Preliminaries & formalities: before you travel to France
- ID: to travel to France, passengers from other European countries must be in possession of a valid ID card. For countries outside the European Union, and EU countries like the UK where there are no ID cards, a valid passport is required. For many countries outside Europe, a visa is required. For further details consult this official French foreign ministry website in English.
- Reaching France by car: if you plan to travel by car from the UK on a busy weekend, pre-booking your Channel crossing (Tunnel or Ferry) is essential; but at other times, you can normally just turn up and buy a ticket. But before making any booking, check out these tips and warnings about "cheap" travel offers.
- Reaching France by air: there are a large number of regional airports in France, with flights from the UK and other countries. You can find a list of appropriate regional airports on the regional directory pages of the Gitelink France directory.
- Currency: France uses the Euro. The easiest way to get holiday money (and often the cheapest) is to withdraw euros from an ATM (hole in the wall, cash dispenser) as soon as you reach France, or even in the departure area at a major UK airport. Most French ATMs accept foreign cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, etc).
- Booking directly; gites, small hotels, campsites. If you need to make a deposit for accommodation, some premises will accept credit cards or Paypal; but for those that do not, it is usually possible to make an "IBAN" transfer, which is quite simple and not expensive. Ask your bank for details.
- Health: visitors are strongly advised to make sure that they have health insurance cover before travelling to France or any other foreign country. For France, UK visitors should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has replaced the old E 111 form; see this UK Department of Health webpage for further details.
- Accommodation: there are hundreds of internet sites offering direct booking for hotels, but beware of sites supposedly offering the "cheapest deals". Check out a few sites before you book. For holiday cottages,visit the directory of holiday cottages, or select a regional link from the column on the left. For Bed and Breakfast, visit the Gitelink / BandB-in-France.com website, or go directly to a regional page with the B&B by region links on the left. The Gitelink directories offer a choice of holiday cottages and B&Bs with either British, Dutch or French owners.
- Driving in France: Technically, if you have UK registered car, you do not need a green card to travel to Europe, just your UK car insurance certificate. Your insurer should be able to provide you at no cost with a "European accident statement form", which should be used in the event of an accident. However, it may well be that your standard UK insurance only provides you with third-party cover once outside the UK; in this case, if you want full comprehensive cover, you will need to get the extra cover from your UK insurer for the time you plan to stay abroad. Consult your insurance company on this matter, or the AA. Click here for more useful tips and information about driving in France
- Mobile phones in France : if you are planning on remaining accessible via your UK mobile phone while abroad, make sure that your phone is able to connect to French networks for both incoming and outgoing calls. NB It is illegal (as well, of course, as dangerous) to use a mobile phone while driving a car or vehicle in France.
GITE and B&B OWNERS:
List your gite or B&B with the Gitelink directory for as little as £25 a year. With half a million page views per year, mostly sent through by Google, and from people looking for holiday accommodation in France, Gitelink represents a very cost effective way of advertising your property. Click here to send an email for further information |
Holiday travel insurance: it is always advisable to be insured when you travel. Many people have existing policies, or even credit cards, that include travel insurance, but it is always a good idea to check. Make sure that you have accident and emergency cover, including civil third party liability cover (for humans, as well as your car). |
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