FRANCISTRAVEL
Paris - one of the most fascinating and romantic city in the World
Paris, France is one of the most fascinating and romantic cities in Europe, and tourists visiting this wonderful city will find that things to see and do are almost limitless. Known as the 'City of Light', the beauty of Paris is overwhelming and its architectural and artistic heritage combine with undeniable appeal and world-class tourism to make any visit an unforgettable experience.
Divided into a total of 20 different numbered districts (arrondissements), Paris spirals around the River Seine and comprises almost 400 different metro stations, meaning that finding your away around really is a breeze. The most familiar arrondissements comprise the areas named Bastille, Élysée, Ile de la Cite, Louvre, Marais, Montmartre, Montparnasse, Opéra and the Latin Quarter.
If you are in the Louvre area, you may well choose to pay a visit to the city's tourist information centre, named the Office de Tourisme et de Congrès de Paris. Further official tourism outlets are to be found at Anvers, Montmartre, the Porte de Versailles and Pyramides, as well as at the train stations known as the Gare de l'Est, the Gare de Lyon and the Gare du Nord.
Visitors will find that there is a vast selection of Paris hotels available to suit every taste and budget. Paris accommodation ranges from the most luxurious hotels and large chains, to small guest houses rich in old-fashioned ambience, many of which are much cheaper than you might first expect. Les Halles is an especially popular central district with plenty of hotels, while others prefer to stay in the Bastille and Marais areas, close to the Gare Montparnasse, within the Écoles and Sorbonne areas of the Latin Quarter, or the Ile St. Louis - a large island on the River Seine itself. Despite having such a choice of hotels, it is always wise to select and book a hotel for your Paris vacation well in advance. Self-catering Paris apartments provide an affordable alternative for long- or short-term stays, rising greatly in price as you approach central attractions, with those based around the Avenue des Champs Élysées being especially desirable.
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Costs, Money, Health
Costs
Accommodation is the biggest cost: count on minimum €60 a night for a double room in a midrange hotel and €140 plus for a top-end hotel. Backpackers staying in hostels and living on cheese and baguette can survive on €60 a day; those opting for midrange hotels, restaurants and museums will spend upwards of €120.
Money
France is among the 15 member-states of the EU (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain) that have adopted the euro (abbreviated € and pronounced eu-roh in French) as its national currency. One euro is divided into 100 cents (centimes in French). There are seven euro notes in different colours and sizes; they come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. The designs on the recto (generic windows or portals) and verso (imaginary bridges, map of the EU) are exactly the same in all 15 countries and symbolise openness and cooperation.
The eight coins in circulation are in denominations of €1 and €2, then one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cents. The ‘head’ side of the coin, on which the denomination is shown, is identical throughout the euro zone; the ‘tail’ side is specific to each member-state, though euro coins can be used anywhere that accepts euros, of course. In France the €1 (silver centre with brassy ring) and €2 (brassy centre with silver ring) coins portray the tree of liberty; the 10, 20 and 50 cent coins (all brass) have la Semeuse (the Sower), a recurring theme in the history of the French franc; and the one, two and five cent coins (all copper) portray Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic.
ATMs
You’ll find an ATM, which here is known as as a DAB (distributeur automatique de billets) or point d’argent, linked to the Cirrus, Maestro, Visa or MasterCard networks, virtually on every corner. Those without a local bank account should know that there is usually a transaction surcharge of around €3 for cash withdrawals. You should contact your bank to find out how much this is before using ATMs too freely.
Insurance
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is a good idea. There is a wide variety of policies available, so check the small print. EU citizens on public-health insurance schemes should note that they’re generally covered by reciprocal arrangements in France.
You may prefer a policy which pays doctors or hospitals directly rather than you having to pay on the spot and then claim it back later. If you have to claim later make sure you keep all documentation. Ensure that your policy covers ambulances or an emergency flight home.
Paying for your airline ticket with a credit card often provides limited travel accident insurance, and you may be able to reclaim the payment if the operator doesn’t deliver. Ask your credit card company what it’s prepared to cover.
Emergency
Ambulance (SAMU; 15)
EU-wide emergency hotline (112)
Fire brigade (18)
Police (17)
Rape crisis hotline (Viols Femmes Informations; 0 800 05 95 95; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri)
SOS Helpline (01 47 23 80 80; in English 3-11pm daily)
SOS Médecins (01 47 07 77 77, 24hr house calls 0 820 33 24 24; www.sosmedecins-france.fr)
Urgences Médicales de Paris (Paris Medical Emergencies; 01 53 94 94 94; www.ump.fr, in French)
References
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/paris
http://goeurope.about.com