APARTMENTS

Lodging in France can vary from luxury hotels to gîtes to B&Bs to youth hostels. Efficiency apartments, house and villa rentals, and rooms in châteaux or on farms are among the other lodging options. Whatever type of accommodation you choose, you may be asked to send a deposit(desarrhes) or payment on account (un accompte) to confirm your booking.

Apart'hotels or tourist residences (résidencesde tourisme) are classified tourists residences, within dependent fully equipped self catering accommodation, rented by the week or month. A number of hotel services are available (maid service, restaurant, sports, etc.), sometimes at an additional fee.

For information on apartments available in Paris and the provinces you can contact the local Tourist Office , or the SNRT (SyndicatNational des Résidences de Tourisme) Tel: 01 53 75 12 75.

Here are a few of the companies that offer apartments in France:

• Résid'Hôtel
• Citadines Apart'hôtels
• Villas International
• Paris Séjour Reservations

CHOOSING AN APARTMENT

There are some things that you need to keep in mind while choosing an apartment:

• Decide how much you can pay, how many rooms you need and where you want to live.
• Landlord and tenant laws vary, so always check up, and know your rights before you sign anything.
• Most apartments are leased by the year, although some are rented monthly. If you are only going to be in the country for a short period, or intend on moving on, then it may be worth while getting a shared apartment.
• You may have to pay the first and last month's rent in advance. Rents are normally paid by check on the first of each month.
• You may also be asked for a damage deposit. This will normally be returned to you when you move out. It is a form of insurance for landlords in case a tenant causes unreasonable damage.
• Some apartments are larger than others. Ask the person you are renting from how many people can live in it.
• A furnished apartment should contain at least bed(s), table(s), chairs, lamps, curtains and basic kitchen equipment.
• Furnished apartments cost more than unfurnished ones.
• You can buy a telephone or rent one from the telephone company. You may have to pay a deposit on your rented telephone. However your phone will not work until you are connected by the telephone company.

Your apartment will be equipped with basic utilities and features, including:

• water from taps that is safe to drink.
• sewage disposal that pipes waste from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.
• electricity.
• a heating system powered by natural gas, oil or electricity.
• a lockable front door opening to the street or a common hallway.
• a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and shower or bath.
• closets for storing clothes.
• a kitchen or kitchen area with a sink, counter, shelves or cupboards, and appliances such as a refrigerator and a stove with oven.

You will generally have to pay the following while renting an apartment:

For unfurnished apartments:

• Security deposit equal to 2 month's rent excluding charges.
• First month's rent including charges.
• Estate agency's commission, amounting to between 10% and 14% of annual rental, excluding charges, plus VAT (Value Added Tax), which is divided equally between the tenant and the landlord for personal leases, and paid in full by the tenant for a company-signed lease.

For furnished apartments:

• Security deposit equal to 2 month's rent excluding charges
• First month's rent including charges
• Estate agency's commission, amounting to between 12% and 14% of annual rental, excluding charges, plus VAT, which is paid in full by the tenant
• Insurance premium which varies according to surface area and the capital value insured.

OTHER ACCOMMODATION

Gites

The 40,000 gîtes in France offer fully equipped accommodations in villages and the country. They are classified by their standards of comfort from 1 to 4 "épis" - or ears of wheat - by the Fédération des Gîtes de France. Some are private rooms in private homes and you can share dinner with the owners' family. Others are more upscale rooms in country homes. There are also houses that can be rented by the week.

Hotels

There are five categories of classified tourist hotels in France, from 1 star (budget) to four stars (luxury). Room prices include all taxes and should be displayed at the entrance of the hotel and in each room. A supplement may be charged for an extra bed in the room for a child. Prices are not subject to Government control. The departure time isusually noon. Budget price hotels, belonging to a chain, are usually found on the outskirts of towns. Most of the great international chains have at least one hotel in France.

For additional information on hotels in France see the following websites:

• The French Government Tourist Office official site.
• Le Guide Rouge (otherwise known as the red Michelin Guide to hotels and restaurants)

Bed & Breakfast

The definition may differ from the definition of B&B in the United States, but in France these are privately owned homes where owners welcome paying guests for one night or more, along with the chance to share breakfast and sometimes traditional meals with the hosts. In France, B&Bs are known as chambres d'hôte. For details of Bed & Breakfast in a French family, contact :

• Accueil France Famille : (0) 1.45.54.22.39
• B&B France : (0) 1.34.68.83.15
• International Caffe Couette : (0) 1.42.94.92.00
• France Lodge : (0) 1.53.20.02.54
• Chambres d'Hôtes des Gîtes : (0) 1.49.70.75.75
• Tourisme chez l'Habitant : (0) 1.34.25.44.44

Paying guest

Paying guest is a good way to stay in France for a short while, and also to imbibe some of the culture first-hand. Here are some numbers for paying guest accommodation:

• Bienvenue au Château (Western France) : (0) 2.40.48.24.20
• Chambres et Gîtes de Prestige des Gîtes de France (countryside) : (0) 1.49.70.75.75
• Châteaux d'en France : (0) 1.42.94.92.00
• Châteaux Accueil; : (0) 2.32.33.78.87
• B&B France : (0) 1.34.68.83.15

For more information on Accommodation in France,you can also check the YellowPages and your local Tourist Office.

FOOD

Food and cooking in France may be different from what you were used to in your native country. Like everyone who moves to a new country, you will probably have to make changes in some of the ways you buy, store and cook food.

You can purchase food at smaller grocery stores and specialty shops. In larger cities with well established immigrant communities, you may find specialty food stores that sell food from your home country. However, some of your traditional foods may not be available in France or may be very expensive. Other neighborhood stores sell basic items like milk and bread. There are also open-markets or farmers' markets where you will find fresh food and vegetables grown by local farmers nearby.

For information on eating out in France. You will find listings for restaurants and take-out joints in your local Yellow Pages . France also has the famous food outlets like McDonald's, BurgerKing and Pizza Hut and these are not difficult to find. For a comprehensive search engine and list of restaurants in France, click here.

FOR VEGETARIANS

Being vegetarian in France is not easy. To make it a little easier, keep these things in mind:

• Remember that meat is eaten more often, and vegetarian food is not that common.
• Ask the people at the restaurant for vegetarian dishes. If they don't have any, order something and tell them you want it without meat, and without eggs if you don't eat eggs.
• Be careful with the salads because all salads are not vegetarian.
• If you have a doubt About France something, don't hesitate to ask.

PHONE CALLS

Telephone booths are located in the street, in railway, metro and RER stations, large stores and airports. As a general rule, public telephones may be found in all public places (bars, restaurants, etc.) They are reasonably easy to use, with the instructions printed on the phone itself. If calling from your hotel room, it is advisable to check the charges with your hotel before making a call as extra charges may be payable.

Below are some instructions to help you adjust to the differences in using the telephones in France. For example, public phones almost always require phone cards, the numbers are configured with 10 digits, some initial numbers are needed when calling overseas from France but not when calling within France.

Note the following:

• To France from abroad: Dial 33 followed by the 9-figure number of your correspondent (omit the zero which precedes the number).
• Within France: Dial the 10-figure number of your correspondent. (Mobile phones also have 10-figure numbers).
• From France abroad: Dial 00 + the country code + the regional code + the number of your correspondent.
• If you are calling via a France Telecom operator, dial 00 + 33 + country code.
• Cell phones can now be rented at most airports.

You can make calls in two ways: you can either pay for them yourself, or you can make a 'collect call', which means that the person who you are calling up has to pay for the call.

COLLECT CALLS

• Pick up the phone and press '0' to call the operator.
• Tell the operator that you want to make a collect call, and give her the phone number you want to call. Leave the rest to her.
• The operator will ask the person at the other end whether he/she would like to receive a collect call from you. If that person agrees, you are through.

COIN CALLS

• Local call charges will be printed on the phone. Make sure you have enough change for your call.
• Always listen for the dial tone and insert the coin(s) before dialing a number. You will hear the sound of the call going through and then the ring at the other end. If the line is busy (engaged) or no one answers the call, just put the receiver back on the hook and you'll get your money back.
• Long distance calls (equivalent to India's STD service) cost more.

TELECARTE

The majority of telephone booths, both in Paris and the regions, are equipped with the Telecarte or phone card system. Instead of coins, you have to use telecartes, which can be bought, among other places, at Post Offices and at tobacconists (40 FF. and 96 FF.). These cards can be used in any telephone booth. The telecartes have a specific number of bits which are used up when you make calls. You just throw the used card away and buy another. When you insert your card into the phone slot, the remaining amount of credit is displayed. You can see this amount decreasing as you use the phone. When you hang up, don't forget to retrieve your card.

Important Telephone Numbers in France

• Directory Inquiry : 12
• Ambulance : 15
• Police : 17
• Fire Brigade : 18
• SOS Dentaire (24-hour dentists) : 01 43 37 51 00
• SOS Médecin (24-hour doctor house calls) : 01 47 07 77 77
• SOS Help (English-language crisis line) : 01 47 23 80 80
• Poison Center : 01 40 05 48 48
• Lost Property : 01 55 76 20 00

TRAVELING

Most cities have excellent public transportation systems. Larger cities have several different systems, such as buses, streetcars, subways and trains. In smaller communities, buses and taxis are more common.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Though there aren't that many long-distance or inter-city buses, most communities have a local bus service. Buses generally run from 6.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Some nightbuses (noctambus) run between 1 am and 5 am. A single metro-bus ticket costs 8 F and a book of ten tickets 48 F, but prices may vary. Several towns like Nantes, Strasbourg, Grenoble and Saint-Etienne have tramways.

French trains are famous for being on time. A dense rail network ensures that even the most remote regions are accessible. There are underground railway systems (metros) in Paris, Lyon, Lille, Marseilles, Toulouse and Rouen. The first trains usually start at 5.30 am and last trains leave at 30 minutes past midnight.

The RATP (Paris) and the RER (Express light Railway) is linked to the metro network and SNCF(French Railways) trains. Tickets may be bought at metro ticket offices, on buses and in many tobacconists, singly or in sets of ten. When you buy your ticket, make sure you validate it at an automated machine before boarding the train, and retain it for the whole of your journey. Having a ticket doesn't ensure a seat on the train. Make sure you make a reservation, for which you maybe charged something extra.

Special rates

• Formule 1 : One day travel card offering unlimited travels on the metro, RER, buses, SNCF suburban trains (within the limit of zones purchased), Montmartre funicular railway and night buses are available at the Paris Tourist Office.
• Paris Visite : Card valid for 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days on the whole RATP network, SNCF, RER, night buses, Orlybus, Roissybus, Orlyrail and Roissyrail also available at the Paris Tourist Office, main metro, RER and SNCF stations, and Paris airports. This card also offers reductions on entrance fees for various tourist sights.

The French TGV (high speed train) provides a direct service tomore than 150 destinations, enabling you to easily visit the French regions. The TGV also goes to London through the Channel Tunnel (Eurostar), to Brussels and Amsterdam (Thalys), to Milan (Artesia) and to Switzerland. It is the easiest and the most comfortable way of traveling from city-center to city-center at speeds up to 300 km/h. Various passes allow you unlimited travels on the French Railway network.

Advance booking is required for travel on the TGV and is recommended for travel on other SNCF trains.
Information and bookings : (0) 8.36.35..35.35

To get more information on SNCF timings, prices and servicesas well as the latest news, click here. To get specific information, make reservations or buy a ticket on Eurostar and Thalys, you can call:

• Eurostar : (0) 8.36.35.35.39
• Thalys : (0) 8.36.35.35.36

Note: All prices are subject to change.

TAXES

Taking taxis is the best way to avoid driving in Paris, where the rush hour can be just as stressful as that of any other major metropolitan city. Except during this busy time, finding a taxi is easy and the stands are easily visible. Rates vary, but must be displayed on the rear window and on the meter. You can hail a taxi on the street or line up at one of the many stations detaxi, which are marked clearly with a "T." It is strongly recommended that you carry cash for your taxi fare. Credit cards are not accepted.

If the entire light on the roof is on, the taxi is available; if only the center bulb is lit, the taxi is occupied.

Drivers expect About France a 10% tip. There are extra charges for pickups at train stations and other terminals and for luggage weighing more than 11 pounds (5 kg). Drivers can refuse to take an animal in the cab (except for a seeing-eye dog). If you call for a taxi, the meter starts running as soon as the taxi is dispatched, so when the cab arrives you may already have quite a sum tallied on the meter.

You can look up the Yellow Pages for more information, and the numbers of some Taxi Companies are listed below:

• Alpha Taxi : Tel. 01 45 85 85 85
• Artaxi Tel. 01 42 03 50 50
• G7 Radio : Tel. 01 47 39 47 39
• Les Taxis Bleus : Tel. 01 49 36 10 10

DRIVING

The French road network is one of the most developed in the world, making it very easy to travel around the main motorway routes or on little country roads. To drive in France, you need a valid driver's license from your country of origin, as well as an international driving permit.

Certain safety regulations are naturally to be respected:

• Motorists drive on the right as in most countries.
• Maximum speed limits in dry weather conditions are 50km/h in build-up areas, 90km/h on ordinary roads, 110 km/h on dual carriage-ways, 130 km/h on motorways and. In wet weather, limits are lowered to 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 110 km/h on motorways.
• France has a particular set of traffic regulations, including the priorité à droite rule, which gives the right-of-way to cars on your right when traveling through a traffic circle, unmarked intersection, or four-way stop.
• Wearing a seat belt is compulsory for all passengers in both front and back seats.
• The legal limit of alcohol in the blood is 0.5g, the equivalent of two glasses of wine.
• Click here for more information.

Useful telephone numbers

• Motorway information : (0) 1. 47.05.90.01
• Bison Futé centres (indications on traffic) / National centre : (0) 1.48.94.33.33

Renting a Car

As a general rule you must be over 21 years oldand have held a driving license for at least one year. The insurance proposed by the car hire company is compulsory.

You will find the names and numbers for car-hire firms in the YellowPages.

The numbers of some of the major companies are:

• Avis
• Budget
• Europcar
• Hertz

AIR TRAVEL

Paris has two international airports, making it by far the major French air destination for travelers. Traveling around France by plane is simple and easy. For example, AOM French Airlines has frequent daily flights from Paris/Orly to southern France: Nice, Marseilles, Toulon and Perpignan. Many major cities in France are also served by Air France, Air Inter (a division of Air France) and Nouvelles Frontières.

• Air France : Tel. 08 20 82 08 20.
• Nouvelle Frontières : (french version) Tel. 08 36 68 15 15 (recorded information within France on flights to and from Paris); 01 49 75 15 15 (for the day's complete flight schedule at Orly); 01 48 62 22 80 (for the day's complete flight schedule at Roissy).

Although the cost of air travel in France, andin Europe in general, is quite high, there are several ways to make it more affordable. If you book your transcontinental flight on Air France, connecting flights into the provinces are usually much less than the corresponding train fare - especially if you can spend frequent flier miles from a partner airline.

Air Inter also offers a number of passes and fly-drive programs:

• Le France Pass is good for seven days of unlimited flights in any one month.
• Le France-Europe Pass adds two European segments to Le France Pass that must be flown within the seven days on the original pass.
• Le France Air-Car Pass is good for two days' unlimited flying plus a week's car rental from Hertz.
• Le France Youth and Student Pass is good for five days' unlimited flying over two months for students under age 27 or any youth under age 25.

SHIPS AND FERRIES

Numerous ferry and hovercraft services between France andother countries are available. High speed crafts are now in operation, such as the cross-Channel catamarans. If speed is not your main objective the new ferries offer standards of comfort to turn a crossing into a cruise.

Brittany Ferries

• Roscoff: (0) 2. 98.29.28.28
• Ouistreham: (0) 2.31.36.36.00.
• Paris: (0) 1.44.94.89.00

Inland waterways

Hire a boat, with or without crew, to cruise French rivers, canals and waterways at your own pace. Information can be obtained from the Fédération des Industries Nautiques : (0)1.44.37.04.00

BICYCLES

Cycle touring has been popular in France for many years. Bikes can be transported by train. Or they can be hired from many local tourist offices or agencies. An excellent way to see the country.