Five Quick Facts About Travelling In France

1. France is a relatively safe country to travel in however do watch for pick pockets and scammers in major tourist spots and around main transport hubs. A normal sensible approach should be adapted whenever travelling.
2. France has an excellent transport system with high speed rail taking the visitor to every corner of the country. See Getting Around Tab for more information
3. English is not widely spoken across France so brush up on key phrases and download Google France translate to your smart device.
4. France is not a particularly cheap country to travel in however by travelling off -season, staying in guest houses or similar and eating in local restaurants you can easily have a cost effective French holiday.
5. Health in France is good so by exercising a normal hygiene regime, staying away from stray animals and eating well the risk to health while travelling in France is low (although always have travel insurance just in case).

France is a great place to travel to at any time of the year. Here is a guide to the different seasons and times of year.

High Season (July & August)

European summer and when most Europeans take their holidays means long lines at main attractions and busy roads. There are loads of festivals across France throughout the summer.  Book ahead for accommodation as places get booked out early. The weather is usually warm to hot with mild nights.

Shoulder Season (April to June & September / October)

Spring and Autumn see milder weather and less crowds. Spring flowers are abundant in the fields and villages and in the later months the tress are in their full Autumn colours.

Low Season (November to March)

A busy time for the ski resorts with the rest of the country being quieter with no queues or crowds. The weather is cold with both snow and rain, a great time to visit theatres and museums.

France Currency

The currency in France is the Euro which is the currency of the 24 other EU member states plus Andorra, Kosovo, Monarco, Montenegro, San Marino and the Vatican.

ATMs can be found throughout France. It is advisable to always carry a small amount of cash as no all eftpos machines accept foreign cards.

German Visa Policy

Germany is part of the Schengen Area Visa Policy.

Nationals / Citizens from Schengen States have right of movement and entry without a visa but will need a passport as proof of identity.

The policy applies to the Schengen Area which is 22 E.U member states and 4 non E.U states which are part of the EFTA – Iceland, Liechenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Romania are not part of the Schengen Area but have visa policies based on Schengen acquis.

Schengen Visa Policy Map

Schengen Area Map

Source: Wikipedia

France has an excellent internal transport system with many options to get around the country.

Plane

Cheap flights can be found linking most of the major cities in Germany.

Train

What To Pack In Germany

What to pack for France is very dependent on when you will be travelling to the country and where you will be going. Summers are warm to hot but if travelling to the mountains a jacket or coat is advisable.

Winters are cold especially in the mountains so cold-weather gear will be needed.

It’s all about layering which allows you to add or loses clothing as needed

Packing List

Clothing

1 pair jeans – I know they are heavy and take ages to dry but I wear them constantly and find them comfortable
1 pair black travel type pants – Black pants are little smarter than jeans so good if going somewhere a little dressier. Mine is the lightweight fabric in the style of jean,
2 x pair of shorts. 1 denim and one lightweight travel fabric
2 x singlets – good for layering and sleeping in
4 x short sleeve cotton shirts, lightweight and breathable
1 x long sleeve sloppy joe.
1 x zip-up shell jacket
1 x lightweight raincoat – packable version that packs down into a small bag.
5 x socks
5 x underpants
2 x bras

Shoes

1 x pair walking or hiking shoes.
1 x pair slip on flats
1 x pair flip flops (great for hostel showers)

Toiletries

Shampoo & Conditioner
Bar of Soap
Deodorant
Razor
Tweezers
Brush / Comb
Hair Ties

Electronics

1 x Earbud headphones.Light and small,
1 x IPad
1 x 6S iPhone
Charging leads for above
2 x USB
1 x power bank
1 x Cable organiser which keeps everything tidy
1 x 14” laptop – we run a business so this is essential for us.

Photography

1 x GoPro Hero 5
2 x Spare GoPro Batteries
1 x Canon DSLR + 2 lenses
Spare micro SD Cards

Other Stuff

1 x padlock
1 x headlight or torch
1 x Swiss knife
1 x medical kit
Ziplock bags