Practical Tips for Traveling to France
France is an amazing place. So, it comes as no surprise to hear that visiting France, in particular, Paris is on a lot of people’s bucket lists.
Getting there and getting around
Fortunately, getting there is really easy. All of the major airlines will fly you to France. There are 40 French cities with airports that accept planes from across the world. So, it does not matter what part of the country you want to see getting there is not going to be difficult. The country also has a fast, reliable and relatively cheap rail system.
Vaccinations and documentation
There is no need to have any special vaccinations and the documentation is really easy to sort out too. If you are looking for visa information for France, you just need to click this link.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you will also need a passport with at least 6 months validity left on it. You will also need to check that it has a blank page available for stamping.
There is an outside chance that you will be asked to provide identification by the police. If this happens your passport will suffice. But, you will need to get into the habit of carrying it securely with you throughout your stay.
Travel insurance for France
Regardless of where in the world you are from you will need medical travel insurance for your trip. France has an excellent network of clinics and hospitals. But, like most countries, this service is only free for French nationals.
Even if you are an EU citizen, the EHIC card will not cover you for everything. In particular, for medical evacuation, so travel insurance that covers that eventuality is a must.
Language and currency
It is wise to learn a little French before you go. If you try your best to ask for things in French you will certainly get a warm welcome. English is fairly widely spoken. But, you certainly cannot rely on being able to communicate in that language.
The currency of France is the Euro. Credit cards are very widely accepted. But, most people still pay cash for small items and things like drinks. So, you should be ready to do the same.
Laws and customs
When traveling to any country, it is wise to familiarize yourself with the laws and customs there. For example, France recently banned anyone from concealing their face, while in public. Many tourists have already been fined for breaking this law.
It is relatively new laws like this one that catches a lot of tourists out. So, before you travel go to your government’s travel advice website and read up about the laws they think you need to be aware of.
Also, familiarize yourself with local customs. For example, the French are people watchers. That is part of the reason the café culture is so strong in France. Often, the French will look at you in a very obvious way and observe what you are wearing. Usually, they will not make eye contact or say anything. At first, this feels weird to a lot of visitors. But, you should not let it worry you because this is still the norm in many areas of France.
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