Testimonials
"It was a great experience that
I've recommended to friends and would love to do again."
- Jeff C.
"We had a wonderful time and the
choices that we were given with Discover France with regard
to accommodations and tours were the best! We enjoyed every
minute of our trip and felt that we were staying in the best
places and had the best tours available. I would definitely
recommend Discover France without hesitation to anyone who
wanted to visit this magnificent country!!"
- Heather H.
"I wanted to thank you for the
planning that you did for our recent trip to France. It was
a wonderful trip, one of the best we had ever taken. All of
your arrangements were great, and the French were especially
warm and welcoming under current political/economic circumstances."
- Tim S.
"Just wanted to tell you
everything was great. The hotels were wonderful. Nicole was
very helpful, informative and flexible. Thanks for everything.
I hope we get to use your company again."
- Marty N
Paris Region Info
General Info | Passport Information | Geography | Phones | FoodGENERAL INFORMATION
France is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T. +1). This makes it six hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (E.S.T. +6, and +9 PST).
PASSPORTS & DOCUMENTATION
You only need a valid passport as a U.S. citizen to travel to France. You are required to carry identification with you at all times when traveling in France. If you lose your passport, contact the American Consulate in Paris: 2, rue St. Florentin 75001 Paris, telephone: 01.42.96.12.02, or 01.42.61.80.75. For Canadians: Consular Section, 35 Avenue de Montaigne, Paris; Tel: 01.44.43.32.00. For other country residents, ask your government for information before departure. It is strongly recommended that you make two photocopies of your passport and other important documentation. Leave one copy at home with family or friends, and keep another with you but separate from the actual documents. Never give your passport to anyone except verified police officers/customs officers.Valid passport required by all, except: (a) 1. EU nationals holding valid national identification cards; (b) holders of national identification cards issued to nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland. Passports must be valid 3 months beyond length of stay.
GEOGRAPHY
The Paris Ile-de-France Region is made up of 8 departements, including Paris, Val d'Oise, Yvelines, Essonne, Seine-et-Marne, Hauts de Seine, Val de Marne, and Seine St Denis. It is the leading French region out of a total of 22. With a historical and intellectual heritage that is one of the most prestigious in the world - Château de Versailles, Grand Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Bibliotheque de France (France's National Library), etc., and three natural parks, the Capital Region asserts itself as the leading world tourist destination, with 36 million visitors every year. With its 2,000 historic monuments and 200 museums, its wonders range from princely homes to medieval chateaux or impressionist locations. In addition to these legacies from the past, the Paris Ile-de- France Region also has a wealth of modern sites, from the La Défense district to the Centre Beaubourg, from the Cathédrale d'Evry, the most recently built cathedral in France (1991), to the new Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, where the Football World Cup final was held in 1998. (CRT Ile-de-France).Telephones
Public phones in France require a telephone card which can be purchased at any Tabac or post office (La Poste). They come in different denominations or units (unites). A call to America is dialed 00 plus 1 then the area code and number. To reach an English speaking operator in the U.S. dial 19, wait for the tone, then 0011 for AT&T, or 0019 for MCI, or 0087 for Sprint. La Poste is open 9-6 daily and 8-noon on Saturday. They can handle money orders, and other financial transactions, as well as faxes. Its a sure place to find a telephone. Stamps can be purchased here but are more conveniently found at Tabacs.Emergency telephone numbers throughout France:
24 hour ambulance: 15
Police: 17
Fire: 18
Other telephone numbers in Paris:
24 hour doctor: 01.47.07.77.77
24 hour dentist: 01.43.37.51.00
English language crisis line: 01.47.23.80.80
American Hospital and Pharmacy
63 blvd. Victor Hugo 1, rue Auber
92202 Neuilly 75009 Paris
01.46.41.25.25 Tel: 01.42.60.72.96
What good "stuff' can you eat?
Ile-de-France is a land of gastronomy. Braised duck with Montmorency (Val d'Oise) cherries, roast Houdan chicken, Essonne cress deliciously spiced with Meaux mustard (Seine-et-Marne), rose confiture from Provins, or Melun brie (Essonne)- there's no shortage of culinary specialties in Ile-de-France (although after all the same could be said o every region of France). But the most remarkable phenomenon lies in Ile-de-France's unique capacity of concentrating all of the country's gastronomic traditions- the influence of the capital, no doubt. One thing is sure: savoring a deliciously garlicky bouillabaisse, a choucroute overflowing with sausages or crepes with a rich note of caramel that only the Bretons have the secret to.here, everything is possible. "Paris is where the provinces meet", explained Marcel Pagnol. (CRT Ile-de-France)