Page 426 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

cash with a credit card involves both fees Restaurants noon–2.30pm and 7pm–11pm
(sometimes US$10 or more) and interest – ask six days a week
your credit-card issuer for details. Debit-card Cafes 7am–11pm
fees are usually much less. Bars 7pm–1am
Moneychangers Clubs 10pm–3am, 4am or 5am Thursday to
Saturday
¨ Commercial banks charge up to €5 per for- Shops 10am–noon and 2pm–7pm Monday
eign-currency transaction – if they even bother to Saturday
to offer exchange services any more.
¨ In Paris and major cities, bureaux de change
(exchange bureaus) are faster and easier, open PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
longer hours and often give better rates than
banks. The following jours fériés (public holidays)
are observed in France:
¨ Some post-office branches exchange travel-
lers cheques and banknotes in a variety of New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) 1 January
currencies but charge a commission for cash; Easter Sunday & Monday (Pâques &
most won’t take US$100 bills. Lundi de Pâques) Late March/April
May Day (Fête du Travail) 1 May
Tipping Victoire 1945 8 May
By law, restaurant and bar prices are ser- Ascension Thursday (Ascension) May; on
vice compris (ie they include a 15% service the 40th day after Easter
charge), so there is no need to leave a
pourboire (tip). If you were extremely Pentecost/Whit Sunday & Whit
satisfied with the service, however, you Monday (Pentecôte & Lundi de Pentecôte)
France Travel Guide OPENING HOURS
can – as many locals do – show your ap- Mid-May to mid-June; on the seventh Sunday
preciation by leaving a small ‘extra’ tip for after Easter
your waiter or waitress.
Bastille Day/National Day (Fête Nation-
ale) 14 July
WHERE/WHO CUSTOMARY TIP
Assumption Day (Assomption) 15 August
bar No tips for drinks All Saints’ Day (Toussaint) 1 November
served at bar; round Remembrance Day (L’onze Novembre) 11
to nearest euro for November
drinks served at table
Christmas (Noël) 25 December
cafe 5-10%
The following are not public holidays in
hotel porter €1-2 per bag France: Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras; the
restaurant 10% first day of Lent); Maundy (or Holy) Thurs-
day and Good Friday, just before Easter;
taxi 10-15% and Boxing Day (26 December).
Note: Good Friday and Boxing Day are
toilet attendant €0.50 public holidays in Alsace.
tour guide €1-2 per person
SAFE TRAVEL
France is generally a safe place in which to
OPENING HOURS live and travel despite crime and terrorism
Opening hours vary throughout the year. rising dramatically in the last few years.
Although property crime is a problem, it is
We list high-season opening hours, but extremely unlikely that you will be physi-
remember that longer summer hours often cally assaulted while walking down the
decrease in shoulder and low seasons.
street. Always check your government’s
Banks 9am–noon and 2pm–5pm Monday to travel advisory warnings.
Friday or Tuesday to Saturday Because of the threat of terrorism,
French police are very strict about security.
Do not leave baggage unattended, espe-
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