Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6. DANGEROUS DRIVERS
After Greece and Portugal, France has the worst road accident record in the EU.
Many French motorists drive aggressively, overtake carelessly and ignore safe brak-
ing distances on motorways. Expect the unexpected at all times.
7. HOTEL TELEPHONES
Many hotels charge very high rates for international phone calls. It is far cheaper to
call from a post office or telephone booth using a credit card or phonecard (for fur-
ther details see
Public Phones
).
8. CHEAP WINE
With the cheapest
vins de France
(local wines) costing as little as €4 for a five-litre
plastic flagon, there is a strong temptation to look no further. Many of these wines
are quite drinkable but some are guaranteed to produce a crippling hangover. For a
few euros more, France has far better wines to offer.
9. LIGHTING FIRES
The South of France has a serious forest fire problem in July and August, when un-
dergrowth and pine forests are tinder dry. High risk areas are closed from the be-
ginning of July to mid-September, and lighting camp fires anywhere in the region is
strictly forbidden.
10. HURRYING
It takes a little time to adapt to the relaxed pace of Provence, but there is little point
in rushing things. Almost everything closes for lunch between noon and 3pm. As the
Provençal proverb goes: “Slow in the mornings, and not too fast in the afternoons.”
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