France, important visitor information

Weather
There are four types of weather in France. The tempered marine prevails in the west near the coast. It is characterized by smooth winters, fresh summers and many rains. In the inland, the weather is of continental type, with hot summers and more rigorous winters with few rains. Long cold winters prevail over high elevations with mountain weather. The south coast has a Mediterranean weather characterized by hot and dry summers, smooth and humid winters and a small number of rainy days during the year.

Business hours
Banks in Paris usually operate from 9am to 5pm from, Mondays to Fridays. Some are closed from 1pm to 3pm and are open Saturday mornings. Banks close earlier than usual the day before a national holiday.

Shops normally open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9am to 7pm. In larger cities, shops may operate till 10pm. Outside Paris, shops close for midday breaks.

Dining
French cuisine is considered the best in the world. It is in most cases the standard by which gourmet fare is compared. This is due to the many famous culinary schools in France. French chefs are masters of their art and they concoct dishes that are impeccably delicious. Add that to a perfectly splendid ambience, French dining is highly regarded among the gourmet connoisseur.

Some famous restaurants in France include La Tour d' Argent, situated on the sixth floor of a luxurious champagne-colored building in Siene. It not only showcases high quality sublime dishes like duckling and lobster, but it also provides a stunning view of the city.

Currency
1 USD$ = EURO 0.805

Tipping
Bars and restaurants add about € 0.15 for a beer and € 1.50 to € 2.30 for a meal as service fee. The more expensive restaurants add 5% on the bill.

10% of the bill is considered a tip among taxi drivers and hairdressers. Ushers expect € 0.25 to € 0.50 . Washroom attendants usually get € 0.30. A helpful concierge gets a tip of € 8 - € 16. Service station attendants who check you oil or pump gas do not get tips, but get € 0.75 or € 1.50 for checking tires. A € 0.90 to € 1.50 tip is given to train and airport porters.

Time Zone
GMT+1 to GMT+2

Language
French