France Travel Tips

Before leaving · Budget travel · Camera · Children & babies · Don't forget · Health
Insurance · Jet lag · Lost luggage · Mail · Neighbors  
Packing · Safety · While traveling

France General Information and Practical Travel Resources 

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Before leaving home

• Put your mail on hold while away
• Book your hotels
• Home security, inform your local police
• Lock all windows

• Find European Pen Pals to exchange ideas with
• Get a good France Guide Book
• Close shutters
• Turn off gas

Budget travel

• Try to "shop" where the locals go. Ask where the marketplace is and buy food and other items there. Visit the tourist sites... but avoid purchasing souvenirs there.
  
  Walk a little way down the road... away from the center, away from the tourist traps, often prices are in relation to proximity. The further away, the cheaper it is.

• Save money with   "Double Booking" for travel. This is very useful if you have to go to any one place regularly but for short stays…like what business people often do.
  

This is how it works. When traveling, you generally get a better rate when you stay over a Saturday night. That's the hitch you see, because most business people want to be back home by Friday…and end up paying full fare.

However, if you can "arrange" to stay over a Saturday night your fare can often drop by 50% or more! You can actually make two trips for less than the price of one. A nice saving.

This is what to do. You need to buy TWO tickets at the same time. Be careful with the dates…write everything down and double check them twice…just to be sure! It's maybe a little complicated…but you'll get it. (see example next column)

• This is just an example:
  
  First ticket:
  Paris / London / Paris

1. Par-Lon on 13 September
   
   
2. Lon-Par on 13 October
   
   Second ticket: 
   London / Paris / London
   
   
3. Lon-Par on 17 September
   
   
4. Par-Lon on 10 October
   
   
5. For the first TRIP you use 1 then 3
   
   
6. For the second TRIP you use 4 then 2
   
   As you will see, you don't spend ANY Saturday night away BUT your two tickets include the Saturday rate!
   
   
   If you KNOW you're going to a destination at least twice and you know the dates ahead of time this is a useful little tool.
   
   
   You can of course use it for domestic travel as well as International travel.

Camera, Photos

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Children and Babies

• See Packing for children

Don't forget these

• alarm clock
• shoe polish, shoe protector
• book to read, pens
• extension (for computer)
• maps, compass
• umbrella
• sunglasses
• shaver

• coat, sweater
• "junk" clothes
• nail clippers, hair brush
• deodorant, lip salve
• tooth brush
• throat pastilles
• shampoo, soap, towel

Health

• Take a copy of your eye prescription (if you break your glasses!) and any other vital health info.

• Take your doctor's and insurance telephone number, Your country Embassy will have numbers of doctors who speak your language.
  
• Respect fundamental hygiene. Always wash your hands before eating or putting something in your mouth. Especially after touching money
  
• Only eat fruit that has to be peeled like bananas or oranges...
  
• Carry bottled water. Don't ever drink tap water. Remember, salad is generally washed in tap water. Be careful

• If you're subject to seasickness, talk to your doctor before you leave
  
• Keep in shape while Traveling Read up about protecting your health in different countries.
  
• Continuous travel can be very tiring, remember to take some time to relax. Too much time in the sun can also be tiring. 
  
  Go easy, wear a protective hat and keep the exposed parts of your body covered.
  

Insurance

• All Inclusive Travel Insurance @ Only $1.25 Day
  
   
• Have luggage insurance...especially if you're transferring planes.

• Consider health insurance if you're going to be doing any "dangerous" sports. For instance, you could be charged evacuation fees following a skiing injury.

• If you're going to a country lacking good medical facilities consider repatriation coverage.
  
  

Jet lag

• How to Avoid Jet Lag.

This has been tested on several individuals (including me) and works if you follow the instructions to the letter.

Upon arrival in Paris in the morning, follow this procedure to avoid getting Jet Lag.

 

1. Go straight to the hotel and take a shower/bath.
   
   
2. Have a real lunch (not a snack) at noon. Veggie + fish, poultry or meat.
   
   
3. Take a 60 minute nap----->sleep.
   
   
4. Have the hotel wake you up after 60 minutes precisely.

5. Do not go back to sleep or stay in bed: sit upright and talk.
   
   
6. Go back outside and actively do something.
   
   
7. Have dinner out walk around Paris: get fresh air.
   
   
8. Come back to hotel and go to bed but NOT before 11 pm.
   
   ----------
   
   Next day:
   
   Rise before 9 am and get out of bed. Do not go back to sleep.
   
   Get out and do something.

• See Air Travel page for more

Lost luggage, how to avoid

• Book as direct a flight as possible.

• Get a good insurance policy. Keep it with you, not in your luggage!

• At check-in, make sure your bag is correctly tagged. Double-check your luggage receipts.

• Keep your business materials with you.

Mail

• Mail can be held by your local Post Office or should be forwarded or picked up.

• Don't let your mailbox fill up.  It's a sure sign nobody is home!

Neighbours

• Let some of the neighbours know you're gone...ask them to check your home from time to time.

• It might be good to leave the keys with someone...an emergency could necessitate quick entry into your home.

Packing

• Everything you ever wanted to know about efficient packing "A compendium of opinions and ideas on the art of travel, with an emphasis on living out of one (carry-on-sized) bag." what to take -- what to take it in -- how to pack it

• How big can a "carry-on bag" be?
  The three sides: length + width + height should not total more than 115 centimeters. So, 55cm x 35cm x 25cm is fine.

Safety and Protection

• Make a photocopy of your passport information and keep it separate in case of its loss.

• Use a money pouch attached around your waist. Only pull out small bills. Keep your credit cards hidden and only pull out one when you need it.

• Careful of pickpockets. Don't put valuables (including passports etc.) in your back pocket or backpack on your back.Or else make sure it's completely secure. 
  
• Always keep your belongings in front of you so you can see them at all times. 

• Don't leave anything visible in a car while it's parked. 
  
• Lock your bags with your belongings in them if you have to leave them in a hotel.

• Get a new ATM credit card to make sure that the magnetic strip on the back hasn't worn down. 
  
• Stash a few 50 & 100 dollar American bills in various places such as your pack, money belt, daypack, etc. If something is stolen, you have money somewhere on you.

• If you're a woman traveling alone dress appropriately and put on "light jewelry"

• If someone you don't want to talk to approaches you be nice but firm and immediately walk away. Do not engage in conversation.

While Traveling

• Other countries have other customs. Respect them and maintain your sense of humor.
  
• Take some washing powder with you in a plastic bag. Wash out your clothes regularly, wrap them in a towel and wring them out so they'll dry faster.
  

• Take an emergency sewing kit. Get a small piece of cardoard and simply wrap some black, white.. thread around it. A few buttons and needles and you're ready to repair the essential.
  
• Dress nicely but take clothes that fit with the local population. Don't be flashy and draw attention to yourself.