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Navigating France: licences, river moorings, fuel…
A licence is needed to operate French motorised pleasure boats at sea where the actual horsepower of the engine or engines is/are higher than 4.5kW (6 HP). There are three types of licence:
la carte mer [sea licence]
le permis mer côtier [coastal licence]
le permis mer hauturier [deep-sea/ocean licence]
There are specific licences for navigating on inland waters.
Licences to operate motorised pleasure boats at sea only give the right to pilot by agreement. Any person operating a pleasure boat professionally must have the recognised professional qualifications.
The regulations are on http://www.mer. equipement. gouv. fr/
Port authorities display daily weather bulletins and forecasts for the following days.
At the French sailing association's website, you can consult tide tables for each port.
http://www.ffvoile.org/
Taxis, Subways, Buses, Commuting Boats
Taxis
You can take them 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).
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 http://www.artisan-taxi.com
Taxis are only allowed to pick up from ranks (station de taxi) and you should always check they have a meter. The fare depends on the price and on 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.
Tipping is customary but completely at your discretion; generally 10% to 15% is acceptable.
Several towns in France and also Paris have metro or tram systems and most offer a fairly comprehensive bus network. These means of transport serve the town centers and inner suburbs. Fast and economical, they are the most practical worry-free way to discover a town. In Paris the metro is by far the quickest and most practical way of getting about 15 lines and around 300 stations. The service usually starts around 5.30am and ends around 12.30am. Numerous connections with the RER (Regional express network) and the SNCF railway stations allow easy travel to the suburbs.
SNCF Line (Paris outskirts): a ticket purchased from the outskirts to a Paris railway station now also includes travel on the Paris métro and bus.
Métro 1 metro or bus ticket: €1.30. Paris and its outskirts are divided into zones. There are 8 different zones; you can ask for a map of these zones at any metro and RER station, they are available for free.1 Book or 10 tickets carnet: €9.60. Half price €4.80 for children from 4-10 years. Free under 4.
Simple and safe, the Paris metro runs daily from 5.30am to 12.30pm. Keep your ticket handy; you may be asked to show it to a transit inspector, and tickets are sometimes needed to exit Metro turnstiles.
Basic Paris Visite Passes-good for unlimited travel on Metro, bus and RER suburban train lines-are available for one (€8), two (€14), three (€18) and five (€27) days; Paris Visite Passes that extend to the airports, Disneyland-Paris and Versailles are €17, €27, €38 and €46.
Passes can be purchased at airports; the Paris Convention & Visitors Bureau; Metro, RER and railway stations; and in the US (ask your travel agent or tour operator). www.ratp. fr
Buses: 1 ticket is now sufficient to cover any bus journey within Paris (as on the métro). In the outskirts the longest lines only require a maximum of 2 tickets. Generally, buses operate from 5.30am to 8.30pm. At night the Noctambus connects the centre of Paris (Place du Châtelet amongst others) and the suburbs.
You can ask for a map of the network (metro, bus, RER) at metro or RER stations (issued free).
Information on regional and Paris transport: www.ratp. fr
Batobus (Tour-Boat Shuttle) From April to October, the city of Paris operates a boat service on the Seine river called Batobus, with stops at the Eiffel Tower, Musee D’Orsay, Saint - Germain-des-pres (Quai Malaquais, on the left Bank and opposite the Louvre), Notre-Dame, Hotel de Ville, Louvre and Champs-Elysees. The fare is €3.50 for one stop, €2 for each additional stop, €10 for an all-day pass (€5.50 for children under 12); €12.50 for a two-day pass (€6.50 for children 12). For information about Batobus, visit http://www.batobus.com/.
The RER The five lines (A, B, C, D and E) of the RER (Regional express network) cross Paris and the Ile-de-France during the same times as the metro.
Please note that outside Paris ticket charges are not the same.
Ask at your departure station for information.
For tourists: Paris Visit Ticket is valid for either 1,2,3 or 5 consecutive days and allows unlimited travel in all zones of the whole network (metro, bus, RER) and on the Montmartre Funicular.
Reduced price for children aged between 4 and 11 years old.
COACHES
Eurolines is the largest operator of scheduled coach services, offering regular services to over 65 destinations from London. These include Avignon, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Marseilles, Nantes, Paris (up to 4 services daily), Perpignan, St Malo, Strasbourg, Toulouse et Tours. Prices start at just £33 return. Connexions are available from around 1200 UK cities on National Express.
Accommodation
Hotels in France
Tourist hotels are approved and examined by the authorities. They are split into 5 categories according to their facilities, areas and services. The categories are 1-star, 2-star, 3-star, 4-star and - for hotels of great comfort - 4-star L (luxury). Prices displayed outside the hotel and in bedrooms must be inclusive. They are unregulated and a surcharge can be levied for an extra bed or for breakfast. Rooms must usually be left by noon on the day of departure. There are about 17,500 hotels, inns and motels in France.
Finding a Room
It's always easier to reserve your accommodation through a travel agent before coming to France. You can also contact local Tourist Offices or the Syndicats d'Initiative: they will inform you on the local possibilities of accommodation.
Hotel Chains
There are dozens of hotel chains and reservation services for hotels in France which group standardized hotels or hotels each with its own character. The range covers all categories, from 'Relais & Chateaux', 'Chateaux et Hotels de France' hotels (3 - and 4-star) or more economical hotels near major cities (Hotel Formule 1, Etap Hotel, Balladins, Bonsaï, Liberté, Première Classe). Hotel chains usually have central reservation facilities.
Rates Quoted for per night for a single or double room. Rates are quoted per person if they include room and board. Hotels include taxes and service.
Reservations
Reservations should be in writing (letter, fax or email). At that time, an advance deposit should be sent to the hotel. Your reservation, room rate and receipt of deposit should be confirmed in writing, by the hotelier. To avoid problems, reservations should never be made orally.
Deposits An advance deposit is required to secure your reservation. The exact amount is not fixed by law but, in general, the deposit amounts to the equivalent of 25% of the total cost and one night for shorter stays.
Whatever the type of accommodation you choose, pay a deposit. The deposit will not be refunded unless the contract stipulates it. If the hotel cancels your reservation, he must pay you the double of the deposit.
Arrival Time
Guests are expected to arrive at their hotel no later than between 7 and 10 pm. To avoid misunderstandings, it is best to let the hotel keeper know the approximate arrival time, especially if it might be late. If you a telephone reservation has been made without a deposit, the hotelier is not required to hold the room after 7 pm.
Cancellations The French Civil Code, Article 1590, regulates the rights of hotel guests and hoteliers regarding cancellation. In addition, many hotels follow stipulations laid down by the international Hotel Convention. Be sure to request details of the hotel's cancellation policy along with the reservation confirmation.
ON-THE-SPOT Reservations
Passengers who want to book accommodations upon arrival may consult the Automatic Central Reservations Board in Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport.
Reservations can be made for the day of arrival at the Syndicats d'Initiative or Tourist Offices in Paris and other cities.
At a campsite
France offers more than 9,000 fully equipped campsites officially grated from 0 to 4* and 2,300 farm campsites. The Official Campsite Guide is on sale at bookshops, newsagents, FNAC [national chain of department stores selling books, CDs, computers …] and all good retailers, as well as by mail order (postage and carriage: 3 euro per copy).
Fédération Française de Camping-Caravaning [French Camping and Caravanning Association] (tel +33 (0) 1 42 72 84 08). http://www.campingfrance.com
Camping off-site is permitted with the authorization of the landowner, but prohibited on beaches, roadsides or at designated sites.
For information, please ask at Tourist Offices or the Gendarmerie.
In tourist apartments
These are buildings housing apartments for rent, fully equipped and with a choice of hotel services.
Visit the website www.snrt. fr
In furnished accommodation
These are fully equipped holiday villas or apartments for rent to tourists: information from Tourist Offices and estate agents.
In Gîtes or Guest Houses
By renting a room in the owner's home (per night or per week, with breakfast and, occasionally with evening meal), you will have the chance to discover more about, and share in, the French way of life. www.gites-de-france. fr
In Holiday Villages
Non-profit making organizations who offer especially designed accommodation for families and groups, the holidays Villages also have excellent leisure activities. A stay in a holiday village is a great way to meet French people in a friendly environment and at the same time keep a feeling of individual freedom.
Catering
On holiday we like the simple outdoor life, we like to live out of doors, eat our meals in the sunshine and sip our wine under a clear sky counting shooting stars until the early hours. Not a very practical proposition in Britain, that's why we spend our summers with our VW camper in France
When holidaying for three or four weeks at a time, what to eat becomes an important issue and over the last ten years initially with two young children and latterly on our own we have learnt a few things and our experiences may be of benefit to other members. To loosely plan for meals for about 30 days takes a bit of thought and initial preparation. You may like to eat out in restaurants but this could be costly over the time of the holiday. Anyway I don’t enjoy eating in restaurants, I don’t feel relaxed and most people in them smoke cigarettes.
For a start, for a couple of months before the holiday, my wife will buy a few extra tins each week with her normal shopping and save them in a box ready to take. Whilst we would not normally eat tinned stuff, for a holiday they can be very convenient e. g. carrots, peas, fruit, salmon, tuna, potatoes etc. As tins are used up they leave storage space to hold bottles of wine for the return trip!
Although the van fridge has only a small freezer compartment it is surprising how many pieces of steak it can hold if rolled up tightly. The fridge can be stocked up with food and on the shorter sea crossing Dover to Calais (or the tunnel of course) when the gas is turned off the fridge will not have time to defrost.
Breakfast is easy, you can take plenty of cereal and on most camp sites you can buy croissants each morning from the camp shop, a visiting bread van or from a nearby shop. We usually buy a baguette to eat later with our lunch although these do not keep more than a few hours. Cereals that you buy in Britain are now sold in many French supermarkets.
We normally only have a snack at lunchtime. For French people it is the main meal of the day and they go to town on it but for us, at the hottest time of the day, a snack is sufficient. We would have something with our baguette, cheese, jam, ham or something like tinned salmon and perhaps a pain-o-chocolat or chausson pomme bought freshly made from a Patisserie to go with it.
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