Country in Western Europe known for food, culture, and architecture, with a Mediterranean coast and Paris as its capital and largest city.
28
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3answers
1k views
Saving leftovers from restaurants in Paris
Doggy bags for saving leftovers in restaurants are extremely common in the USA, especially as portions sizes are usually too large to consume in one meal.
But I have read in various forums that it ...
23
votes
7answers
2k views
If I travel to Paris, can I get by with just English?
If I plan on visiting Paris, but not really the rest of France, is it still important for me to learn at least enough French to get by? Are people in Paris going to be willing to speak English if they ...
20
votes
8answers
973 views
What times of the year are best for visiting France?
When I visited Rome, Italy, I ended up visiting during August which seems to be a time when most Italians have fled the city to cooler areas. This was nice because there was less traffic so we were ...
17
votes
6answers
984 views
How to overcome the language barrier when visiting France and Spain?
I may be traveling to France and Spain for business purposes, and I'm likely to mix some pleasure with that business trip.
I do not expect many language issues during the business conversations.
...
15
votes
4answers
320 views
Are there ways to keep long-distance land transport costs down in France when not planning in advance?
Ten years ago I travelled around Europe for the first time and in some countries I was very frustrated by high cost of trains and lack of alternatives to them.
I remember being in Cannes with a ...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Buying Paris metro tickets from Eurostar before/during the journey?
Whenever a Eurostar gets into Brussels, and especially when one gets into Paris, there is always a mad scramble for the metro ticket machines, and if you weren't in the first coach then a very long ...
14
votes
3answers
428 views
Why do there seem to be no long distance buses in France?
User iHaveacomputer's answer to a question about smoking and EU trains and buses mentions that
in Germany the state-owned railway has a monopoly on long-distance travel.
On my first trip to ...
14
votes
5answers
847 views
How can I get French people to speak French to me?
I went to Paris 2 years ago. When I was there, I was learning the language by talking and listening to the local people. But, while I was trying to speak French with them, they would speak English to ...
14
votes
3answers
500 views
Do rental cars in France come with the two legally required breathalyzers?
As of June 2012 France requires all cars / drivers to carry two self-test breathalyzers.
Do all rental car companies supply them and if I use one what is the charge associated with it?
12
votes
3answers
371 views
How do you avoid the hefty toll fee on the French highways?
Some of the toll fee's on the French highways are hefty. I know that you can avoid them by taking the route national, where some are almost like highways. I don't mind traveling a little bit longer to ...
12
votes
2answers
626 views
What is the cheapest way to cross the English Channel from France to the UK on foot, single ticket?
I have looked at P&O's website (www.poferries.com), and a pedestrian day trip return costs €8 each way whereas a single without a return costs €35.50.
Are there cheaper options?
I assume that ...
12
votes
2answers
780 views
Finding a notary in France / Italy
I sometimes need to have documents notarized while travelling abroad. How can I find a notary in a foreign country? The U.S. embassies and consulates will notarize things for me, but this is ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the difference between Eurostar first class and French TGV first class?
I've checked the costs of first class travel by high speed train in France and to UK. According to pictures, first class seats in the Eurostar and TGV look similar in terms of legroom and width, while ...
11
votes
1answer
145 views
WildLife Tourist Destination in France
I came across Sightseeing for family in London and I'm really interested in Richmond Park 's deers. Too bad my stay in London will be quite short.
However I will stay longer in Paris and I would ...
11
votes
2answers
368 views
What kind of Visa do I need to land on the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg?
Assuming I'm not a citizen of the European union, and that I have a Schengen Visa with Germany as the main destination, do I need to make any special arrangements to land at this airport?
The ...
11
votes
1answer
79 views
Are there any boats from Île Sainte-Marguerite to Île Saint-Honorat?
I am interested in going to the two Lerins Islands, opposite Cannes, France.
I know that there are boats from the mainland to either island. However, is there any boat that runs between the two ...
10
votes
3answers
161 views
How are road charges collected in France?
This summer we'll go to France by car for the first time. I noticed that some motorways on our route require road charge to be paid (in case it matters - we're going from Freiburg to Perpignan).
How ...
10
votes
4answers
3k views
Paris Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, by public transport but without lots of walking?
In a couple of weeks time, I'm off to the Loire by Eurostar + TGV, which means a cross Paris change. The Eurostar uses Gare du Nord, while the TGVs down to the Loire are at Gare Montparnasse.
One ...
10
votes
3answers
480 views
The website says the Eiffel Tower is sold out for two months. Is there anything I can do?
I went to the Eiffel Tower web site looking to buy tickets for an upcoming visit, and found that, except for a few days, it is sold out for basically two months. I am guessing that it is not truly ...
10
votes
3answers
391 views
What is the best time to see the Lavender in France?
The fields of lavender in France are meant to be gorgeous. What is the best time of year to see them in their full glory? How much does it vary from year to year based on the weather?
10
votes
1answer
739 views
Paris on a Tuesday - are the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre the only “big” attractions that are closed?
One that's caught me out before is that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. It looks like the Centre Pompidou is also closed Tuesdays (French - Tuesday=Mardi).
However, the Paris Modern Art Museum ...
10
votes
2answers
90 views
Route planner with heights (for bikes)
I use Google Maps to plan my bike routes inside Paris. However, it is missing height graphs of the routes (which is essential for biking). I would like such a site that would be capable of this. I may ...
10
votes
1answer
127 views
Pass in the Alps that can be crossed by mountain bike?
I'm looking for a pass in the Alps that I can cross with my mountain bike. I know that if there's a road, I could just use it, but my question is a little bit more special.
Ideally this pass ...
9
votes
2answers
125 views
Can you get from London to the French Alps by train, with no/minimal changes?
For a lot of people, the default way to get from London to the French Alps to go skiing is to fly, then take a long bus connection to get to the resort. However, with the current snow and wintery ...
9
votes
3answers
893 views
Long Stay Visit to France Without Visa
I'm planning on living in France for 7 months teaching English, and I'm hoping that my boyfriend will be able to accompany me.
After learning that the Long-Stay Tourist Visas are very difficult to ...
9
votes
2answers
105 views
How to book entire compartments on French night trains?
On the night trains in France, the so-called "Intercités de nuit", you have three comfort classes: reclining seats, 6 berth sleepers and 4 berth sleepers.
The railway company SNCF is advertising ...
9
votes
2answers
389 views
How to travel between castles in the Loire valley?
I'm planning to visit Loire valley and spend a week there. I know that I can travel from Paris to Tours by TGV, but I don't know what is the best way to explore the valley and visit individual ...
9
votes
1answer
142 views
Can you suggest an interesting route from Spain to Switzerland for a 2-4 day journey?
I'm going from north Spain to Switzerland crossing France and part of the Alps by car. The exact starting point is not defined, but I suppose it will be "La Jonquera" (AP-7 highway) or Andorra. The ...
9
votes
2answers
455 views
Left Luggage facilitaties in train stations in France? or Sending luggage from France to Spain?
After some time in Nice, I'm doing the Camino 'Le Puy - Pamplona' track (5-6 week walk and was hoping to leave the rest of my luggage in a train station either in Lyon or Nice. Does anyone know if you ...
8
votes
4answers
314 views
Rome to Paris by train
Can anyone tell me how can I book Rome to Paris train ticket? I am trying
Trenitalia website
but not getting any results.
I want the fastest train, preferably running during the daytime.
Also, can ...
8
votes
3answers
301 views
Is it too far to go to Eastern Europe on a 5-6 week holiday if I land in Paris?
So we're landing in Europe in September and planning to stay for about 5-6 weeks.
We plan to land in Paris as it seems to have the cheapest flights from Australia but also we have to go to France ...
8
votes
4answers
345 views
Daytrip castles outside Paris
We will spend a couple of days in Paris early fall and would like to spend at least one day visiting a castle or small town with old city centre. What options are there?
We have already done ...
8
votes
3answers
152 views
In the Loire Valley, are there any “arty” caves that can be visited?
The Tuffeau stone that makes up the bulk of the Loire Valley has been used for building for millennia, and this has left behind a lot of caves. It has also left us lots of lovely buildings too - most ...
8
votes
3answers
415 views
What are my options for long term parking at Paris Charles de Gaulle?
I am flying from Paris on a two week holiday. The parking fees at the airport are quite expensive. Does anyone know alternatives?
8
votes
3answers
229 views
Which chateaux of the Loire are worth visiting?
When visiting France, one of the great things to see are the Chateaux of the Loire Valley. An hour by TGV from Paris, yet a world apart, with stunning grand palatial castles in beautiful scenery, it's ...
8
votes
1answer
3k views
How to get from Nice to Monaco by public transport?
What's the simplest and cheapest way to get from central Nice, France to Monaco by public transportation?
8
votes
2answers
2k views
Visa for France - showing actual hotel booking?
I am in UK planning to apply for Schengen visa via French Embassy. The application document requirements for the visa states that you are required to submit:
Proof of Hotel reservation ...
8
votes
2answers
134 views
Living costs for a week in Val Thorens skiing?
I am just about to go an charge up my Cash Passport card before I go away for a week to Val Thorens.
Basing on my knowledge from backpacking last year I was able to spend about 30-50 euros a day ...
8
votes
1answer
131 views
Can one use a TER train inside Île-de-France with an Île-de-France pass?
If one is taking a TER or Intercités for a journey entirely inside Île-de-France, can one use an Île-de-France pass such as Navigo, Mobilis, or Ticket Jeunes Weekend valid for the appropriate zones?
...
8
votes
1answer
484 views
Are there any perks/discounts for travelling as a couple on Air France?
When booking a ticket on Air France there is a mention of special fares when travelling as a couple, but I haven't seen anything that specifically calls out fares as being a "couples" fare. Is anyone ...
8
votes
1answer
91 views
Price of complément de parcours varies depending on where I buy it: why?
I have a Navigo monthly pass, valid for zones 1 to 3. When I try to buy a 'complement de parcours' to Aeroport CDG from Arcueil-Cachan, it shows me the price to be something between 7€ and 8€. From ...
7
votes
6answers
191 views
Availability of local train tickets in France
The airplane tickets are easily ordered from travel agency. But what about local transport? I have no idea how to reserve the local transport using online reservation. For instance, I can see that ...
7
votes
4answers
759 views
What precautions should travelers take in Spain/France?
On my last visit in Milano Italy, i went to the Duomo. It was the first day of my trip, and definitely the worst.
On the second I stepped out the subway, "Tourist hunting gangs" jumps from all over, ...
7
votes
2answers
245 views
Fly to France from UK with no passport?
I have a flight to France from the UK tomorrow. My passport is currently with a company that are working on a Visa for India (a miscommunication with a friend menas I thought they had picked it up), ...
7
votes
4answers
174 views
Is it possible to make last-minute reservations on the City Night Train?
I'd like to take the overnight train ("City Night Line") from Germany to France in a few days. The bahn.de site shows the existence of the train, and gives a price ("from 330 EUR") but says it is too ...
7
votes
2answers
268 views
Does the Carte 12-25 still exist in France?
Back in the day, I used a "Carte 12-25" discount card to obtain discounts on rail travel in France. I see that the 12-25 card has a website, complete with a spot to order, but the main page seems to ...
7
votes
2answers
524 views
What's the nearest train station to Mont Saint-Michel?
What's the nearest train station to Mont Saint-Michel? Do I need to take a bus to visit it?
How much time does it take? Can I make it in half a day?
7
votes
2answers
81 views
Euro Rail Pass in non-native country
Can I get a Euro Rail Pass in France considering that I haven't applied for it in my native country i.e. India?
7
votes
4answers
99 views
Last minute reservation of hostels in France
I've arranged a inter rail, with couch surfing as solution to sleep in the night.
Lets say I have an inconvenient, and I need to reserve a hostel on the same day for the night: is it easy to find a ...
7
votes
2answers
644 views
Magnetic stripe or EMV (chip-and-pin) credit cards in France?
We are US travelers who will be spending 2 weeks in France (Bordeaux through Provence to Nice) in mid-April 2013. We understand that Europe is well ahead of the US in the use of EMV (chip-and-pin) ...
