Page 16 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

14 BACK ROADS FRANCE

Communications the Internet café is becoming a thing
All French telephone numbers have of the past in France.
10 digits. The first two indicate the The French postal system is called
region: 01 for Paris and the Île-de- La Poste, and you will see this name
France; 02 for the northwest; 03, the on a distinctive yellow background
northeast; 04, the southeast and outside post offices and on post
Corsica; and 05, the southwest. A 06 boxes. All international mail is sent
number indicates a mobile phone. by air, so sending parcels home can
Most mobile phones from be costly. Stamps (timbres) are sold
European or Mediterranean countries at La Poste and at tabacs. Allow up
function normally in France. US cell to two days for delivery of a letter
phones need to be at least “triple within France, and up to five days for Above Sign advertising a regional newspaper
band” to work in France. Coverage by international delivery. in Mittelbergheim, Alsace
the three main networks is good, and
improving all the time. Making and Money and Banks any bank that has the Visa sign.
receiving calls while “roaming” (not in France is one of the European Banking hours vary greatly, and ATMs
your phone’s home country) can be nations using the Euro (€). You may may run out of notes at peak times.
very expensive, but users do not pay bring any amount of cash into France, The most commonly accepted credit
to receive a text message. but anything over €7,500 must be cards are MasterCard/Eurocard and
In rural areas, where mobile declared on arrival and departure. Visa/Carte Bleu. Many busi nesses do
reception can be weak or even non- Traveller’s cheques are the safest way not accept American Express credit
existent, there will always be a pay- to carry money; American Express cards. Cards issued in France are
phone (cabine téléphonique). Many cheques are accepted. Cash Passports, “chip-and-PIN”. Most retailers have
accept credit cards (with a PIN), prepaid currency cards that are loaded machines designed to read both a
otherwise, you will need to buy a before travelling and can be used in chip and a magnetic strip. You will be
phone card (télécarte). Very few pay- shops and ATMs abroad, are also asked to key in your PIN code and
phones take coins. Sold in tobaccon- gaining popularity. They are available press the green key on the keypad. If
ists (tabacs), post offices and some from Thomas Cook, Travelex and the micro chip cannot be read, have
newsagents, phone cards are avail- various banks. However, credit or the card swiped through the mag-
able in 50 or 120 units and are simple debit cards, which can be used to netic reader (bande magnétique).
to use. For local calls, a unit lasts up withdraw local cur rency, are most
to 6 minutes. convenient. Bureaux de change are Tourist Information
The Internet is readily accessible located at airports, large stations, and All major French cities and large
everywhere in France, with broad- in some hotels and shops, but banks towns have offices de tourisme.
band (called ADSL) now widely usually offer the best rates. Small towns and even villages have
available. Many tourist offices and Most banks have an ATM (automatic syndicats d’initiative. Both can provide
some libraries provide Internet teller machine) open 24 hours a day, town plans, advice on accommoda-
access for a small fee. In-room Wi-Fi which accepts credit cards in the tion, and information on regional
(wee-fee) access is often complimen- Visa/Carte Bleu or Mastercard groups recreational and cultural activities.
tary in hotels that cater to business and debit cards (Switch, Maestro, In small rural villages, the town hall
travellers, and free hot spots can Cirrus) enabling you to withdraw often provides local information.
increasingly be found in cafés and money in local currency from your Before you leave for France, you
bars aimed at the younger market, own bank account. If there is no ATM, can get information from French
and in branches of a well-known you can withdraw up to €300 per Government Tourist Offices, called
international burger chain. With Wi-Fi, day on Visa at the foreign counter of Maisons de la France.