Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Mont-St-Michel in summer
Right
Outdoor café tables
Things to Avoid
Motoring Offences
Police issue heavy
fines on the spot for
speeding and for other
motoring offences. The
blood-alcohol limit for
drink-driving is low: one
glass of wine or a 33 cl
bottle of beer will take
you close to the limit,
two will exceed it. Drivers
who cannot pay fines in
cash on the spot have
their vehicles impounded.
Hidden Charges
in Cafés and Bars
When paying a bill, make
sure you check if service
is included - you will
usually find that it is.
Taking your drink or
snack at the counter, if
there is one, will be
cheaper; prices are lower
and no tip is expected -
though you could leave
some small change if you
want to. If you sit at a
table, you will be charged
for the privilege.
pp12-15)
, Le Mémorial
de Caen
(see p25)
and
Cité de la Mer
(see p52)
before they open: 15
minutes waiting then
could save you much
longer queueing time
later on. Late afternoon
is also a good time to
avoid the queues.
School Parties
Normandy has
always been a very
popular destination for
both French and English
school trips, with the
Bayeux Tapestry, D-Day
beaches
(see pp28-31)
and the Mémorial de Caen
at the top of the agenda.
Though the museums are
adept at dealing with
them, the resultant noise
and high spirits can be
distracting, so term-
times are best avoided.
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
coins, a credit card or
phonecard
(see p123)
.
Over-tipping
Restaurants and
cafés normally include a
10-15 per cent service
charge on the bill, so you
should only leave a
further small gratuity if
you feel the service has
been particularly good.
Taxi drivers should get
15-20 per cent. Porters
are tipped €1.50 per bag,
and chambermaids a
similar amount per day at
the end of your stay.
August and
Weekends
Like many other
European destinations,
Normandy is at its best
in late spring and early
autumn. In August, the
seaside resorts are
packed with French
holidaymakers, and the
autoroutes
(motorways)
become very crowded -
especially during the first
and last weekends of the
month. Resorts are also
busy at weekends from
spring to autumn, packed
with Parisians escaping
the city.
Mont-St-Michel in
Summer
The crowds at Mont-St-
Michel in July and August
make it quite unbearable.
If at all possible, you
should try to visit this
unique and wonderful
site out of season
(September to April).
Tourist Traps
It used to be said
that you could never eat
badly in France; sadly, it
is becoming increasingly
common. Although they
are still in the minority,
there are more and more
places which look for a
quick profit at the expense
of the tourist, who will in
all likelihood never return.
Avoid signs proclaiming a
“Menu Touristique” -
such restaurants may be
absolutely fine but, as
ever, the best advice is
to go where the locals go.
Disappointment
at Cité de la Mer
Cherbourg's Cité de la
Mer has been such a
success that, in high
season, some visitors are
unable to tour the
submarine, which can
only accommodate a few
at a time. In July and
August, arrive early to
avoid disappointment.
Queues
Get to popular tourist
attractions such as Mont-
St-Michel
(see pp8-11)
,
Giverny
(see pp34-37)
,
the Bayeux Tapestry
(see
119
