France Travel Tips

France in General

What Time is it? France is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. If it's 8:00 AM in Washington, DC, it's 2:00 PM in Paris. France is in the same time zone as its continental neighbors (Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany) but is one hour ahead of Great Britain.

Electricity & Voltage: Let's not electrify international relations! It's definitely not good to blow fuses at the hotels in France, so know that the voltage in France is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Therefore, check your appliance to be sure it will work without a converter. In any case, you'll require a converter to make your curling iron work! Hotels all have blow dryers, so no need to pack one! For example, I use a digital camera and recharge my batteries. If you have a battery charger which indicates “Input: AC 100-240V, 50-60 Hz”, then it has a variable voltage power supply. All you would need is a plug adapter.

Dining

Restaurants: Lunch is usually served between 12.00 and 14.00 and restaurants are happy to serve dinners from about 19.30 on. It can be difficult to find a table for dinner after about 21.00 in smaller villages and towns not accustomed to tourists.

Waiters: When you address your waiter, please don’t use "garçon" but the more polite "monsieur"

"Menu": When you dine in a restaurant, look for the "menu". It will include a three course meal, usually with choices in each course. The starter/entree followed by the hot main course (meat or fish with vegetables), and finally the cheese and/or dessert (fruit, pastry, ice-cream, etc.). I believe that if you're going to order dessert (and who wouldn't do this en France?!?!), it's economical to just go for the fixed menu price! The total menu price includes tip!

Water: Tap water is perfectly drinkable. Bottled water is easily purchased, but in restaurants, if you wish to have a pitcher of tap water (no charge), you need to ask for "une carafe d'eau".

“CHECK, PLEASE”: Don't wait for the bill to be brought to your table after dinner. (You'll be sitting all day/night!) Instead, you will need to ask for the bill; it’s called "l’addition."

Tipping: The price on the restaurant menu generally includes a 15% tip and you will see "service compris". However, in the little street cafes, you should leave a euro or two.

Money

The Euro: This is the currency in France.

ATMs: This is a great way to get cash in France. The ATMs are everywhere, so be sure you know your pin number before you leave home.

Travelers Checks: Avoid them since they are not easily accepted in France and inconvenient to cash.

Paris

Museum Pass: Purchase tickets at Paris Tourism Office near the Louvre. Tickets are for 2, 4, 6 consecutive day use; most museums are free of charge for those under 18 years of age

Monday: Versailles, Giverny, and the Orsay are closed.

Tuesday: The Louvre is closed

Metro: Excellent way to travel in Paris with 16 lines and 300 stations. Purchase tickets at the Paris Tourism Office near the Louvre or in most metro stations. Tickets are for 1, 2, 3, or 5 consecutive day use.

Tours

France Travel Tips

France in General

Dining

Money

Paris