French
Holiday Home Rental
Euro-Rentals
specialises in European holiday home rentals, working closely with our partners
jmlvillas.com, we aim to bring you the best in European self-catering accommodation
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direct with owners. No commission. No booking fees
A
very popular holiday destination, France boasts an array of attractive towns and
cities, whilst the countryside will always impress visitors. From the romantic
north, to the sun-soaked south, there is a holiday for everyone.The
country is some 550,000 square kilometres in size so is not crowded like England,
Scotland and Wales that has a similar size population.
Traveling
to France is easy. Scores of airlines link Paris with every part of the
globe, whilst other cities with international air links include Bordeaux, Lyon,
Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
It
can be reached by sea, from England, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Sardinia, Italy
and North Africa. The French Autoroute is fantastic and internal rail and
bus links also make travel very easy. To get the best travel deals, why
not click into our
Flights Insurance & Car Hire section.
Visitor
Information
Currency:
Euro - (€)
Electricity
Voltage: European 2 prong round plug.
Telephone
Country Code: +33
Emergency
Telephone number: pan-EU Emergency 112 Can be
used in all EU Countries and it can be dialled from a locked mobile or a mobile
with no sim card.
Other
Emergency telephone numbers:
15
SAMU - Ambulance Urgencies médicales des grandes agglomerations
17
Police - Secours ou gendarmarie
18
Fire - Pompier
-incendies et urgences médicales
Driving:
Drive on the RIGHT
Population
of France in 2006:
60,656,178 Land Area: 547,030 Km2
General
Driving Tips (information supplied by Holiday
Autos)
Speed
limits :
Built-up-areas: 31mph/50kmh outside towns: 56mph/90kmh priority roads and toll-free
motorways: 68mph/110kmh toll motorways: 81mph/130kmh
Drink
and driving: Blood alcohol limit is 50mg - barely 1 unit of alcohol.
Traffic
on major roads has priority. Where two major roads cross, traffic coming from
the right has priority as warned by the sign 'danger priorité à droite'. Where
there is no sign, give way to the right.
Traffic
on a roundabout has priority and signs saying 'cedez le passage' or 'vous n'avez
pas la prioritè'. In some areas the old rule of traffic entering roundabouts having
priority applies so be cautious where there are no signs
If
a driver flashes his headlights in France, he is generally indicating that he
has priority and you should give way. This can be confusing as in the UK it usually
indicates that a car is usually indicates that a car is letting you out.
Stopping
for someone waiting at a zebra crossing is a fineable offence for holding up traffic.
The crossings indicate where is best to cross.
Do
not overtake a tram when it is stationary with passengers alighting or boarding.
Traffic
lights don't show amber after red. Flashing amber means continue with caution.
It
is compulsory for front and rear seat occupants to wear seat belts if fitted.
Carrying
hazard warning lights or a warning triangle is compulsory. It is recommended that
visitors equip their vehicle with replacement bulbs.
Speed
Cameras:
There
are more and more speed cameras in France (useful web site is
controleradar.org/) They usually have a warning sign a few metres or so before
you see the camera and it is often set on a dual carriageway in the central reservation
to capture traffic on both sides of the road. They are much nearer to ground level
than those found in Britain and Ireland. They are often located on motorways on
more dangerous sections particularly when the speed limit is reduced to 110 kmh.
Remember if you are driving a hire car your fine will be passed onto you by the
car rental company.
If
you are driving on foreign plates, don't think you are safe from prosection now.
A letter in the August/September 2007 edition of "The Riviera Reporter"
concerned someone whose son had passed an Italian radar camera that flashed
him. The fine was passed onto the French authorities to pursue via the local Prefecture.
The same writer also knew of someone who had been speeding in Switzerland and
the fine demand went overeas. According to The Riviera Reporter "Harmanisation
and intra-EU cooperation is under way and not only fines will have to be paid,
but soon points will be deducted from your licence no mater where the offence
was committed. This will include offences in the UK and any other EU country as
well as Switzerland"
To
find your ideal French Holiday Home, enter our partner site jmlvillas.com
For
information about the South of France Visit our Fact file Page
See
also Holiday Home Rental in Biot, near Antibes, Cannes Nice, South of France
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