Traveler's checks
Traveler’s checks in French currency are a widely accepted form of payment, as are credit cards. Checks in foreign currency must be exchanged at banks.(Australian currency traveler’s checks are especially difficult to exchange). Shops and hotels are prohibited, by law, from accepting foreign currency.

Money
France’s basic monetary unit is the franc (F), which is divided into 100 centimes. Notes are available in denominations of F10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500, coins in denominations of F1, 2, 5, and 10 and 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes. Currency can be exchanged in many places, but banks and bureaux de change generally offer better rates than hotels and shops.

Tipping
Service charges are added to the bills in hotels and restaurants, but an additional tip is customary and varies according to the type of establishment. In nice restaurants, for example, 10 % percent of the bill is usual, whereas in a less expensive place the amount should be 8 to 10 percent, and in cafιs, small change is sufficient. Other service providers such as hotel porters (F10 per bag), hotel housekeepers (F10 per day), washroom attendants (about F5) hairdressers (about F10) and cinema ushers (about F5) expect tips. Taxi drivers are generally tipped F2 or 3. Airport and railroad porters charge a fixed fee, but an additional F5 is customary.

Customs
For goods purchased tax–paid in another EU country, the duty-free limits are as follows: 300 cigarettes or 75 cigars or 400 grams of tobacco; 5 liters of table wine; and 1.5 liters of alcohol over 44 proof ( most spirits or hard liquor) or 3 liters of alcohol under 44 proof (sparkling or fortified wine) or an additional 3 liters of table wine; and 90 milliliters of perfume; and 375 milliliters of toilet water; and additional goods up to a value of F2,400. For goods purchased in a non–EU country or duty–free in another EU country, the limits are similar to those described above, but a bit smaller.

If you are traveling with expensive photographic or computer equipment or other goods, you must be able to prove that they are personal belongings and that they will be re–exported when you leave. A receipt indicating the date of purchase is helpful in this regard.

Communications
The international telephone access code for France is 33. The city code for Paris is 01. (Omit the 0 if calling from abroad).

To place an outgoing international call from France, dial 00 plus the relevant country code and number. For directory assistance, dial 12; to reach the international operator, dial 19.

Time Zone
France is one hour ahead of Greenwich mean time (GMT), or one hour ahead of London, 6 hours ahead of New York and Montrιal, 4 hours ahead of Sγo Paulo, 2 hours behind Moscow, and 7 hours behind Hong Kong. France observes daylight saving time from late March to late September, during which time it is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

Opening Hours
Banks are generally open 9 a.m to 4 p.m Monday to Friday. Some banks, especially in smaller towns, close from noon to 2 p.m.

Department stores are generally open from 9:30 a.m to 6:30 p.m, Monday to Saturday. Smaller shops may close at midday for lunch. Many food stores are open on Sunday mornings only, and close for all or part of the day on Monday. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are open until 9 or 10 p.m , Monday through Saturday. With the exception of some food shops, as noted above, most shops are closed on Sunday.

Passports and Visas
Countries requiring passports and visas are Australian and New Zealand, Japanese, U.S, and Canadian citizens: A valid passport only is required by New Zealand citizens for stays of up to three months; Australian citizens require both a valid passport and visa for stays of up to three months.

EU citizens: Either a valid national identity card or a is required for entry.

Others: No visa is required by citizens of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Switzerland, provided they have a passport valid for at least 5 years or a valid national identity card. Nationals of countries not listed in the categories above should check with the nearest French embassy or consulate for specific passport and visa requirements.