Alshaab Eg

Posts Tagged ‘country’

Nice, bad or ugly, everyone has his own opinion about France and the French: chic, smart, sexy, rude, bureaucratic, bitchy as hell, pavements studded with dog poo, baguettes that dry out before lunchtime and a habit of torching cars is some of the talk on the street. Spice up the cauldron with the regular urban riots, political scandal and a 35-hour working week - not to forget The Da Vinci Code, a massive box-office hit taking over Paris as well as superstar Angelina Jolie allegedly plumping for a chateau in Normandy to raise her kids - and the international press is all ears too.

This is, after all, that fabled land of good food and wine, of royal chateaux and perfectly restored farmhouses, of landmarks known the world over and hidden landscapes few really know. Savour art and romance in the shining capital on the River Seine. See glorious pasts blaze forth at Versailles. Travel south for Roman civilisation and the sparkling blue Med; indulge your jet-set fantasies in balmy Nice and St-Tropez. Ski the Alps. Sense the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic invaders. Smell ignominy on the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme. And know that this is but the tip of that gargantuan iceberg the French call culture.

Yes, this is that timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir- faire - and have for centuries. But change is afoot. France and the French are fed up - and inspired. It’s on the tip of everyone’s tongues. The best way to see what is going on is to travel. Some practical information for your planning.

Money Cash: You always get a better exchange rate in-country, though its a good idea to arrive with enough local currency to take a taxi to a hotel if you have to. Carry as little cash as possible while traveling around.

Charges offered for Money Exchange fluctuate, so it pays to compare. Banks charge roughly 3.40 to 5.30 to cash travelers cheques (eg BNP Paribas charges 1.5%, with a minimum charge of 4Euro).Moneychangers business banks regularly charge a rigid 3 % to 5% comission per foreign-currency operation (eg BNP Paribas charges 3.3% or a minimum of about 4 Euro).

In general, post offices in Paris can offer the best exchange rates and accept banknotes in various currencies as well as American Express and Visa travelers cheques. The expenses for travelers cheques is 1.5% (minimum about 4 Euro). Exchange bureau (bureaux de change) are quicker and easier, open longer hours and provide better rates than most banks.

Familiarize yourself with rates offered by the post office and compare them with those at exchange bureaux. On small transactions, even exchange places with less-than-optimal rates may leave you with more euros in your pocket.

Travelers cheques: The most flexible travelers cheques are those issued by AmEx (in US dollars or Euros) and Visa (in Euros) because they can be presented at many post offices as well as banks and exchange bureaux. Keep in Mind that you will not be able to pay most shops with travelers cheques directly. AmEx offices dont charge commission on their own travelers cheques. For lost travelers cheques call AmEx (0 800 908 600) and Thomas Cook (0 800 908 330) for new ones.