Tourist office in Paris
Paris
Office Espagnol du Tourisme
43, Rue Decamps
75784 Paris Cidex 16 France
Tel: 4503-8250
Fax: 4503-8251
Border knowledge
Border protocol information for tourists & travellers.
Note: this page asumes people are travelling from the UK
UK passport “PASSPORTS PLEASE”
Everyone travelling to France must have a valid passport. It may not be checked on the way in – but you might find yourself being asked for it in France – and definitely asked on the way back into the UK.
It’s a good idea to keep your passport on you at all times. France's national identity card scheme means you may be required to produce it.
Pets
UK Passport for Pets scheme means dogs and cats can travel to and from France with the right paperwork.
Check with your vet what's needed.
It can seem complicated at first. For more details see the DEFRA (Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - formerly the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food) website at www.defra.gov.uk.
ANYTHING TO DECLARE?
Duty free in Europe was abolished 1 July 1999 – but alcohol and tobacco are still much cheaper in France.
HM Customs and Excise guidelines on goods for personal use are:
- Not more than 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars and 1kg of smoking tobacco.
- 90 litres of wine (of which only 60 litres can be sparkling) and 110 litres of beer.
- 10 litres of spirits and 20 litres of fortified wine (e.g. sherry)
- You must be at least 17 to bring back tobacco or alcohol.
Essential information
Essential tourist information, e.g. healthcare, banks, shopping, electricity and telephones.
HEALTHCARE & EMERGENCIES
If travelling from the UK, we strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to starting your journey.
The E111 is the UK Government certificate concerning medical treatment in the European Economic Area.
Most doctors speak English and pharmacies should be able to help find one.
Dial 18 for the fire brigade (pompiers), 17 for the police, 15 for an ambulance (SAMU). Directory enquiries is 12 and the operator is 13.
TELEPHONES
French numbers have 10 digits (first two digits are the area code) which should be dialled in full wherever you are. To phone France from the UK dial 00 33 but not the first ‘0’ in the area code. To phone the UK from France dial 00 44 but not the first ‘0’ from the STD code.
Make arrangements with your mobile phone company for your mobile to work - but be careful as you pay for the connection charge for people calling you from the UK. To dial another UK mobile in France always prefix it with 00 44 but not the zero from the code.
ELECTRICITY, TV AND VIDEOS
Pick up an adapter before travelling France is 220 volts - most sockets are two pin. Adaptors can be bought easily in UK but not in France.
French TV is SECAM and not compatible with the UK. SECAM videos bought in France will play in black and white on UK (PAL) videos. PAL videos are available in large specialist shops and some hypermarkets – if they are in their original format they will be stamped VO version originale.
SHOPPING
France is great value for everything from washing powder to wine.
Shops usually close for lunch often between 12.00 and 14.00, and stay open longer in the evening.
All towns have pharmacies open 24 hours a day.
Most hypermarkets are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.
BANK HOLIDAYS
Most shops, hypermarkets and many restaurants are closed on bank holidays.
Driving in France
The obvious thing to say about driving in France is that you drive on the right side and all distance and speed measurements are in km.
General
UK insurance gives automatic third party cover in France. Insurance companies can arrange more cover – check before travelling.
Leaded petrol has been replaced by ‘lead substitute’ petrol – but it may differ from UK substitutes.
Petrol is essence and diesel gasoil or gazole.
LPG vehicles are legal in France - but cannot be transported via the Channel tunnel.
There is growing number of LPG refuelling stations in France - most motorway service stations sell LPG (Gepel,GPL).
Many service stations close at 18.00 and on Sundays. It may be difficult to find a 24 hour station particularly in rural areas.
Paperwork
Minimum age for driving is 18.
Keep driving licence and all car paperwork with you as it must be produced on the spot if requested by the police.
Driving licence must be a ‘pink’ one or pink and green – not an old green one.
A letter giving authority to drive the car must be kept with the paperwork if the car is not yours – including company cars.
Get an international accident declaration form from your insurance broker. It is simple to follow and will help when sorting out any mishaps. Be sure before signing anything in French.
Rules
'Dead end' and 'Give way'
A set of spare bulbs is compulsory – pick one up from the nearest hypermarket if you forget before travelling.
A warning triangle is a good idea – compulsory if you’re towing.
Make sure headlights are adjusted to avoid dazzling other drivers or being pulled over by the police.
Always stop completely at STOP signs – or the police can fine you.
Never drink and drive. Tests are random and common. Fines are very heavy and instant.
Never speed. Speeding fines are heavy and must be paid on the spot. The police can impound the car in extreme cases.
Beware of Priorité à droite – drivers from the right having priority. Still used in town centres and famously at the Arc de Triomphe.
Always pay and display – clamping is on the increase.
Seatbelts must be worn by all. No children under 10 in the front unless in a specially adapted rear-facing seat.
All UK cars in France must also display a GB sticker which is usually available from cross Channel operators.
Motorcyclists must wear crash helmets.
Instant fines exist for illegal of bus lanes.
Speed Limits
130km/h on toll motorways (110 km/h when wet).
110km/h on dual carriageways and non toll motorways (110km/h when wet).
90 km/h on other main roads (80 km/h when wet).
50 km/h in towns and villages – sometimes slower so watch for signs.
Portable speed cameras can flash from back and front.
Speeding fines are normally charged on the spot.
Check your route before travelling
Pollution
High levels of pollution in recent years have prompted authorities in major towns to introduce restrictions on car use - as yet these do not affect cars registered in the UK.
On 'pollution' days public transport is free.
Towing
Cars towing heavy trailers or caravans have slower speed limits. If the trailer/caravan is less than 30% heavier than the car then the limit is 65 km.
Parking
Always pay and display - clamping and towing is becoming more common and is very expensive.
If you need change head for a bakery and buy a baguette for a some cents or a Euro.
Check the details on the machines as parking is often free during lunchtimes and after 18.00
It is often safer to park in a hotel car park and explore on foot.
Never leave anything of value on view in the car.
Autoroute Tolls
Tolls can be expensive if travelling a lot by autoroute - but are often worth it to get to destinations quickly.
Money
Information about the Euro and using cash in France
- The currency in France is the Euro (since 2002).
- Credit and international payment cards are accepted almost everywhere.
- French cards have a microchip so UK cards often take longer to process.
- Check your card will work in cash machines before travelling and how much commission your bank will charge.
Eurocheques are no longer accepted.
- Keep a separate note of emergency UK numbers in case of theft.
- Approximate bank opening hours are 09.00 to 12.15 and 13.45 to 17.30. Banks are usually closed Mondays and close about 16.00 on Saturdays.
Food and Drink
Information about eating out in France, food and the water
Eating out
Don’t be afraid to complain if there is something wrong with the food. It will be quickly put right.
The set menus usually offer the best value in restaurants.
La cuisson is essential for how meat is cooked...bleu is very rare, saignant is rare, à point is ‘on the turn’ and bien cuit is well done.
If anything is not cooked enough, it can easily be done a little more.
Meal times are pretty rigid – so it can be hard to find restaurants serving food during the afternoon.
Lunch is usually served between 12.00 and 14.00 and restaurants are happy to serve diners from about 19.30.
It can be difficult to find a table for dinner after about 21.00 in smaller villages and towns not used to tourists.
Water
Tap water is normally safe to drink all over France - but always check with the local town hall.
Unsafe water is marked eau non potable.
Bottled water is about 15p for a 1.5 litre bottle in hypermarkets.
Stock up on bottled water from the supermarket before going to the beach or walking round Paris to save money.
Most hypermarkets sell water bottle holders to keep the water cool.
