Polluted, dreadful or revolting, most people have their own judgment about France and the French people: If you think France you think: fashionable, stylish, sexy, impolite, bureaucratic, bitchy as hell, pavements studded with dog excrements, French baguettes that dry out before you get a chance to eat it and a habit of torching cars is some of the talk on the street. Spice up the cauldron with the regular metropolitan riots, political gossip and a 35-hour working week - not to forget The Da Vinci Code, a gigantic box-office hit taking over Paris as well as celebrity Angelina Jolie supposedly plumping for a castle in Normandy to raise her children - and the worldwide press is all over too.
Take a trip south for Roman developments and the amazing blue Mediterranean Sea ; pander to your jet-set fantasies in pleasing Nice and St-Tropez. Ski the Alps. Experience the fine mix together of language, music and folklore in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic intruders. Smell humiliation on the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme. And know that this is the tip of that gigantic iceberg the French people call culture. After all this is that magical land of good food and wine, of majestic chateaux and flawlessly restored farmhouses, of landmarks known the planet over and hidden landscapes few really know. Take pleasure in art and romance in the unblemished center on the River Seine.
Yes, this is that timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir- faire - and have for centuries. But change is afoot. France and the French are fed up - and inspired. It's on the tip of everyone's tongues. The best way to see what is going on is to travel. Some practical information for your planning.
Money Cash: Carry as little cash as possible while travelling around. Pickpockets are unavoidable. You always get a better exchange rate when you are in-country. However you should have some money in your pocket when arriving to take a taxi or public transport to a hotel. The currency is Euro. Do not forget that 500 Euro note is a big amount of money, dont expect that a normal shop will give you small change for that.
Moneychangers Commercial banks usually charge a stiff 3 to 5 per foreign-currency transaction (eg BNP Paribas charges 3.3% or a minimum of about 4). Rates offered vary, so it pays to compare. Banks charge roughly 3.40 to 5.30 to cash travelers cheques (eg BNP Paribas charges 1.5%, with a minimum charge of 4).
In the capitalParis, exchange bureau (bureaux de change) are quicker and easier, open longer hours and provide better rates than most banks. In general, post offices in Paris can offer the best exchange rates and accept banknotes in various currencies as well as American Express and Visa travelers cheques. The expenses for travelers cheques is 1.5% (minimum about 4 Euro).
Familiarize yourself with rates offered by the post office and compare them with those at exchange bureaux. On small transactions, even exchange places with less-than-optimal rates may leave you with more euros in your pocket.
Travelers cheques: The most flexible travelers cheques are those issued by AmEx (in US dollars or Euros) and Visa (in Euros) because they can be presented at many post offices as well as business banks and exchange bureaux. Keep in Mind that you will not be able to pay most shops with travelers cheques directly. AmEx offices dont charge commission on their own travelers cheques. For lost travelers cheques call AmEx (0 800 908 600) and Thomas Cook (0 800 908 330) for replacements.
Take a trip south for Roman developments and the amazing blue Mediterranean Sea ; pander to your jet-set fantasies in pleasing Nice and St-Tropez. Ski the Alps. Experience the fine mix together of language, music and folklore in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic intruders. Smell humiliation on the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme. And know that this is the tip of that gigantic iceberg the French people call culture. After all this is that magical land of good food and wine, of majestic chateaux and flawlessly restored farmhouses, of landmarks known the planet over and hidden landscapes few really know. Take pleasure in art and romance in the unblemished center on the River Seine.
Yes, this is that timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir- faire - and have for centuries. But change is afoot. France and the French are fed up - and inspired. It's on the tip of everyone's tongues. The best way to see what is going on is to travel. Some practical information for your planning.
Money Cash: Carry as little cash as possible while travelling around. Pickpockets are unavoidable. You always get a better exchange rate when you are in-country. However you should have some money in your pocket when arriving to take a taxi or public transport to a hotel. The currency is Euro. Do not forget that 500 Euro note is a big amount of money, dont expect that a normal shop will give you small change for that.
Moneychangers Commercial banks usually charge a stiff 3 to 5 per foreign-currency transaction (eg BNP Paribas charges 3.3% or a minimum of about 4). Rates offered vary, so it pays to compare. Banks charge roughly 3.40 to 5.30 to cash travelers cheques (eg BNP Paribas charges 1.5%, with a minimum charge of 4).
In the capitalParis, exchange bureau (bureaux de change) are quicker and easier, open longer hours and provide better rates than most banks. In general, post offices in Paris can offer the best exchange rates and accept banknotes in various currencies as well as American Express and Visa travelers cheques. The expenses for travelers cheques is 1.5% (minimum about 4 Euro).
Familiarize yourself with rates offered by the post office and compare them with those at exchange bureaux. On small transactions, even exchange places with less-than-optimal rates may leave you with more euros in your pocket.
Travelers cheques: The most flexible travelers cheques are those issued by AmEx (in US dollars or Euros) and Visa (in Euros) because they can be presented at many post offices as well as business banks and exchange bureaux. Keep in Mind that you will not be able to pay most shops with travelers cheques directly. AmEx offices dont charge commission on their own travelers cheques. For lost travelers cheques call AmEx (0 800 908 600) and Thomas Cook (0 800 908 330) for replacements.
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