Travel tips in France

If you want to go to France, please find below lots of travel information.

Money

• The currency in France is the Euro (since 2002)
• Credit and international payment cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Approximate bank opening hours are 09.00 to 12.15 and 13.45 to 17.30. Banks are usually closed on Mondays (or Saturdays).

Telephone

French numbers have 10 digits (first two digits are the area code) which should be dialed in full wherever you are. To phone France from the UK dial 00 33 but without the first ‘0´ of the area code. To phone the UK from France dial 00 44 but without 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 without the zero from the code.

Electricity, tv and videos

Pick up an adapter before travelling. France is 220 volts – most sockets are two pin. Adapters 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

Shops usually close for lunch (except in large towns or resorts during the season) often between 12.00 and 14.00, and stay open longer in the evening (usually 19.00).
Most towns have chemists open 24 hours a day (at night, you have to ring).
Most hypermarkets are closed on Sundays and bank holidays (But, on week days, some are open until 22.00).

Bank holidays

Most shops, hypermarkets and many restaurants are closed on bank holidays (the dates of Bank Holidays are different from British dates).

Travelling to France

The Channel Islands have regular ferry links with St Malo (Brittany) operated by Condor Ferries and from Carteret & Granville operated by Manches Iles Express (foot passengers only).

Manche Iles Express from Granville, Carteret & Diélette to Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney & Sark from April to September. Email from Jersey: jersey@manche-iles.com – Email from Guernsey guernsey@manche-iles.com – Generic information: www.manche-iles.com/en/ – info@manche-iles.com

Once in Normandy, you can take advantage of the regional Nomad network that manages train and bus lines as well as carpooling.
Find out more about train lines here: www.ter.sncf.com/normandie 
Have a look at the map for train lines in Normandy here