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
Book
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
See
Cannes Film Festival
See
Historic Monaco Grand Prix - Grand Prix de Monaco Historique
