Apartments and Villas in France - Barclay International Group (800) 845-6636 French Villas, Apartment Rentals and Accommodations

Basic Facts from the French Government Tourist Office

Visas and Passports:
Visas are not required for Americans staying in France for less than 90 days, with the following exceptions: Holders of diplomatic passports or government employees on official mission, students on study programs in France and ship/airline crew members on duty. All U.S. citizens, including infants, need a valid passport to enter France, It is mandatory in France to carry some form of identification at all times.
If you lose your passport, go to the nearest U.S. consulate to get a three-month temporary passport. The U.S. consulate is at 2, rue St.-Florentin, 75001, Tel: 42-96-12-02 or 42-61-80-75. There are also U.S. consulates in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg.

Citizens of countries other than the U.S. should check with the French Government Tourist Office in their country to learn more about required entry document requirements.
Paris Airport Transfers:
You can take a taxi from taxi ranks (indicated by a square sign with Taxi in white on a blue background) or hail one in the street (on condition that it is available: the "Taxi" sign on the roof is then fully lit, and the small lights under the sign are switched off). Expect to pay between Euros 45-65 between Charles de Gaulle and Central Paris + 10% to 15% gratuity.

Some taxi companies:

Taxi G7: 33 (0) 1 47 39 47 39
Taxis Bleus: 0 891 70 10 10 (0.22€/min)
Aéro Taxi (for airport destinations): 33 (0) 1 47 39 01 47
01 Taxi: 33 (0) 1 49 17 01 01
Alpha Taxi: 33 (0) 1 45 85 85 85

To find out about taxi charges throughout France, consult the 'tariffs' section of the website www.artisan-taxi.com (French language only).
Taxis are only allowed to pick up from ranks (station de taxi) and you should always check that they have a meter. The fare depends on the price, the pick-up and the price per km.
If your ride takes you out of town and for transfers from airports, check with the driver before starting.
When called to pick up passengers, taxis add the cost of that journey to the fare. Extra fees for baggage, animals or a fourth person are routine.
Driving in France:
A valid driver's license, issued in the U.S., is required for all U.S. citizens who wish to drive in France. The minimum age for drivers is 18. Proof of insurance coverage is necessary. Citizens of countries other than the U.S. should check with the French Government Tourist Office in their country to learn more about required entry document requirements.
Important rules of the road: Seat belts are mandatory in both the front and back seats; children under 10 must ride in the back seat. At intersections, the vehicle to the right has the right of way unless you are in a traffic circle or otherwise instructed. Speed limits are strictly enforced and driving while intoxicated carries severe penalties. The city speed limit is 60 kilometers (approx. 37 miles) per hour or as posted. The speed limit on toll highways is 130 km (81 miles) per hour, on no-toll highways 110 km (68 miles) per hour, and on other roads 90 km (56 miles) per hour.
Money Matters:
Banks are generally open weekdays 9:00am-4:30pm. In many cities outside Paris, banks close for an hour or two at noon. Most banks are closed Saturdays and Sundays in Paris; Sundays and Mondays in the provinces. Many banks also close early in the afternoon before major holidays.
Virtually all ATMs in France take Visa and Mastercard, and many are linked to Cirrus and some to Plus systems. American Express now has ATMs in major cities as well. Withdrawing cash with a credit card or cash card requires a four-digit PIN code. Before you leave home, check with your bank about your code and any transaction fees or interest that may be charged on the sum withdrawn. Withdrawing money from ATMs usually has the added bonus of better exchange rates.

Exchange rates in general are better at a privately run Bureau de Change than at a bank, but be sure to read signs posted at teller windows carefully. Many advertise "No Commission" but offer much less advantageous rates. It pays to check around a little.

Travelers checks are a safe way to carry large amounts of money, but many banks charge a service fee for cashing them and not all hotels, restaurants and shops accept them for payment, even if they are in Euros.
Tax-Free Shopping:
Non-European Community residents who stay in France and/or the European Community (EEC) less than six months can get a refund on the value-added tax on purchases of 305€ or more at any single store. The refund ranges from 13 to 20.6 percent, depending on the classification of the goods.
Upon leaving French territory or the EEC, show your goods and the VAT refund forms filled out by the store to customs (la douane). Customs will keep both pink pages and will give you the validated green page which you should keep in case of dispute. The forms must be processed at the airport customs counter before you check your luggage (you must be prepared to show your merchandise), at the border customs office or by the train's customs if leaving France or the EEC by rail. Refunds are sent a few weeks later or are credited to your credit card. Shopping with a credit card makes the paperwork easier.
Tipping:
Most restaurants include tax and a 15 percent service charge in their prices, referred to as service compris. If a meal or the service has been particularly good, leaving another 2€ is customary, as is leaving the waiter small change from your bill if you paid in cash. If service is not included in the price, service non compris, a 15 percent tip is customary.
At apartments where porterage and maid service is available, tip 2€ for every piece of luggage to porters and 2€ a day to the chambermaid. (Check with Barclay International to see if the apartment we booked for you includes porterage and maid service. If so, the service charges/tips are generally included, but you may still want to tip for extraordinary service.) Taxi drivers should receive 10 to 15 percent of the metered fare. Hairdressers are tipped 10 percent. Small tips of around 1€ are reasonable for cloakroom and washroom attendants, ushers, and museum tour guides. It is standard practice to tip tour guides and bus drivers after an excursion.
Post Office:
Post offices are marked La Poste and are open from 8:00am to 7:00pm weekdays and from 8:00am to noon on Saturdays. In addition to normal services, main post offices can cash or send international postal checks and money orders and have fax, telex and coin- and card-operated telephone services. In Paris, the main post office is at 52, rue du Louvre and is open 24 hours. Stamps can also be purchased at tabacs, hotels and some newsstands.
Using Telephones:
Most public telephones only accept phone cards called telecartes, not coins, You can purchase a telecarte at post offices, or cafe-tabacs for 7€ (approx. $8) or 15€ (approx. $19). Barclay International Group can also sell these to you in advance — check our Supplemental Services-Paris page.
Electric Current:
Electricity in France runs on 220-volt, 50-cycle AC current, versus the 110-volt, 60-cycle AC current used in the U.S. If you are bringing electrical appliances, you will need a voltage transformer and a plug adapter. (Note: Many Barclay International Group properties can provide this upon request; check the property description of your intended accommodation.)

Emergency Phone Numbers Throughout France:

SAMU (24-hour ambulance): 15

Police: 17

Fire Department: 18

For any information not included above, feel free to contact your localFrench Government Tourist Office.

Barclay International Group Properties in France

One caveat: We have written our property reference pages to be as concise as possible. Therefore, if an amenity is NOT listed, chances are it is not offered by the property. Though we attempt to be as accurate as possible and ask each property to recheck the information that they have provided, breakdowns in communications can occasionally occur. For that reason, Barclay International Group cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained in the information. If you do uncover mistakes in our information, please bring them to our attention so we may correct them as soon as possible. Also, rates occasionally change mid-season due to currency fluctuations and so forth; we cannot guarantee rates until actual bookings are placed. Consider the rates contained in our rate sheets to be approximate rate guidelines, rather than figures carved in stone. We have included links to country and city information in our pages. While we will attempt to verify these links on a regular basis, we would certainly appreciate it if anyone discovering a non-operational link brings this information to our attention. Thank you.