TRAVELLING TO FRANCE
VISA REQUIREMENTS to ENTER FRANCE
A valid passport is required of all U.S. citizens and foreign nationals entering France.
Most visitors will not need a visa for a tourist stay. For more detailed information, we advise you to contact the nearest French Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
HEALTH REGULATIONS
Congress participants are advised to contact the French Embassy or Consulates in their own countries to obtain information about health regulations and entry requirements, as these are subject to any agreements that the French Government may have with other countries.
CERTIFICATE of ATTENDANCE
Conference delegates are invited to print their own Certificate of Attendance during the Conference, on site at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, using the terminals provided for the purpose.
INSURANCE
The Congress organisers will accept no liability either for personal injuries, or for loss of or damage to any personal belongings. Participants are therefore strongly advised to take out personal insurance before they leave their home country.
TRAVEL DISCOUNTS
PRACTICAL DETAILS
CURRENCY
The monetary unit in France is the Euro. Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged in banks, hotels and bureaux de change. Most shops will accept all major credit cards.
CLIMATE and CLOTHING
The weather in Paris during November and December is rather fresh with temperatures ranging from 7º and 12º C. It is recommended that you bring warm clothing and protection against the rain.
ELECTRICITY
Standard electrical current in France is 220 V. Two-pin plugs are widely used in France (or occasionally round three-pin plugs). You are strongly advised to bring an adapter for all your personal electrical equipment.
ABOUT PARIS
POPULATION
Paris, the capital of France, is divided into 20 districts or "arrondissements", which cover an area of 105 sq km (41 sq mi) At the heart of a constantly increasing conglomeration, it has a population of 2.15 million in the city and 10.5 million in the Île de France (the suburban area around Paris).
As a cosmopolitan city with a long historical past, it is open to Europe and to the world – and has a tradition of hospitality and warm welcome for foreigners!
GASTRONOMY
French cuisine is known the world-over, and Paris is of course one of the best places to discover it. Paris offers a wide choice of restaurants and bars, ranging from "brasseries" to little "bistrots", where you can enjoy a little chat with the regulars, trendy cafés, wine-bars, soup-bars, tea-rooms and much, much more. You can even travel the world in one day by enjoying a Chinese meal for lunch, a Moroccan mint-tea in the afternoon and an Italian pizza for dinner.
SHOPPING
Shopping in Paris is also a magical experience: you can indulge in world-famous haute couture or second-hand clothes, the finest lingerie or ready-to-wear clothes; visit departments stores on the Grands Boulevards or little stores on the left Bank; admire magnificent antiques or browse through second-hand shops; buy gems from the Place Vendôme or any kind of costume jewellery – be it for shoes, bags, hats, perfumes, accessories, or designers' articles, Paris is the capital of your longings.
Opening hours are usually from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. The department stores are also usually open late one evening a week (ask for information).
And don't forget to go for a walk through the mythical Parisian markets, on the rue de Bucci or the rue Mouffetard and have a drink in a street café to experience the special liveliness of these places.
For more information please visit –
 the French Tourist Office website: http://www.francetourism.com
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