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- Paying for medical treatment. Take a valid form E111 with you.
Travellers from the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are not eligible
for the E111. Copies are available from your local Post Office. You will
still have to pay for treatment by the French State health service, but
you can claim back up to 70% on return to the UK. Take out comprehensive
insurance to cover all eventualities.
- Check Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice before travelling.
- Motoring in France? Ask the RAC or AA for advice on special motor car
requirements. Heavy on-the-spot fines (as high as £500) can be imposed for
motoring offences. Failure to pay can result in the car being impounded.
Driving licences can also be confiscated and without a second driver you
will be unable to continue your journey by car. Don’t leave baggage,
particularly your valuables, in unattended cars. Be wary of theft when
attending to a puncture or stopping at traffic lights, and in particular
when driving cars hired in France with a ‘51’ number plate
- When undertaking a long road journey in France plan your journey to
take sufficient breaks. A minimum break of at least 15 minutes after every
two hours of driving is recommended.
- Don’t get involved with drugs. The penalties are severe, and in
addition to a stiff prison sentence any smuggling offence will also
attract a customs fine.
- Don’t let go of your luggage at French airports, railway stations and
other public places. Unattended luggage may be removed and destroyed by
security staff – notices to this effect are prominently displayed. No
compensation can be claimed for destroyed property.
- Beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers, particularly at railway
stations, on public transport and at crowded tourist sites. Report any
loss as soon as possible at the nearest police station.
- Looking for holiday work? France has unemployment problems and there
are fewer opportunities now for seasonal work, eg grape picking. Don’t
count on this to pay for your trip home.
- Remember where you are staying. Keep a note of your hotel address.
Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.
- Should you require emergency out-of-hours consular assistance (ie accident, serious illness or death), a consular officer can be reached on (1) 44 51 31 00.