Paris, France

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Need To Know

Need To Know

Dialing French Phone Numbers: This is how French phone numbers usually look on a business card or website: 33 (0) 1.11.11.11. France’s Country Code is 33. If you’re dialing into France from another country, you do not dial the 0. If you’re in France, the 0 is the first number you dial.

Traveler's Checks: Do not bring Traveler’s checks in American dollars. They can be a big problem. It’s so easy to get cash from ATMs, I recommend using them. If you plan to bring traveler’s checks, arrange to get them in Euros—at least for France—but know that many stores don’t accept them.

Guidebooks: I’m a sucker for guidebooks, and I like to research the places I’m visiting. But I don’t want to carry heavy books around when I’m tromping around if I have an alternative. The compact guidebook I use here is the slim Virgin Guide & Map of Paris. When we arrived, I carried it everywhere. It slipped into my pocket or purse and had everything I needed—concise bits of information that filled me in. I’m a fan of the whole Virgin city series. Book stores should carry them.

Language CDs: A British friend told us about the Michel Thomas language CDs. The set of eight CDs in French (and other languages) put out by McGraw-Hill is excellent. Monsieur Thomas teaches you to think in French and speak in sentences. You can find or order them in book stores.

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Copyright © 2005 James Morgan & Beth Arnold. All rights reserved