Tips & Trivia
What time is it?
Paris -U.S.A: Paris is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. If it is 8:00 a.m. in New York it is 2:00 p.m. in France and other neighboring european countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, except in Great Britain, where it will be 1:00 p.m.
Calling from France to U.S.A. 001+ area code + local numbers
Calling from U.S.A. to France dial 011+ 33 (France country code) + local 10 digit number.
Electronic Devices: Electricity Voltage for the US (110 volts 60 hertz) and France (220 volts 50 hertz) are different. Be sure to have the right equipment with you, such as chargers, converters.etc. Check your appliances, camera, hair dryer, computers, iron, and telephone battery charger. The plugs are also different so for anything that needs to convert voltage bring along a universal adapter plug with you.
Food and Restaurants: French gastronomy is known all over the world. France is known for its haute cuisine, pastries, chocolates, wines, cheeses and other delicacies. It has more than 1000 varieties of cheese. Local producers make their own products in different regions.
Restaurants these days offer a large variety of foods in cosy and convivial atmosphere. Cafés and bars with reasonable prices can be found all around the city.
In general, when we go for dinner or lunch we always start with an aperitif - a drink before the beginning of the meal. The menu offers a starter, the main course, dessert and coffee. In the French system the VAT tax is included in the price of the meal or any article you purchase. Therefore the prices are called TTC = Toutes Taxes Comprises (inclusive of all taxes). Tips are not compulsory. You may tip according to your appreciation.
In the well-known tourist places you can find all sorts of different specialities from all over the world.
Around the Saint Michel Square you can find what they call Barrio Latino which are fun places where you have music and drinks. It is also the area where you can find lots of nice restaurants, coffee bars and small shops and souvenirs. The square itself makes a nice meeting place in front of the Saint Michel fountain. Lunch hour for restaurants is 12 noon to 2 p.m.. Dinner is from 7:30p.m. until midnight. In some places they serve even later. If you wish to have a good time and experience French gastronomy you must try the restaurants on the Champs Elysées. A choice of prestigious restaurants is to be found in this area. La place de la Bastille is another square you should not miss! You have a number of coffee shops, bars and pubs there. You can take the metro line no. 1 to the Bastille station.
Geography and Weather: Where is France? On the western edge of the European continent. It’s size is about 4/5 that of Texas. For weather in Paris click CNN weather or Météo de Paris on the Internet. The best season to come France is during summer, that is July or August.
Money: The Euro is the currency in France and Europe. European Money has been established since 2002. Three European countries are not included in the European common currency: Denmark, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
To convert currency: visit http://www.xecom/ucc/
Cash ATMs are readily available. Take note that before leaving the country please inform your bank that you are travelling overseas. Refusals may be encountered due to unknown transactions in hotels, restaurants, shops etc. Please remember your PIN CODE
Travellers Checks: Avoid them. They are not convenient in France.
Etiquette: Don’t be late for your appointments, meetings and reservations - the French are prompt and do not like to wait.
Transportations: Train, Plane, Car, Subway, Bus, Bicycle.
The French high speed trains - TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) cruise at 186 mph. The Eurostar TGV is the most efficient means of transport for going from Paris to London. It covers that distance in 2h 25 minutes. TGVs are very convenient for businessmen crossing the frontiers of Europe.
The bicycle - Velib, free for 30 minutes can be picked up in every district of Paris and now even in some suburbs. It can be used as a good means to discover and explore the city. After 30 minutes the payable rate is 1 euro an hour. For bicycle guided tour you can make enquires at the RATP information counters. Metro tickets are available from 1 to 5 zones in daily passes, one week passes, or booklets of ten tickets that can be used for individual journeys. You also have 2, 3 or 5 consecutive day passes. Additionally, you also have a more modern electronic pass called the Navigo.
THE French Railway Transportation! How to travel in all directions in France and in Europe? Paris has six major railway stations. From the TGV train station Gare du Nord you can go to London by Eurostar and with Thalys you can travel to Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark. Gare du Lyon railway station serves the southeast Côte d’azur, Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez, Province and further beyond Geneva, Lausanne, and Italy. Gare du Montparnasse serves the west. Gare de l’Est serves the eastern destinations: Strasbourg, Reims, and beyond Zurich, Luxembourg and Austria. Gare d’Austerlitz serves the south west with trains going to the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Pyrenees and Spain. From Gare Saint Lazare trains depart to Normandy.
Taxi: It is impossible to get one during the rush hour. Taxi drivers are organized into a lobby. At your hotel they will never take 4 passengers, 3 is the maximum. Be wary of cabs without meters. Each piece of baggage will be charged 2 Euros. Before getting into a taxi make sure that the meter is working.
Arriving to France:
By Plane: Paris has two International Airports: Aéroport d’Orly situated 14 km (8.7 miles) south of the city, Aéroport Roissy Charles de Gaulle, situated 23 km (14.3 miles) northeast of the city. A Shuttle could be organized upon your arrival.
If making a reservation through [email protected] we will arrange your pick up from the airport to your hotel or apartment.
From the Roissy rail terminal fast RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains leave every 15 minutes heading to such Métro stations as the Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Luxembourg, Port Royal, and Denfert Rochereau.
Shopping: Paris has several departmental stores and boutiques. . The famous Galleries Lafayette can be found on Boulevard Hausmann in the 9th district. Le Bon Marché is in the 7th district. Of course you can find local shops and stores in a very big mall like the ones you can see at Chatelet in the 1st district. You also have outlets for various international home ware brands, offering their collection at reduced prices. For a number of leading fashion designers like, Armani, Cacharel, Diesel, Salvatore, Ferragano, Longchamp, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci, Calvin kleine, and many others our company provides transportation to go shopping in Marne La vallée Village, (on our site click places to go - code LVS) the ideal destination for a chic and relaxing shopping experience. There are famous designer shops in rue Saint Honore 1st district, Avenue Montaigne, Champs Elysées and other main arteries of the city.
Flea market called les puces de Paris is very famous and is found at St Ouen, Metro Porte de Clignancourt. It is open every Saturday, Sunday, Monday from 9 am to 7 pm. You can find bargain prices for souvenirs and all kinds of antiques collections from the 17 to 18th centuries. The market for antique furniture is one of the biggest in Europe.
Rental Cars: If you rent cars you can book in any rent cars services:
Budget: www.budget.com
Hertz: www.hertz.com
Avis: www.avis.com
National: www.nationalcars.com
Driving in France: As in North America the French drive on the right side of the road.
Museum: On Mondays Versailles, Giverny and Orsay museums are closed. The Louvre is closed on Tuesday.
Tour Eiffel: Beginning June 21, 2003, 20,000 lamps blink on and off for a shimmering effect during the first 5 minutes of every hour after nightfall.
Père Lachaise Cemetery contains several well known artists who are buried here: Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde Duncan, Jim Morrison, Chopin among others.
Chocolate Shopping: Everyone knows that the French chocolates are the best chocolates of the World! La Maison du Chocolat
Pastry Chocolate: Lunch and afternoon Tea: There are some well-known places you have to go and try!
Be sure to visit La Durée while you are in Paris. It has the most outstanding pastries and their macaroons and hot chocolate is simply superb. The ultimate pastries of Brittany can be enjoyed here. The famous Angelina Café also known for its pastries is on Rue de Rivoli in the First district, metro Tuileries.
Drinking Water: in France tap water is safe for drinking. In many places in the city, you can find suitable water fountains. There is no problem in drinking the water as it is regularly inspected.
Tickets Spectacles and Sports Events:
All tickets for shows and events can be purchased at the big department stores such as Virgin megastore, Fnac that can be found the Champs Elyseés, Chatelet or in the Louvre.
Shopping Sales:
Sales “Les soldes” In France are held only at specific dates during major periods during the year. One is in the winter, January and mid-Febuary. In the summer sales are held in June and July and last about 5 weeks. You get amazing and incredible deals thought-out this period.
Seminars Conference Meetings A huge convention center is Palais des Congrés. The site is being expanded and will be one of the biggest convention centers and it has two luxury hotels. Concerts, conferences and other major meetings are held here at Port Maillot, metro line no 1, metro stop: Port Maillot.
Office of Tourism: Every district of Paris has its own tourist information office. If you have a questions regarding your travel or any information you need to know, you can contact the Tourism office at 25 rue des Pyramids in the 1st district.
In Case of Emergency: Some large hotels have a doctor on their staff. You can also contact the American Hospital, 63 Bd. Victor Hugo, Neuilly-sur-Seine. Tel: 01.46.41.25.25.
(Metro Pont de Levallois, bus 82) This private hospital operates a 24 hours emergency service. The bilingual staff accepts blue cross and other American insurance plans.
For Your Safety: Beware of child pickpockets, who prey on visitors around sites such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Tuileries garden and in all tourist areas. There are pick pockets in the metro, often blocking the entrance and exits at the escalators. A band of these young thieves can clear out your pockets very quickly.
Pre-Paid Phone Card: These cards are available in the nearest Tobacco shops. You can ask in which country you wish to call and how many minutes you need or want. Prices vary from €7.50 to €15.
France Visit Mabuhay Sightseeing Excursions will be happy to help you.
For more information:
Contact Us or;
E-mail : [email protected]
cell: 203-560-1588
France Mabuhay- affiliated under Tour Operator. Groups Company
What time is it?
Paris -U.S.A: Paris is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. If it is 8:00 a.m. in New York it is 2:00 p.m. in France and other neighboring european countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, except in Great Britain, where it will be 1:00 p.m.
Calling from France to U.S.A. 001+ area code + local numbers
Calling from U.S.A. to France dial 011+ 33 (France country code) + local 10 digit number.
Electronic Devices: Electricity Voltage for the US (110 volts 60 hertz) and France (220 volts 50 hertz) are different. Be sure to have the right equipment with you, such as chargers, converters.etc. Check your appliances, camera, hair dryer, computers, iron, and telephone battery charger. The plugs are also different so for anything that needs to convert voltage bring along a universal adapter plug with you.
Food and Restaurants: French gastronomy is known all over the world. France is known for its haute cuisine, pastries, chocolates, wines, cheeses and other delicacies. It has more than 1000 varieties of cheese. Local producers make their own products in different regions.
Restaurants these days offer a large variety of foods in cosy and convivial atmosphere. Cafés and bars with reasonable prices can be found all around the city.
In general, when we go for dinner or lunch we always start with an aperitif - a drink before the beginning of the meal. The menu offers a starter, the main course, dessert and coffee. In the French system the VAT tax is included in the price of the meal or any article you purchase. Therefore the prices are called TTC = Toutes Taxes Comprises (inclusive of all taxes). Tips are not compulsory. You may tip according to your appreciation.
In the well-known tourist places you can find all sorts of different specialities from all over the world.
Around the Saint Michel Square you can find what they call Barrio Latino which are fun places where you have music and drinks. It is also the area where you can find lots of nice restaurants, coffee bars and small shops and souvenirs. The square itself makes a nice meeting place in front of the Saint Michel fountain. Lunch hour for restaurants is 12 noon to 2 p.m.. Dinner is from 7:30p.m. until midnight. In some places they serve even later. If you wish to have a good time and experience French gastronomy you must try the restaurants on the Champs Elysées. A choice of prestigious restaurants is to be found in this area. La place de la Bastille is another square you should not miss! You have a number of coffee shops, bars and pubs there. You can take the metro line no. 1 to the Bastille station.
Geography and Weather: Where is France? On the western edge of the European continent. It’s size is about 4/5 that of Texas. For weather in Paris click CNN weather or Météo de Paris on the Internet. The best season to come France is during summer, that is July or August.
Money: The Euro is the currency in France and Europe. European Money has been established since 2002. Three European countries are not included in the European common currency: Denmark, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
To convert currency: visit http://www.xecom/ucc/
Cash ATMs are readily available. Take note that before leaving the country please inform your bank that you are travelling overseas. Refusals may be encountered due to unknown transactions in hotels, restaurants, shops etc. Please remember your PIN CODE
Travellers Checks: Avoid them. They are not convenient in France.
Etiquette: Don’t be late for your appointments, meetings and reservations - the French are prompt and do not like to wait.
Transportations: Train, Plane, Car, Subway, Bus, Bicycle.
The French high speed trains - TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) cruise at 186 mph. The Eurostar TGV is the most efficient means of transport for going from Paris to London. It covers that distance in 2h 25 minutes. TGVs are very convenient for businessmen crossing the frontiers of Europe.
The bicycle - Velib, free for 30 minutes can be picked up in every district of Paris and now even in some suburbs. It can be used as a good means to discover and explore the city. After 30 minutes the payable rate is 1 euro an hour. For bicycle guided tour you can make enquires at the RATP information counters. Metro tickets are available from 1 to 5 zones in daily passes, one week passes, or booklets of ten tickets that can be used for individual journeys. You also have 2, 3 or 5 consecutive day passes. Additionally, you also have a more modern electronic pass called the Navigo.
THE French Railway Transportation! How to travel in all directions in France and in Europe? Paris has six major railway stations. From the TGV train station Gare du Nord you can go to London by Eurostar and with Thalys you can travel to Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark. Gare du Lyon railway station serves the southeast Côte d’azur, Nice, Cannes, Saint Tropez, Province and further beyond Geneva, Lausanne, and Italy. Gare du Montparnasse serves the west. Gare de l’Est serves the eastern destinations: Strasbourg, Reims, and beyond Zurich, Luxembourg and Austria. Gare d’Austerlitz serves the south west with trains going to the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Pyrenees and Spain. From Gare Saint Lazare trains depart to Normandy.
Taxi: It is impossible to get one during the rush hour. Taxi drivers are organized into a lobby. At your hotel they will never take 4 passengers, 3 is the maximum. Be wary of cabs without meters. Each piece of baggage will be charged 2 Euros. Before getting into a taxi make sure that the meter is working.
Arriving to France:
By Plane: Paris has two International Airports: Aéroport d’Orly situated 14 km (8.7 miles) south of the city, Aéroport Roissy Charles de Gaulle, situated 23 km (14.3 miles) northeast of the city. A Shuttle could be organized upon your arrival.
If making a reservation through [email protected] we will arrange your pick up from the airport to your hotel or apartment.
From the Roissy rail terminal fast RER (Réseau Express Régional) trains leave every 15 minutes heading to such Métro stations as the Gare du Nord, Châtelet, Luxembourg, Port Royal, and Denfert Rochereau.
Shopping: Paris has several departmental stores and boutiques. . The famous Galleries Lafayette can be found on Boulevard Hausmann in the 9th district. Le Bon Marché is in the 7th district. Of course you can find local shops and stores in a very big mall like the ones you can see at Chatelet in the 1st district. You also have outlets for various international home ware brands, offering their collection at reduced prices. For a number of leading fashion designers like, Armani, Cacharel, Diesel, Salvatore, Ferragano, Longchamp, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci, Calvin kleine, and many others our company provides transportation to go shopping in Marne La vallée Village, (on our site click places to go - code LVS) the ideal destination for a chic and relaxing shopping experience. There are famous designer shops in rue Saint Honore 1st district, Avenue Montaigne, Champs Elysées and other main arteries of the city.
Flea market called les puces de Paris is very famous and is found at St Ouen, Metro Porte de Clignancourt. It is open every Saturday, Sunday, Monday from 9 am to 7 pm. You can find bargain prices for souvenirs and all kinds of antiques collections from the 17 to 18th centuries. The market for antique furniture is one of the biggest in Europe.
Rental Cars: If you rent cars you can book in any rent cars services:
Budget: www.budget.com
Hertz: www.hertz.com
Avis: www.avis.com
National: www.nationalcars.com
Driving in France: As in North America the French drive on the right side of the road.
Museum: On Mondays Versailles, Giverny and Orsay museums are closed. The Louvre is closed on Tuesday.
Tour Eiffel: Beginning June 21, 2003, 20,000 lamps blink on and off for a shimmering effect during the first 5 minutes of every hour after nightfall.
Père Lachaise Cemetery contains several well known artists who are buried here: Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde Duncan, Jim Morrison, Chopin among others.
Chocolate Shopping: Everyone knows that the French chocolates are the best chocolates of the World! La Maison du Chocolat
Pastry Chocolate: Lunch and afternoon Tea: There are some well-known places you have to go and try!
Be sure to visit La Durée while you are in Paris. It has the most outstanding pastries and their macaroons and hot chocolate is simply superb. The ultimate pastries of Brittany can be enjoyed here. The famous Angelina Café also known for its pastries is on Rue de Rivoli in the First district, metro Tuileries.
Drinking Water: in France tap water is safe for drinking. In many places in the city, you can find suitable water fountains. There is no problem in drinking the water as it is regularly inspected.
Tickets Spectacles and Sports Events:
All tickets for shows and events can be purchased at the big department stores such as Virgin megastore, Fnac that can be found the Champs Elyseés, Chatelet or in the Louvre.
Shopping Sales:
Sales “Les soldes” In France are held only at specific dates during major periods during the year. One is in the winter, January and mid-Febuary. In the summer sales are held in June and July and last about 5 weeks. You get amazing and incredible deals thought-out this period.
Seminars Conference Meetings A huge convention center is Palais des Congrés. The site is being expanded and will be one of the biggest convention centers and it has two luxury hotels. Concerts, conferences and other major meetings are held here at Port Maillot, metro line no 1, metro stop: Port Maillot.
Office of Tourism: Every district of Paris has its own tourist information office. If you have a questions regarding your travel or any information you need to know, you can contact the Tourism office at 25 rue des Pyramids in the 1st district.
In Case of Emergency: Some large hotels have a doctor on their staff. You can also contact the American Hospital, 63 Bd. Victor Hugo, Neuilly-sur-Seine. Tel: 01.46.41.25.25.
(Metro Pont de Levallois, bus 82) This private hospital operates a 24 hours emergency service. The bilingual staff accepts blue cross and other American insurance plans.
For Your Safety: Beware of child pickpockets, who prey on visitors around sites such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Tuileries garden and in all tourist areas. There are pick pockets in the metro, often blocking the entrance and exits at the escalators. A band of these young thieves can clear out your pockets very quickly.
Pre-Paid Phone Card: These cards are available in the nearest Tobacco shops. You can ask in which country you wish to call and how many minutes you need or want. Prices vary from €7.50 to €15.
France Visit Mabuhay Sightseeing Excursions will be happy to help you.
For more information:
Contact Us or;
E-mail : [email protected]
cell: 203-560-1588
France Mabuhay- affiliated under Tour Operator. Groups Company
