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Essential Travel Tips

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HEALTHCARE & EMERGENCIES

If travelling from the UK, we strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to starting your journey.

The E111 is the UK Government certificate concerning medical treatment in the European Economic Area.
Most doctors speak English and pharmacies should be able to help find one.

Dial 18 for the fire brigade (pompiers), 17 for the police, 15 for an ambulance (SAMU). Directory enquiries is 12 and the operator is 13.

pharmacie

Picture of a French pharmacy

TELEPHONES

French numbers have 10 digits (first two digits are the area code) which should be dialled in full wherever you are. To phone France from the UK dial 00 33 but not the first ‘0’ in the area code. To phone the UK from France dial 00 44 but not the first ‘0’ from the STD code.

Make arrangements with your mobile phone company for your mobile to work - but be careful as you pay for the connection charge for people calling you from the UK. To dial another UK mobile in France always prefix it with 00 44 but not the zero from the code.

ELECTRICITY, TV AND VIDEOS

Pick up an adapter before travelling France is 220 volts - most sockets are two pin. Adaptors can be bought easily in UK but not in France.

French TV is SECAM and not compatible with the UK. SECAM videos bought in France will play in black and white on UK (PAL) videos. PAL videos are available in large specialist shops and some hypermarkets – if they are in their original format they will be stamped VO version originale.

adapter

French Plug

SHOPPING

France is great value for everything from washing powder to wine.
Shops usually close for lunch often between 12.00 and 14.00, and stay open longer in the evening.
All towns have pharmacies open 24 hours a day.
Most hypermarkets are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

shop
French shop

BANK HOLIDAYS

Most shops, hypermarkets and many restaurants are closed on bank holidays.
Bank holidays coming up: 11 November (Armistice).

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