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france:
general info
· travel advisories
· getting there
· getting around
when to go
· fast facts
· history
· maps
· culture
· itinerary
· hostels
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· things to do
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Air
The national airlines are Air France (AF) and Air Inter (IT). For free advice on air travel from the UK call the Air Travel Advisory Bureau in the UK on (0171) 636 5000 (London) or (0161) 832 2000 (Manchester).
Approximate flight times
From London to Paris is 1 hour 5 minutes; to Nice and Marseilles is 2 hours.
From Los Angeles to Paris is 15 hours 5 minutes; from New York is 8 hours (3 hours 45 minutes by Concorde);
from Singapore is 15 hours 5 minutes; and from Sydney is 25 hours 5 minutes.
International airports
Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) (Web site: http://www.paris.org.Accueil/Airport) is 23km (14.5 miles) northeast of the city (journey time – 30 minutes). It is also known as Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. There is a coach to the city every 15 minutes. Buses and trains run to Paris Gare du Nord or Châtelet every 15-20 minutes. There are also taxis to the city. Airport facilities include a bank post office duty-free shops restaurants shops and tourist information.
Paris-Orly (ORY) (Web site: http://www.paris.org.Accueil/Airport) is 14km (9 miles) south of the city. Coaches and buses run to the city every 12 minutes (travel time – 25 minutes) from outside Orly Ouest. Taxis are available. RER/SNCF Orly-Rail trains run every 15 minutes (travel time – 30 minutes).
Bordeaux (Merignac) (BOD) is 12km (7 miles) west of the city. There are coaches buses and taxis to the city.
Lille (Lesquin) (LIL) is 12km (7 miles) southeast of the city. Coaches and taxis are available to the city.
Lyons (Lyons/Satolas) (LYS) is 25km (15.5 miles) east of the city. Coaches or taxis are available to the city.
Marseilles (Marseille-Marignane) (MRS) is 30km (19 miles) northwest of the city. Coach service only departs to the city.
Nice (Nice-Côte d'Azur) (NCE) is 6km (4 miles) west of the city. Buses depart every 20 minutes. Taxis to the city are available.
Toulouse (Blagnac) (TLS) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city. Coaches to the city depart every 20 minutes. Taxis are available to the city.
Facilities at the airports listed above include bank/bureau de change duty-free shops and restaurant/bar.
There are also small airports with some international flights at Biarritz Caen Deauville (St Gatien) Le Havre Montpellier Morlaix Nantes Rennes and Quimper.
Sea
The following companies run regular cross-channel ferries: Brittany Ferries (tel: 0990 360 360 (UK) or (08) 03 82 88 28 (France); Web site: http://www. brittany-ferries.com) from Plymouth to Roscoff and from Portsmouth to St Malo; Condor Jersey from Jersey to St Malo; Condor Hydrofoil from Jersey Guernsey Sark and Alderney to St Malo; Hoverspeed from Dover to Calais and Folkstone to Boulogne with train and coach to Paris; Sally Line from Ramsgate to Dunkirk; Stena Line from Dover to Calais Southampton to Cherbourg and Newhaven to Dieppe; and P&O from Dover to Calais and Portsmouth to Cherbourg and Le Havre. These companies offer a variety of promotional fares and inclusive holidays for short breaks and shopping trips.
Passenger and roll-on/roll-off ferry links to and from North Africa and Sardinia are provided by the Société Nationale Maritime Corse-Mediterranée (SNCM) (see Travel – Internal section).
Rail
For cross-channel services see Direct rail links below. International trains and through coaches run from the channel ports and Paris to destinations throughout Europe. For up-to-date routes and timetables contact French Railways (SNCF) tel: (1) 08 36 35 35 35 or in the UK Rail Europe tel: (0990) 848 848. There is also a special bargain-price ticket combining air and rail travel. Flights depart from one of 16 airports in the UK and Ireland to Paris and then go on to a choice of 3000 destinations in France by train. Further information on these tickets can be obtained through Air France or French Railways (SNCF).
The Channel Tunnel
All road vehicles are carried through the tunnel in Le Shuttle trains running between the two terminals one near
Folkestone in Kent with direct access from the M20 and one just outside Calais with links to the A16/A26 motorway (Exit 13). Each
shuttle is made up of 12 single- and 12 double-deck carriages and vehicles are directed to single-deck or double-deck carriages
depending on their height. All vehicles from motorcycles to campers can be accommodated. Passengers generally travel with their vehicles.
Heavy goods vehicles are carried on special wagons with a separate passenger coach for the drivers. Terminals and shuttles are well-equipped
for disabled passengers. Passenger Terminal buildings contain duty-free shops restaurants bureaux de change and other amenities.
The journey takes about 35 minutes from platform to platform and about one hour from motorway to motorway. Shuttles run every 75 minutes
24 hours per day and three to four trains run each hour at peak times. Services run every day of the year. By contacting Eurotunnel
Customer Information in Coquelle (tel: (3) 21 00 61 00; fax: (3) 21 00 60 01) as they approach the French terminal motorists can find
out when the next shuttle leaves and how busy the service is.
Motorists pass through customs and immigration before they board with no
further checks on arrival. Fares are charged according to length of stay and time of year. The price remains constant throughout the
day and applies to the car regardless of the number of passengers or size of the car. Off-peak fares are: Day Return: if booked one day
in advance £35 Mon to Sat £32 Sunday; 5-Day Return: £110; Standard Return: £170. Lower rates apply to motorcycles.
There are also many promotional deals available especially outside the peak holiday seasons.
Tickets may be purchased in advance from
travel agents or from Eurotunnel Customer Services in France or the UK with a credit card. For further information contact Eurotunnel
Customer Services in the UK on (0990) 353 535 (automated telephone line for ordering brochures bookings general information and all-inclusive
holidays).
DirectRail Links
Eurostar is a service provided by the railways of Belgium the UK and France operating direct high-speed trains from
London (Waterloo International) to Paris (Gare du Nord) and to Brussels (Midi). It takes 3 hours from
Paris to London. When the high-speed rail link from London through Kent to the tunnel is operational
the travel time between the two capitals will be reduced to two and a half hours. It takes 2 hours 40 minutes from London to Brussels.
A direct service to Lille (travel time – 2 hours 10 minutes) runs once daily from Waterloo.
Services including overnight sleeper trains will also run from major regional centres. Access to the entire British railway network will be provided bringing many British
business centres within a comfortable day's journey. Plans also envisage the use of London's St Pancras station by Eurostar trains
travelling north of London and also as a second London terminus. The Eurostar trains are equipped with standard-class and first-class
seating buffet bar and telephones and are staffed by multi-lingual highly trained personnel.
Pricing is competitive with the airlines
and seats range from Premium First and Business to Standard. Children aged between 4-11 years benefit from
a special fare in first class as well as in standard class. Children under 4 years old travel free but cannot be guaranteed a seat.
Wheelchair users and blind passengers together with one companion get a special fare. For more information contact Eurostar Enquiries
Eurostar House Waterloo Station London SE1 8SE. Tel: (0171) 922 6180. Telephone reservations may be made by travel agents on
(01233) 617 599 and by members of the public on (0345) 303 030. For information on special fares for groups of at least ten people
telephone (0870) 600 0777 or fax (0171) 902 2355. Other enquiries in the UK should be made to Rail Europe. Tel: (0990) 848 848.
All enquiries in France should be made to SNCF in Paris. Tel: (1) 08 36 35 35 35.
Road
There are numerous and excellent road links with all neighboring countries. The following companies run regular
coach services to France from the UK: Eurolines and Hoverspeed. See above for
Car ferry information. See Travel – Internal section for information concerning
Documentation
and Traffic regulations
none.
Information here (unless otherwise specified) are licenced
under a Creative
Commons Licence.
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