Page 201 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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call Sapeurs Pompiers (the fire You will be asked to tap in your making long-distance calls
department), which offers a first- PIN code (code confidentiel) on a from hotels.
aid and ambulance service. This small keypad. La Poste (the Post Office)
is particularly true in rural areas. You can also use credit cards used to be called the P.T.T.
Casualty departments (ser vice in most banks to withdraw cash; (postes, télégraphes, téléphones),
des urgences) in public hospitals either from an ATM (automatic and some road signs still give
can deal with most medical teller machine), which should directions to the P.T.T. The
problems. Your consulate have an English-language postal service in France is
should be able to provide you option, or from a cash desk. Most fast and reliable. However, it
with details of an English- banks will cash traveler’s checks. is not cheap, especially when
speaking doctor in the area. Opening hours are usually Mon– sending a parcel abroad.
Pharmacists can also suggest Fri, 9am–4:30 or 5:15pm, with At La Poste, postage stamps
treatments for many health some banks also open on (timbres) are sold singly or in
problems. Look for the green- Saturday morning. Many close carnets of seven or ten. They
cross sign outside pharmacies. for lunch, and many, especially in are also sold at tabacs, although
the south, are closed on Monday. you need to go to the post office
You can also exchange money for inter national stamps. At
Banking and Currency
at bureaux de change offices, post offices, you can also use
The French unit of currency which operate longer hours telephone directories (annuaires),
is the euro (see p23). than banks. Exchange rates and buy phonecards, cash or buy
Most credit cards are widely commission charges can vary. money orders (mandats), and
accepted in France, but, make international calls.
because of the high com- Post offices usually open from
missions charged, American Communications 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, often with
Express is often not. The most Payphones in France are being a break for lunch, and 9am–
commonly used credit card is phased out, and they will likely noon on Saturdays. Mail boxes
Carte Bleue/Visa. Eurocard/ be removed completely within are yellow, and often have
MasterCard (Access in UK) is also the next few years. Those that separate slots for the town you
often accepted. Credit cards still remain take mainly plastic are in, the département, and
issued in France contain a telephone cards (télécartes)– other destinations (autres
microchip and are called “smart available from tobacconists destinations).
cards,” but some machines can (tabacs) and newsagents – Although the Internet is widely
also read cards with magnetic and credit cards. For local calls, used in France, Internet cafés
strips. If you find your a unit lasts up to six minutes. have not proved to be successful.
conventional card cannot be Some post offices have tele- However, there are usually a few
read in the smart-card slot, get phone booths (cabines) where in the major cities and resorts.
the cashier to swipe the card you can call first and pay after- In Paris, there are free Wi-Fi
through the magnetic reader. wards. This is cheaper than spots in many metro stations.
DIRECTORY
Embassies Tourist UK Emergency
Information Lincoln House, Numbers
Australia 300 High Holborn,
4 Rue Jean Rey, 75015 Paris Convention & London WC1V 7JH. Ambulance (SAMU)
Paris. Tel 01-40 59 33 00. Visitors Bureau Tel 020-7061 6600. Tel 15 or 18 (Sapeurs
∑ france.embassy. US Pompiers).
gov.au Headquarters 825 Third Ave,
25–27 Rue des Pyramides, Fire (Sapeurs
Canada New York, NY 10022. Pompiers)
35 Ave Montaigne, 75008 75001 Paris. Tel 212-838 7800. Tel 18 or 112.
Paris. Tel 01-44 43 29 00. Tel 01495-24263.
∑ canadainter ∑ en.parisinfo.com Facilities for the Police and
national.gc.ca/france Australia Disabled Gendarmerie
UK French Tourist Bureau, Association des Tel 17.
Consulate: 18 bis Rue Level 22, 25 Bligh Street, Paralysés de France
d’Anjou, 75008 Paris. Sydney, NSW 2000. 17 Bld August Blanqui, Banking
Tel 01-44 51 31 00. ∑ 75013 Paris.
amb-grandebretagne.fr Tel 612-9321 5244. Tel 01-45 89 40 57. American Express
Canada ∑ apf.asso.fr 11 Rue Scribe,
US 1800 Ave McGill College, 75009 Paris.
2 Ave Gabriel, 75008 Paris. GIHP Tel 01-47 77 70 00.
Tel 01-43 12 22 22. Suite 1010, Montréal, 61 fbg Poissonnière,
∑ france.usembassy. Québec H3A 3J6. 75009 Paris. Travelex
gov Tel 288-2026. Tel 01-43 95 66 36. Tel 0800 908 330.

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