France is in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain. From the French Alps to the quasi-tropical beaches of the Mediterranean, there's every climate here. It's temperate in the north, while the Basque region is moderated by the ocean; north-eastern areas have warm summers and colder winters. Inland areas are mild and sunny; the Mediterranean coast is-Mediterranean! In the Auvergne, Burgundy and the Rhine Valley, winds, such as the famous mistral, can be strong.
Every experience, bar iceberg-spotting, can be yours in this matchless and travel-friendly country. If you don't see Paris, you can't say you've lived. But don't stop there-- Vannes in Northern France is a historic city over whose battlements the French Revolution is replayed in fireworks every Bastille Day. The coast of Normandy, with its charming bays and rural landscape, featuring the famous poppies in summer, is a great holiday destination. The Perigord region, one of the most attractive in France, features rolling hills, pastoral landscape and medieval architecture.
So is Nimes, another medieval beauty, where professionals perform street theatre and music for delighted passers-by. Festivals of all sorts occur throughout the country, especially in summer-the Cannes Film Festival is merely the most famous. The Loire Valley is extraordinary for its natural beauty, its gracious and historical chateaux, its wines and-as with all French-its marvellous cuisine.
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The climate is temperate, with cooler temperatures in the mountains and balmy mild weather in the south. Provence and areas bordering the Mediterranean are renowned for their sunny, long summers. The southwest of the country is fairly mountainous, with the rest of the country fertile with rolling hills, excellent for agriculture. The coast of Normandy features the same high, chalk cliffs as the south coast of England nearby. The southwest coast is fairly flat with sandy beaches. The Pyrenees separate France from Spain.
Visa, Immigration, Customs
Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your scheduled length of stay. Government offices advise that you register your travel abroad. Information provided by you will help locate you through your embassy in an emergency - whether it is in the country you are visiting or a family emergency at home. It may also be used to send you new Travel Advisories and other important information. Registration is free and available online.
Visa/Permit/Tourist Card: No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. Single parents or other adults vacationing alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Transportation
Many major airlines fly in to a large number of cities in Italy from outside of and in the country. Air travel within Italy is expensive.
Airports in France:There are 478 airports in France.
Travel by Rail:SNCF, French Railways operate a vast network of lines throughout France. It is fast and efficient. The TGV Train à grande vitesse operates from Paris and is a very fast method of travel around France. Seats must be reserved in advance. There are many types of fares, so check with the SNCF office when purchasing a ticket or reserving a seat.
Travel by Water:You may be surprised to discover how many tourists rent houseboats and travel by canal through Europe, France included. Mediterranean cruises ply the French Riviera as well as the Atlantic coast.
Travel by Road:The roads are excellent and car rental a good option. It is a good idea to avoid travelling any distance by road on the last few days of July/first few days of August and the last few days of August/first few days of September, as during this time the bulk of the holiday travel takes place and the roads can be jammed for miles. It is also worth noting that you might want to travel off the autoroutes if you have the time, as there are tolls on most of the autoroutes. Bikes, scooters and motorcycles are popular too. Information regarding bus travel can be obtained from local tourist offices. Local services outside the cities are generally good.
What Side of the Road?: Driving is on the right side of the road.
Languages Spoken:French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish). Tour guides and service professionals in tourist-oriented facilities are very likely to speak English.
People and Culture:Parisians are a breed apart-fiercely proud of their heritage, insouciant, and by no means haughty, though they may seem so until you try speaking the language-even "Bonjour, Monsieur!" works like "Open Sesame" to their hearts, and they will delight in establishing communication. Many speak English, but don't make arrogant assumptions. For the rest, the French are passionate-they love life in all its manifestations, and don't really understand mealy-mouthed quibbles and minor complaints. The regions of France have different histories and people of a range of ancestries, from Celts to Romans, which makes it fascinating to travel in various parts of the country. A resident or national of France is called "Frenchman, Frenchwoman". The Term used to describe things from here is "French". For example, "French food"
Tipping and Bargaining:Restaurants usually include gratuity; look for the term "service compris" on the bill. Leaving a little extra is customary for good service. All prices for merchandise are non-negotiable.
Restaurants:
5 - 10%.
*Porters:
0.75 -1 Euro per bag
Taxi:
10% or Round Up, (most frequently rounded up)
* Try to use local currency. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged and will be useless to the person receiving them. Foreign paper money requires a trip to the bank for exchange. However paper US dollars are accepted almost universally.
Food:This is one of the world's great cuisines,and you don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy it. Lyons is the birthplace of French gastronomie, and the home of the Olympics of world chefs, as well as the birthplace of la nouvelle cuisine! Wherever you are, choose small cafes and restaurants, and ask for the daily specials and local wine. If the bread is not superb, that's a sign for you to be courageous and avoid the places where only tourists eat.
Money Conversion
France's currency is called the Euro (EUR)
Currency Converter :use the following currency converter tool to help you with your vacation. Currency Convertor Tool
Currency Cheat Sheet:use the following currency cheat sheet as a quick conversion reference on your vacation.Currency Cheat Sheet
Attractions
Destination Cities:Paris , on a bend of the River Seine, is easy to negotiate. The Louvre is a destination in and of itself. The world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, is here. Wander the Left Bank to see what the French have represented to the world through the past two centuries. You could spend days in Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the 13th century, and a pilgrimage destination ever since. For 20th century art, go to the Centre Pompidou. In Place Victor Hugo, turn three times anti-clockwise under the full moon and you'll get your wish. Other exciting night life is all around, from the Follies Bergères to world class theatre. Take the train from Paris to Chantilly in the north or Versailles in the south. Or visit the Bois do Boulogne and go rowing on the lake. Nice is a magic city, called Victory (Nike) by its founders, the Greeks. It's less expensive than Monte Carlo and a pot-pourri of entertainments. See the view from Le Chateau, ancient site of the castle of the Duke of Savoy. La plage (the beach) is dotted with Beautiful People (to take your mind off the stones underfoot). The promenade (Boulevard des Anglais) is four miles of gracious living. The Roman town of Cemenelum, three miles from Nice, is an archaeological treat. Perhaps established well before the ninth century, the abbey town of Sarlat, with its well preserved medieval and renaissance buildings, is living history. On the Protestant side in the Hundred Years' War, it survived plague and famine. Visit the Garden of the Recess Tombs. And spend the evening at the table: the region's walnut oil and foie gras are nectar and ambrosia. Bordeaux on the Atlantic coast is a fascinating city for its cultural mix as well as its history.
Points of Interest:France is cyclists' and hikers' heaven. Wine tours and cheese tasting are still some of the most enjoyable experiences one can have in France. Don't avoid the thrills like the Eiffel Tower, Monet's Garden, Versailles Palace for fear of too many tourists. It's worth keeping in mind that, like the Italians, the French love children. It is a great place to bring the whole family. It is possible to tour the famous countryside on a river cruise - a very relaxing mode of travel. Nearly every village is interesting, each with their own specialty wine, craft or cuisine. The market days vary from village to village, so it is possible to hit more than one during the week. With a map, a car and a little time, you could whet several appetites in an afternoon.
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