HERE.