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ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE
France is the number 1 tourist destination in the world, has 58 million residents, has 212,780 square miles of territory divided into 95‘departements’ + 8 departments and territories oversea, has about 7000 museums.
 | Passport and Visa |
| All US. Citizens, including infant, need a valid passport to enter France. Visas are no longer required for Americans staying in France less than three months, with exceptions (diplomatic passport, students on a study program...). | |
| Climat |
France has a temperate climate made up of four climatic zones: - The semi-continental zone: Alsace-Lorraine & Rhone-Alpes region => Cold winter, hot summer. - The intermediate zone: Paris, North and Central France => Cold winter, hot summer. - The Mediterranean zone: Southern France => Mild winter, hot summer (but pleasant). | |
| Driving in France |
| A valid driver’s license, issued in the U.S. is required for all U.S. Citizens. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Important rules of the road: Seat belts are mandatory in both front and back seats. At the intersections, the driver to the right has the right of way, unless you are in a traffic circle or otherwise instructed. | |
| Museums |
| In general, national museums are closed on Tuesday and municipal ones are closed on Monday. Some museums are open late on Wednesday. | |
| Bank Hours |
| All major international banks have offices in Paris. Banks are open weekdays, 9am to 4:30pm. They are closed Sundays, holidays, and the afternoons before holidays, and are also closed Saturdays in major cities.. | |
| Shopping |
| American visitors carrying their passports can get a refund of the value-added tax on purchases (ask for the correct amount). | |
| Tipping |
| Restaurant: Most include a 15% 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 the small change from your bill, if you pay in cash. Hotel: 2 Euros for every piece of luggage to porters. Taxi drivers: About 10-15% of the metered charge.Small tips (about 1 Euro) to cloakroom attendants, toilet attendants, and ushers. | |
| Using Telephones |
| Most public telephones only accept phone card, not coins. Purchase a phone card from a post office or a café-tabac. To call in U.S. from France: 00 1+ Area code + Phone number | |
| Electricity |
| Electricity in France runs on 220 volt, 50 cycle AC current, versus the 110 volt, 60 cycle AC current used in the US. If you bring electrical appliances, you will need a transformer and a plug adapter. If you bring a computer, check the back if there is a voltage switch and contact the manufacturer for more information. | |
| Tourist information |
| Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris 127, avenue des Champs-Elysées - 75008 PARIS Tel. 01 49 52 53 54 English Recording : 08 36 68 31 12 For more information / news on city events, free brochures and guides : Accueil de la Ville de Paris Hotel de Ville - 29, rue de Rivoli - 75004 Tel. 01 42 76 43 43 | |
| Airports |
| AEROPORT ROISSY - CHARLES DE GAULLE Information service - Tel. 01 48 62 22 80 www.adp.fr AEROPORT ORLY Information service - Tel. 01 49 75 15 15 www.adp.fr | |
| Transportation Airport / Paris |
| Aéroport Roissy - Charles-de-Gaulle : Roissyrail : RER B line (suburban express train) / RATP Tel. 08 36 68 77 14 Air France Shuttle to Etoile, Porte Maillot or Gare Montparnasse - Tel. 01 41 56 89 00 Roissybus to Opéra / RATP Tel. 08 36 68 77 14 Aéroport Orly : Orlybus Shuttle to Denfert-Rochereau / RATP Tel. 08 36 68 77 14 Air France Shuttle to Invalides or Gare Montparnasse - Tel. 01 41 56 89 00 Orlyrail / RER C line (suburban express train) / RATP Tel. 08 36 68 77 14 Monorail Orlyval / RER line B (suburban express train) - Tel. 01 69 93 53 00 | |
| Trainstations |
| SNCF ( France National Railroad Company) General Information / Reservation Tel. 08 36 35 35 35 - 01 53 90 20 20 (suburban trains) GARE DE LYON (southern France, southeastern France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece) - Tel. 01 53 33 60 00 GARE D'AUSTERLITZ (southwestern France, Spain, Portugal) - Tel. 01 53 60 70 00 GARE DE L'EST (eastern France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, southern Germany, Austria, Hungary) - Tel. 01 40 18 20 00 GARE DU NORD (northern France, northern Europe, Russia, Great Britain via Calais or Boulogne, Eurostar to London) - Tel. 01 55 31 10 00 GARE MONTPARNASSE (western France, southwestern France) - Tel. 01 40 48 10 00 GARE SAINT-LAZARE (Normandy, Great Britain via Dieppe) - Tel. 01 46 27 28 75 EUROSTAR (Gare du Nord) - Information Tel: 08 36 35 35 39 | |
| Metro, RER and Bus |
| RATP / Paris Transit Authority Information - Tel. 08 36 68 77 14 Recorded service - Tel. 01 43 46 14 14 English/Spanish/German/Italian-language service - Tel. 08 36 68 41 14 http://www.ratp.fr | |
| Taxis |
| Alpha Taxis - Tel: 01 45 85 85 85 Taxis Bleus - Tel: 01 49 36 10 10 Taxis G7 - Tel: 01 47 39 47 39 | |
| Emergencies and Useful Numbers |
Police Time | |
