Summer Vacation 2022 in France
France
General Information
- Capital: Paris
- Political System: Semi‑presidential Constitutional Republic
- State member of the European Union and the Schengen Area
- Population: 66.9 million
- Official language: French
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Time Zone: UTC + 1, Summer Time: UTC + 2
- France is one hour behind Romania
- Phone Prefix: +33, Internet Domain: .fr
Natural Setting
France is one of the European countries which offers a very varied relief, from the impressive mountain areas of the Alps to the extravagant Riviera.
The lavender fields near the Abatiei Sénanque, in Province, will forever remain in your memory, and in the Camargue National Park, located in the region’s south-west area, you will find an untamed scenery, with hundreds of birds and white horses running free. With a little luck, here you will see rare flamingo birds.
If you are passionate about expeditions, skiing or just want to explore one of the most popular mountain regions of Europe, you must get to the Mont Blanc (4810m), in the Alps, Chamonix being the most popular resort here.
Also known as the “Grand Canyon of France”, Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Keys) offer you impressive landscapes. If you’ll follow the river with the same name, you will discover one of the most beautiful lakes in all of Europe, Sainte-Croix.
Good to know
Although wandering around the city aimlessly eating baguettes is just as acceptable as hustling to check everything off your bucket list, if you do insist on seeing, doing, and eating everything the tourist books say you must, make sure you're smart about it.
We recommend you do the touristy things, but learn to prioritize. Don’t try to do everything.
These four basic words will suffice: "bonjour" (hello), "au revoir" (goodbye), "s’il vous plait" (please), and "merci" (thank you). Immediately speak English with a French person and they will pretend to not speak English. Speak French with a French person, they will switch into English. It’s just how it works.
Tips
Don’t go to the top of the Eiffel Tower:
Similar to the Empire State Building in NYC, going to the top of the tower is overpriced and not as worth it as you think it will be. See the city from up high from the top of the Tour Montparnasse and actually have the Eiffel Tower in your view, or head to Montmartre for a sweeping, totally-free skyline.
Have an authentic breakfast on a terrace
You could brunch but really, a cafe (one shot of espresso) and a pain au chocolat or a croissant is all that’s necessary. If you want milk in your coffee order “un creme” -- it’s basically a latte.
Eye contact
People will make it with you. A lot. And hold it an uncomfortably long time. Do it right back. Also, don’t hug, but try “ Faire la bise” instead! An air kiss on each cheek is a standard greeting for both men and women.
