Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

Practical Information 15

Above left Tourist Information office in Hautvillers Above middle Post office in Espelette Above right Sign for a tourist office
Opening Hours animal will have to comply with the DIRECTORY
Most sights are open 10am–noon terms of the Pet Passport scheme.
and 2–5pm, with one late evening However, it is down to the individual
COMMUNICATIONS
per week. Most are closed on public airline or ferry company to decide
International directory enquiries
holidays and on either Monday or whether or not your dog can
11 87 00
Tuesday. There is usually an admis- accompany you onto the passenger
Reverse charge calls
sion charge, which may be lowered deck or into the cabin, so be sure to
30 06
or waived on Sundays or for conces- check before you book. On the
sion card holders (students and Channel Tunnel, your dog will travel To call France from abroad
UK and US: 00 33; Australia: 00 11 33;
those over 60 years of age). in your vehicle with you.
omit the first 0 of the French number
Shops (even some supermarkets)
usually close for at least two hours at Time To call home from France
Dial 00 then the country code; omit the
lunchtime, although department France uses Central European Time
first 0 of the number being called
stores and hypermarkets remain (CET), which is one hour ahead of
open all day. In the south, the lunch Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Country codes
Australia: 61; Ireland: 353; New
break may be longer but shops tend Summer (Daylight Saving) Time Zealand: 64; UK: 44; US and Canada: 1
to stay open later. Virtually every thing comes into effect from 2am on the
is closed on Sunday afternoon; bakers, last Sunday of March, and ceases at MONEY AND BANKS
newsagents and some super markets 2am on the last Sunday in October. American Express
are often open on Sunday morning. The French use the 24-hour clock. 08 00 83 28 20 (card and cheques)
MasterCard
Disabled Facilities Electricity 08 00 90 13 87
While most museums and larger The voltage in France is 220 volts. Thomas Cook
sites, as well as restaurants, now pro- Plugs have two round pins, or three www.thomascook.com
vide at least partial wheelchair access, round pins for appliances that need
Travelex
the very nature of some historic to be earthed. Some hotels offer www.travelex.com
buildings implies inaccessibility. The built-in adaptors for shavers only and
Visa/Carte Bleu
number of hotels with adapted rooms many now offer hairdryers. 08 00 90 11 79
is increasing steadily. More informa-
tion can be found on the website of Below far left Banque de France in Bastia, MAISONS DE LA FRANCE
the GIHP. For information on driving Corsica Below left Tourist office in Grimaud, Australia
Level 13, 25 Bligh Street, 2000 NSW,
in France, see p19. If you are travelling Provence Below middle Old church clock Below
Sydney; (2) 9231 5244;
to France from the UK with an right Bright-yellow French post-box Below far http://au.franceguide.com
assistance dog or guide dog, the right Sign for an Internet café
United Kingdom
Lincoln House, 330 High Holborn,
London WC1V 7JH; 09068 244 123;
http://uk.franceguide.com
United States
825 3rd Ave, 29th Floor (entrance on
50th St), New York, NY 10022; (514) 288
1904; http://us.franceguide.com
DISABLED FACILITIES
GIHP
www.gihpnational.org
Pet Passport
www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/
travel