Page 238 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

236  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The peak holiday period for Provence runs and wine. Tourist offices are excellent sources
from the middle of June until the end of of general information and accommodation
August. During this time, the coastal areas advice (see also pp194–5). The main branches
in particular are very crowded. However, the in Provence are listed opposite. Shops and
region offers a range of activities throughout banks tend to close between noon and
the year to suit all tastes: skiing slopes in 3pm, so take advantage of this to enjoy
the winter, golden beaches in the summer, a long, leisurely lunch, bearing in mind
excellent modern art museums, fine Roman an old local saying: “Slow in the mornings,
ruins, traditional festivals and superb food and not too fast in the afternoons.”
Visas and yourself. Hand it in to customs
Passports
officials when you leave the EU,
Currently there are and they will give you a set
no visa requirements of forms that you should send
for EU nationals or for back to the shop. The refund
tourists from the US, will then be sent on to you
Canada, Australia or or credited to your bank card.
New Zealand staying Exceptions for this détaxe rebate
in France for under are food and drink, medicines,
three months. After tobacco, cars and motorbikes.
that a residency There are no restrictions on
Enjoying a relaxed lunch on a vine-shaded terrace permit (carte de séjour) the quantities of duty­paid and
is required. Visitors V V VAT­AT­AT paid goods one is allowed
When to Go
from other countries should ask to take from one EU country to
During high season in for visa information from their another as long as they are for
Provence, local businesses local French authorities. Like personal use and not for resale;
in tourist areas hope to make most EU countries (but not the you may be asked to prove this
their whole year’s profit, and UK and Ireland) France is part if your goods exceed the recom­
set their prices higher accord­ of the Schengen agreement for mended amounts: 10 litres of
ingly. The coast in particular shared border controls. When spirits, 90 litres of wine, 110 litres
can get very busy so to avoid you enter the Schengen area of beer and 800 cigarettes.
the crowds, head for the wilds through any of the member Non­EU nationals arriving in
of upper Provence or the hills states, your 90­day stay will be the European Union may bring
of the Var and Vaucluse. valid for all of them, even if you in the following: up to 4 litres
Provence is at its best in travel between several countries. of wine and 1 litre of spirits
May and September when the (or 2 litres of drink less than
weather is still warm, but there 22° proof); up to €430 worth of
are fewer visitors. The winter Travel Safety Advice perfume, coffee or tea and up
months can offer some sunny Visitors can get up­to­date travel to 200 cigarettes. Visitors under
days, but beware of the cold safety information from the 17 may not import or export
mistral wind that can sweep Foreign and Commonwealth duty­free alcohol or tobacco,
through the area. A few festivals, Office in the UK, the State even as gifts. In general, personal
such as the Nice Carnival and Department in the US and goods (such as a car or a bicycle)
the Lemon Festival in Menton, the Department of Foreign
are cleverly timed so as to Affairs and Trade in Australia.
attrac
attrac
attract off­t off­t off season tourists,
and skiing is usually possible
between mid­November Customs Information
and April (see p100). Visitors from outside the Euro­
pean Union can claim back the
sales tax (TVA) levied on French
What to Take
goods if they spend more than
Apart from prescription drugs, €175 in one shop on the same
you should find everything you day. To claim your refund, obtain
need in local shops. People an export sales form (bordereau
dress quite casually, but you de vente à l’exportation) and take
should take care to be respect­ your goods out of the EU within
ful when visiting churches, and three months of the date of
some restaurants have a more purchase. The form should be
formal dress code. signed by both the retailer and The tourist office at Monieux, Vaucluse
Sun loungers on the beach, Nice