France :

We advise that you bring travellers cheques.

Credit cards are accepted everywhere but often American Express may be refused.

Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays in large towns, but quite often Sundays and Mondays in more rural areas.

Shops are open in general from 0830 –1200 and 1400 – 19.00 Monday to Saturday. They are often closed on Monday mornings or all day in some cases.

Supermarkets are open on usually from Monday to Saturday but not in the evenings or Sundays.

If you are doing a big shop to stock the boat before the cruise, it is usually a good idea to get a taxi back to the base if you do not have a car with you. Many supermarkets will deliver free of charge if you purchase a certain sum. Ask at the departure base which supermarkets offer this service.

Everything is closed on a Sunday apart from service stations, the boulangerie (bakery) and tabac (tobacconists) in the morning only.

State run museums and monuments are often closed on Tuesdays. Privately run museums and monuments are probably closed on Mondays.
 

Restaurants and Eating out :

The French are French. Need we say more. Eat out as often as you can!

A Bistro or cafe will offer you sandwiches and snacks but nothing substantial. Some have a fixed « Menu Du Jour » for lunch.

A restaurant will have a full menu and besides all the choice will for lunch and occasionally for the evening have a «Menu Du jour » This is typically French and is always good value for money as it will be at least a starter and main course and normally includes cheese and desert as well. However you cannot choose between different meals as it is a set menu.

Don't forget that entrée is French for starter and not a main course.

Restaurants tend to not accept orders before 1900 hours or after 2200hrs. It is also difficult to eat outside of 12.00 to 13.30 at lunch time.
 

Phoning home :

French telephone boxes do not accept change. You need a telephone card. It is a good idea to buy one as soon as you arrive in the country at the airport or train station. They can be bought from newspaper stands and Tabac’s it will cost about 10 euros.

You could bring your mobile phone with you and coverage is very good. Mains power is however 220V so you will need a different charger if you have a 110V one at home. For UK and European users this is not a problem. Boats run off 12 Volts, but when you moor up in a port you can plug into 220 volts  and then charge up your telephone. Most of the rental boats have a razor socket producing 220V which should be sufficient to charge the battery.

To dial abroad, dial 00 then the country code and then the number. If the number starts with a 0 do not dial this zero. i.e. a number in London of 0161 242 1212 is dialed as 00441612421212.

Lap tops

The same problem applies as with the telephones. Boats run off 12 volts therefore you cannot plug into the boat and recharge only when you are moored in a port and have access to 220 volts. You can usually borrow a phone socket somewhere and use a phone line for internet access. Most of the major foreign ISPs have an internation roaming service with local numbers.

Hairdryers

Some boats supply them, please inquire. Otherwise there are only 12 volt sockets on board unless you are plugged into 220volts supply which you can do when you are in a port.

Don’t Forget :

Prescription drugs: if you forget you will have to pass first via a GP (physician)
Sun Cream
Sun glasses
Anti Mosquito cream
Waterproof rain gear
Camera
Gloves (gardening gloves are good to work the ropes with)
Good non slip deck shoes

If you forget, don't worry as everything is available everywhere.
 

Health and Medical Care

France has an extremely efficient and proficient medical care system. There are plenty of doctors and hospital waiting times are very short.

There is a vast system of GP's everywhere and specialists of every kind. You can always get an an appointment and it costs about 25 euros to visit a GP.

If you need prescription drugs then you will pay them when picking them up at a pharmacy.

If you need hospitalisation then normally you will have to pay when leaving the hospital but rates are very reasonable.