France

Home » France

France, Europe

 

• For more than twenty years, France has been given the recognition of being the most popular travel destination. Geographically, it is a very diverse country in Europe.
• The country owns some of Europe’s greatest treasures.

The Life:

• France is visibly a prosperous country. It boasts of having several tourist attractions in its cities such as in Paris and French Riviera.
• There are so many interesting places to go in France making life busy and exciting for US tourists. Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Bordeaux is known to be the city of wine, Lille prides in its active cultural life and Toulouse is distinctive for its brick architecture.

Cost of Living:

• Traveling to France may be a little expensive in major towns. Generally, fast food meals are served at $10 while sit down meals in a budget restaurant costs about $17. Midrange restaurants serve meals for two persons at $66.50. This price will normally include three courses.
• One-bedroom apartments’ cost varies from $600 to $780. Living outside the city center is cheaper.

Poker:

• Online poker is legal in France.

Internet Access:

• Getting online is easy and fast in France. There are internet cafes all throughout the country with areas offering free internet access.

Weather:

• Most areas in the country have mild winters and summers. Places along the Mediterranean have hot summers. Other locations in the southwest have many rainy days while the northwest portions such as Brittany have cool summers.

U.S. Visa/Entry Difficulty Level:

• US tourists no longer need a visa when travelling to France. The maximum length of stay is three months. A passport must be presented which needs to be valid 90 days beyond the planned visit.

Banking:

• ATMs are the best method to acquire money in the country. These machines normally accept all types of card. They are practically everywhere. Before traveling to France, it is better for US tourists to put money into their accounts and take it from the country.

Language:

• The official language in France is French. However, pronunciation as well as some local words may change depending on which part of the country US tourists are interested of going.

Language Schools:

• Obviously, France is the best destination not only to learn but also to maintain and develop one’s French speaking skills. Centre International d’ Antibes is one of the language schools in the country.

Food:

• France has a very good reputation in terms of fine dining. Despite the goodness of French cuisine, finding the most delicious meals is challenging. Locals or hotel staff will know the best dining places, so it is better to seek their assistance.
• Not only French, there are also other cuisines offered such as Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai food.
• Outside Paris and other main cities will serve a fourth course but US tourists must be wary of traps. Some meals may appear to be delicious but are not worth remembering.
• The place has almost 400 different types of cheese, proving its title, the cheese country.

Recreation:

• Sightseeing is one the best forms of recreation that US tourists can have in the country. Some of the landmarks include Chateau de Versailles, the Calanques and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Museums are present as well including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, both in Paris.
• Other recommended activities consist of climbing the Montmartre Hill located in Paris, viewing the Science Museum situated at the Villette Park and sunbathing on the beaches.

Safety:

• France has very low crime rates. It is in fact among the safe places in the world. Large cities, however, will have the usual woes.
• Pickpocketing and purse-snatching may be common, but reports on violent crimes are rarely heard.