France – A Parisian Getaway

If visiting during the summer months, clothing made of lightweight materials is recommended. Travelling to the mountainous part of the country will require waterproof gear, while winter months will naturally require warmer clothing.

France is known for its fashion and even casual clothing can be considered somewhat dressy by North American standards.

France Visa Information
All foreign nationals entering France are required to possess a valid international travel document in the
form of a national Passport. It is required that Passports have a validity of at least six months beyond the
intended date of departure from France. Maximum stay is 90 days in any 180 day period.

A passport is the only reliable and universally accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to your country. You are strongly advised to always carry a valid passport when travelling to any foreign destination. Crossing international borders can be complicated and sometimes requires many different kinds of documents. Being prepared is the key to easing your way through this process, so make sure you know what documents you need, where to get them, and which ones will make your crossing quick and easy.

Remember to:

Carry a passport for all trips outside your country.
Be sure that your passport is still valid.
Check that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond your date of entry.
Scan a copy of your passport and email it to yourself or carry it a separate location
Leave a copy with a trusted friend or relative who is not travelling with you.
Keep your passport safe while travelling.
Do not leave it unattended in your luggage, vehicle, hotel or elsewhere.
Carry it in your money belt, inside coat pocket or purse, or lock it in your hotel safe.

As a result of the size of France, it is not surprising that it has different climatic regions. In western France, an oceanic climate exists that enjoys the most modest of annual temperature variations. The average rainfall for this part of the country is spread over many rainy days.

Central and eastern France is characterized by a continental climate that means it has both cold winters and hot summers. Southeastern France has a Mediterranean climate that has warm summers and sunshine for most of the year. Finally, elevations above 600-800 m have higher rainfalls as well as snow several months of the year.

Paris
Spring
There is no doubt this is a pleasant time for travel to Paris. It is not too crowded and accommodation prices are not high season. May is the driest month generally. The weather in Paris is temperate and everything is in full bloom. The crowds are not too bad although, the city is now popular all-year-round.

Summer
This is a very busy time and accommodation prices are higher. It is also the time when Parisians rush to get out of the city on their own vacations. Some restaurants close down but not enough to cause problems. It is also the time of lengthy daylight in the evenings.

Fall
Good weather but it is the time especially in October when the city caters to exhibitions, conventions, and trade shows etc. which can cause accommodation prices to be high.

Winter
The weather can be gloomy and wet but there are fewer crowds and accommodation prices are somewhat better. If visiting museums and art galleries are on the agenda, then this is the perfect time to be in Paris.

The French Riviera
Generally, the Mediterranean has reasonable weather year-round. It has mild winters with some rain. The western part is colder than the eastern, especially in winter, because it is subject to a cold wind called The Mistral. The summer is hot and dry but with breezes to temper the heat. Spring and fall are the wettest times but no great quantities. Between May and August, hotels and restaurants are generally quite crowded. Two busy times on trips to France are during the Cannes Film Festival in mid-May and the Grand Prix motor race in Monte Carlo in late May. In February, Nice celebrates Carnival.

The French Alps
Generally speaking, most ski resorts open at the end of November and close mid to late April. The later you go, the greater the risk that the snow conditions could deteriorate but the weather will be warmer. The best month to go skiing is in January if you want fewer crowds and better accommodation prices. In the late spring through to the fall, the best time to visit the French Alps for hiking is between July and September when the weather is sunny and predictable.

Credit Cards: All major credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, Master Card and Diners Club
Currency: Franc, Euro
Departure Tax: Included in the price of your ticket.
Drives on the: Right
Electricity: 230 V
Ethnic Groups:
100% French (France does not require Ethnic background reporting in their census)