France - Paris Tips

Paris, France is one of the most fascinating and romantic cities in Europe, and tourists visiting this wonderful city will find that things to see and do are almost unlimited. Paris rewards the curious, so read and print Paris Tips and Paris Tourist Information, grab a map, some fashionable walking shoes, and make the city your own.

Hours
When to visit
Electricity
Weather Information
What to wear
Packing
Paris Etiquette
Safety
Restrooms
Currency and Exchange
ATMs and Banks
Credit Cards
Taxes
Tippings

Hours

Paris is by no means a 24/7 city. Museums are closed one day a week, usually Tuesday, and most stay open late at least one night each week, which is also the least crowded time to visit. Most national museums offer free entry the first Sunday of the month, although lines can get long. Store hours are generally 10 am to 7:30 pm, though smaller shops may not open until 11 am, only to close for several hours during the afternoon. Retailers now have the option of doing business on Sunday, although your best bets are department stores, the shops along the Champs-Élysées, the Carrousel du Louvre, and around the Marais, where most boutiques open at 2 pm.

Shops and banks will close for major holidays such as New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), Whit Monday (seventh Monday after Easter), Labor Day (May 1), Victory Day (May 8), Bastille Day (July 14), Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15), All Saint's Day (November 1), Armistice Day (November 11), and Christmas Day (December 25). Museums and monuments are typically closed New Year's Day, Labor Day, and Christmas Day. Because many Parisians go on holiday, some shops and restaurants may close during August.

When to Visit

Paris experiences four seasons and accommodates many moods. Summer is typically the most popular time to visit because schools are on break, festivals fill the city, and the weather is pleasant.

Winters are less busy because the climate can be cold, but some come for attractions such as ice skating at Hotel de Ville and shopping at the Christmas markets. Although rainy and cool at times, spring and fall can be ideal for a mix of decent weather, lower prices, and smaller crowds.

• high season: June to October
• low season: January to March
• shoulder season: April to May, November to December

September, October, and January experience a rise in visitation due to numerous trade fairs and conventions.

Electricity

France has 220-240V 50-hertz electrical service. Before you leave, check whether your personal appliances will operate at the higher voltage. If not, you must buy new appliances or bring a voltage converter, also called a transformer. Dual-voltage hair dryers are quite easy to find, and electric shavers are often dual-voltage, so you may not need a transformer.  Note, usually you do not need voltage converter for laptop computers and digital camera battery chargers.

Remember that outlet prongs are shaped differently. France uses European-style plugs, having two round pins and requiring the use of mechanical plug adapters for American appliances. A plug adapter lets you put your plug into the adapter and the adapter plugs into the socket. Many continental European countries use the same plugs, but the United Kingdom does not use the same standard. These adapters are inexpensive and available from many sources, including hardware stores. Keep in mind, however, that plug adapters are not electrical converters; they merely adapt the plug so it can be connected.

The shapes of the phone sockets vary by country in Europe and are different from those in the US. You will need a phone jack adapter for each country you are going to if you plan to connect your computer to the Internet via a phone modem (dialup).

Finally, since current alternates at 50 cycles, not 60 as in the U.S. and some other countries, expect your dual-voltage hair dryer, for example, to run a little slower.

Weather Information

Summers are typically sunny and warm with an average high of 75 degrees, while winters bring snow and rain with average temperatures reaching a high of 44 degrees. Spring and fall can be misty and overcast, with an average high of 60 degrees. At any time of year, be prepared for the possibility of rain. Pack an umbrella (even in summer).

What to wear

When it comes to clothing, the standard French look is dressier than the American equivalent. Athletic clothes are reserved for sports. Sneakers are not usually worn by adults but if you pack yours, keep them for daytime only. Neat jeans are acceptable everywhere except at higher-end restaurants; check to see whether there's a dress code.

Packing

1. Don't wear shorts, sweats, or sneakers if you want to blend in.
2. Good food in good settings deserves good clothing--not necessarily a suit and tie, but a long sleeved shirt and pants for him, something nice for her.
3. Trendy nightclubs usually refuse entrance to men who are wearings sandals.
4. Bring umbrella, rain gear, a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and a sweater or shawl for cool churches and museums.
5. A small package of tissues is always a good idea for the occasional rustic bathroom in cafés, airports, and train stations.
6. Bring a washcloth for the bathroom if refer.

Paris Etiquette

Beginning an exchange with a simple "Do you speak English?" will get you on the right foot. Offer a hearty bonjour (bohn-zhoor) when walking into a shop or café and an au revoir (o ruh-vwahr) when leaving, even if nobody seems to be listening (a chorus may reply). When speaking to a woman over age 16, use madame (ma-dam). For a young woman or girl, use mademoiselle (mad-mwa-zel). A man of any age goes by monsieur (murh-syur). Always say please, s'il vous plaît (seel-voo-play), and thank you, merci (mehr-see).

Safety

1. When in doubt, stick to the boulevards and well-lighted, populated streets.
2. The métro is quite safe overall, though some lines and stations, in particular lines 2 and 13, get dodgy late at night.
3. Pickpocketing is the main problem, day or night. Be wary of anyone crowding you unnecessarily or distracting you. Pickpockets often work in groups; on the métro they usually strike just before a stop so that they can leap off the train as it pulls into the station. 
4. Be especially careful if taking the RER from Charles de Gaulle/Roissy airport into town.  Pickpockets often target laptop bags, so keep your valuables on your person. 
5. Report any thefts or other problems to the police as soon as possible. There are 3 or 4 police stations in every arrondissement in Paris and 1 police station in every train station; go to the police station in the area where the event occurred. In the case of pickpocketing or other theft, the police will give you a Déclaration de Perte ou de Vol (receipt for theft or loss). Police reports must be made in person. In the case of theft, valuables are usually unrecoverable, but identity documents have been known to resurface. You may need a receipt of theft or loss to replace stolen train or plane tickets, passports, or traveler's checks.
6. Completely ignoring the dragueur . Note that smiling automatically out of politeness is not part of French culture and can be quickly misinterpreted. If you encounter a problem, don't be afraid to show your irritation.

Restrooms

1. Public toilet facilities in cafés and bars is usually reserved for customers.  
2. Bathrooms are often downstairs and are unisex.
3. Stand as far away as possible when you press the flushing mechanism to avoid water damage to your shoes. 
4. In certain cafés the lights will not come on in the bathroom until the cubicle door is locked. These lights work on a three-minute timer to save electricity. Simply press the button again if the lights go out. 
5. Clean public toilets are available in fast-food chains, department stores, and public parks.  
6. Can also find free toilet units on the street, in the larger métro stations, town halls, and in all train stations. 
7. There are restroom attendants in train and métro stations and some of the nicer restaurants and clubs, so always bring some coins to the bathroom. 
8. Attendants in restaurants and clubs are in charge of cleaning the bathrooms and perhaps handing you a clean towel; slip some small change into the prominently placed saucer.

Click here for a bathroom finder. 

Currency and Exchange

The euro system has eight coins: 1 and 2 euros, plus 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents. All coins have one side that has the value of the euro on it, whereas the opposite side is adorned with each country's own unique national symbol. There are seven colorful notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. Notes have the principal architectural styles from antiquity onward on one side and the map and the flag of Europe on the other and are the same for all countries. 

The easiest way to get euros is through ATMs; you can find them in airports, train stations, and throughout the city. ATM rates are excellent because they are based on wholesale rates offered only by major banks. It's a good idea to bring some euros with you from home. French banks only exchange the money of their own clients.

ATMs and Banks

1. Your own bank will probably charge a fee for using ATMs abroad; the foreign bank you use may also charge a fee. 
2. Usually get a better exchange rate at an ATM than at a currency-exchange office or at your home banks. 
3. It's a good idea to get a list of locations from your bank before you go. 
4. The largest bank in France, BNP Paribas, has agreements with both Barclay's and Bank of America, among others, that allow no-fee withdrawals between affiliated ATMs (a withdrawal of 20 euros would equal the direct exchange value in your home currency). Check with your local bank to see if it has an agreement with a French bank. 
5. To get cash at ATMs in Paris, your PIN must be four digits long. If you're having trouble remembering your PIN, do not try more than twice, because at the third attempt the machine will eat your card, and you will have to go back the next morning to retrieve it.

Credit Cards

1. Inform your credit-card company before you travel (for not put a hold on your card owing to unusual activity). 
2. Record all your credit-card numbers—as well as the phone numbers to call if your cards are lost or stolen—in a safe place. 
3. Check for substantial percentage fees to all foreign transactions, whether they're in a foreign currency or not, before leaving home. 
4. Before charge something, ask the merchant whether he or she plans to do a dynamic currency conversion (DCC). In such a transaction the credit-card processor (shop, restaurant, or hotel, not Visa or MasterCard) converts the currency and charges you in dollars. In most cases you'll pay the merchant a 3% fee for this service in addition to any credit-card company and issuing-bank foreign-transaction surcharges.

Reporting Lost Cards:

Amex
01 47 77 72 00
01 71 23 08 38

Diners Club
0 820 82 05 36
0 800 22 20 73

MasterCard/Eurocard
800/627-8372 in U.S.
0800-90-1387 in France 
http://www.mastercard.com/

Visa 
800/847-2911 in U.S.
0800-90-1179 in France
http://www.visa.com/

Taxes

1. All taxes must be included in affixed prices in France. Prices in restaurants and hotel prices must by law include taxes and service charges. If these appear as additional items on your bill, you should complain. 
2. V.A.T. (value-added tax, known in France as TVA) is included in the price of many goods, but foreigners are often entitled to a refund (look for the "Tax-Free" sticker on the door and must ≥ €182). The V.A.T. for services (restaurants, theater, etc.) is not refundable. 
3. Be sure ask for a V.A.T. refund form and find out whether the merchant gives refunds when purchasing. 
4. More than 700 refund counters at major airports & border crossings (Tax Free Check).

Tippings

Bills in bars and restaurants must by law include service, but it is customary to round your bill with small change unless you're dissatisfied (from €0.20 for a beer to €1-€2 after a meal). In expensive restaurants it's common to leave an additional 5% on the table.

Taxi drivers / hairdressers	10% of the bill
Theater ushers	€0.50
Theaters and hotels cloakroom attendants	€0.75	May expect nothing (watch for signs pourboire interdit—tipping forbidden)
Bag carrier or taxi hailer	€1.50	€0.75 in a moderately priced hotel
Washroom attendants	€0.30
Chambermaid	- €1.50 per day                      - €1.50-€2 on top of the bill	- if stay more than 2 - 3 days          - If  does pressing/laundering
Room service	€1 to the waiter	unless breakfast is routinely served in room
Concierge	€8-€16 (if helpful)
Museum guides	€1.50-€3
Long-distance bus drivers	€2

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