INTRODUCTION - France 2014 - page 26

Photography: Ifthemuseum'sphotopolicyisn'tclearly posted,askaguard.Gener-
ally, taking photos without a flash or tripod is allowed. Some sights ban photos altogether.
Temporary Exhibits: Museums may have special exhibits in addition to their per-
manent collection. Some exhibits are included in the entry price; others come at an extra
cost (which you may have to pay even if you don't want to see the exhibit).
Expect Changes : Artwork can be on tour, on loan, out sick, or shifted at the whim
of the curator. To adapt, pick up a floor plan as you enter, and ask the museum staff if you
can't find a particular item. Say the title or artist's name, or point to the photograph in this
book, and ask for its location by saying, “Où est?” (oo ay).
Audioguides: Many sights rent audioguides, which generally offer useful recorded
descriptions in English (about €6, sometimes included with admission). If you bring your
ownearbuds,youcanenjoybettersoundandavoidholdingthedevicetoyourear.Tosave
money,bringaY-jackandshareoneaudioguidewithyourtravelpartner.Increasingly,mu-
seums are offering apps (often free) that you can download to your mobile device. I've
produced free downloadable audio tours of some of the major sights in Paris; see here .
Services: Important sights may have an on-site café or cafeteria (usually a handy
place to rejuvenate during a long visit). The WCs at sights are free and generally clean.
Before Leaving: At the gift shop, scan the postcard rack or thumb through a guide-
book to be sure that you haven't overlooked something that you'd like to see.
Every sight or museum offers more than what is covered in this topic. Use the in-
formation in this topic as an introduction—not the final word.
Sleeping
Good-value accommodations in France generally are easy to find. Choose from one- to
five-star hotels (two and three stars are my mainstays), bed-and-breakfasts ( chambres
d'hôtes, usuallycheaperthanhotels),hostels,campgrounds,andevenhomes( gîtes, rented
by the week).
I favor hotels and restaurants that are handy to your sightseeing activities. Rather
than list hotels scattered throughout a city, I describe two or three favorite neighborhoods
andrecommendthebestaccommodationsvaluesineach,fromdormbedstofancydoubles
with all of the comforts.
A major feature of this topic is its extensive and opinionated list of good-value
rooms. I like places that are clean, central, relatively quiet at night, reasonably priced,
friendly,smallenoughtohaveahands-onownerandstablestaff,andrunwitharespectfor
French traditions. (In France, for me, five out of these seven criteria mean it's a keeper.)