Visit-France

Driving in France

If you are 18 years old and over, you may drive in France on a valid foreign licence for one year.
It then becomes obligatory that you drive on a French driver's licence. At one year from the date marked on your residency permit, any foreign driving licence you hold becomes invalid. Agreements do exist, whereby an exchange may be made providing that it is done within your first year of legal residency in France. Enquire at your local Consulate, Embassy or your Prefecture if you qualify for an exchange.

Shopping Sales in Paris

Government-mandated sales (called “Soldes”) occur twice a year, after Christmas Holidays (in January) and at summer’s beginning, in July.

Stores open from Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 or 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Most of the small stores are closed on Mondays, or at least Monday mornings.

Getting your VAT refund

All foreigners can get a partial refund on VAT when leaving France. To apply for a refund, you have to ask the store clerk for it and to present your passport. You will then have to sign an export sales document. TIP: At the airport when you depart – make sure that you have the goods (that you wish to make a refund claim on) available to look at. (and not packed away in your luggage). The customs officer will not issue you with a refund if they cannot see the goods.
Note: You can only get a refund on purchases that you take out of France.

French Telephone booths

All telephone booths take phone cards (of 50 or 120 units). Such cards are on sale at main metro and RER stations, tobacco counters, newsagents, France Telecom agencies, post officies...
Telephone Booth have a number which enables you to receive a phone call. French phone numbers have 10 digits.

Lost documents in France

Official Documents: Whatever the circumstances, if you lose your passport, driving license..., make a statement at the nearest police station and keep the receipt in order to take any further action.
To know the nearest police station in Paris, contact: Prefecture de Police, 9 Boulevard du Palais (4eme), 01 53 71 33 45.

Credit Cards or Cheque Books
-Visa Card, call 08 92 705 705 ($0.59 per minute).
-American Express card, call 01 47 77 72 00
-Mastercard Eurocard 01 45 67 53 53
-Banque of France cheque books, call 08 92 68 32 08 ($0.59 per minute)

Cannes Film Festival

The greatest festival in the world devoted to the cinema. The Festival de Cannes presents a wide range of films and events (which can be presented or not by the official organisation of the Festival de Cannes).
The 58th International Cannes’ Festival will take place from May 11th to May 22nd 2005.
To find more information, visit www.festival-cannes.org.

Provence for Art lovers

Provence, more than any of the other regions glorified by artistic talent between 1875 & 1920, was the favorite location for the naturalist and avant-garde painters who were the leadings figures during this period.
The diversity of landscapes and the light in the Midi have been a source of inspiration for numerous local painters such as Cezanne in Aix en Provence and Monticelli in Marseille. It has also beene a strong pole of attraction for others outside the region such as Van Gogh and Gauguin in Arles, Signac and Matisse  in Saint Tropez...

Horse riding in the Loire Valley

What about discovering the Loire Valley's Chateaux through a 4-day horse ride?

Horse riding along the Loire Valley, discovering and visiting the Castles of the Kings of France could delight you? We have just come across this different tour  - if this great holiday idea interests you please contact us so we can tell you more.

Summer in Paris

In celebration of the 1st day of summer (21 June), concerts happen for free in squares and streets around Paris and country-wide cities. You can hear everything from classical to hip hop. For example, a big rock concert happens in Place de la Republique (Paris), and a classical one in the gardens of the Palais Royal.

Paris markets

-Le Marche aux Fleurs. Maybe the prettiest one. This flower market takes place from Monday to Saturday on the place Louis-Lepine, on Ile de la Cite (Metro: Cite). On Sunday, this market becomes Le Marche aux Oiseaux. Birds and more unsual creatures (hedgehogs, skunks, raccoons, mice, rabbits...) replace then the usual flowers.
-The Flea Market: only on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays (Metro Porte de Clignancourt). It's a real shopping adventure (always haggle!!), and you can get here anything from vintage clothing to antique paintings or furniture.
Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.