How to use your cell phone in Paris

"Can someone please explain to me in as simple terms as possible what I need to do with my cell phone before I leave for Paris and what I need to do when I get there?" 

Great question - You're clear across the ocean, many miles from home. Your're going to want to have the ability to stay in touch with family and friends. One of the things you have to contend with when going to Paris is how to use your cell phone.

I usually get the international service from my provider (I do this on all my trips). The cost is about $5. Of course you will still have to pay for roaming but at least your access the internet and then look for a free WiFi spot.

but...

According to  Secrets of Paris Newsletter #127, May 2013  if you've ever wondered about how to get SIM cards for your mobile phones to avoid the exorbitant roaming fees while traveling in France, here's an option; One SIM Card is a US-based company worth checking out before you leave home. If you’re already in France or don’t want to be using your own phone, La Poste offers pre-paid SIM cards from €5 as well as pay-as-you-go mobile phones from €34. 

making vacation rental reservations in paris

Today's video from my favorite travel company - NY Habitat - discusses how far in advance you should make reservations for vacation rentals. This is not just for Paris but will help you with reservations for other areas as well.
Some good info. Take a listen



Paris: Available apartments for rent  through NY Habitat

the french face higher prices in 2012

French people will pay more for some food items, including sodas, as well as books and museum visits. Bills for restaurants, hotels and in-house services, such as house cleaning and repairs, will also be more expensive in 2012.

Basic food items, such as water, non-alcoholic beverages, fruits and vegetables will continue to be taxed at 5.5% in France. Hard alcohol and other food products that are not considered basic necessities will be taxed at 7% in an effort to plug the country's budget deficit.

Read the story

becoming french just got a little harder

France’s interior minister has made it clear that immigrants who refuse to “assimilate” into French society should be denied French citizenship.

France will be making it harder for foreigners to seek French citizenship as of January. Critics say the new requirements, which include tough language tests and allegiance to “French values”, are an electoral ploy that panders to the far right.

Read the rest of the story

paris ATMs

When we were in Paris in April, I found myself in an emergency situation where I had to locate an ATM and withdraw money to pay a doctor. I was pretty nervous. Once I found the one I wanted to use, it wasn't as hard as I thought, however I didn't really know the basics of how to use it. I just sort of guessed at which button to hit.

So that you don't find yourself in the same situation, here are some tips for using their ATMs.


1. Make sure the card you are using has a 4 digit all numeric pin. You will not find any letters on the French ATMs. And no pin longer than 4 digits.

2. Most ATMs cap you at 300 euros. BNP may allow lager withdrawals (that is the one I used).

3. ATMs buttons:
VALIDATE = ENTER
CORRIGER = CORRECT (go back/ erase)
ANNULER = CANCEL

4. The French banks you will see most often with ATMs are
BNP Parabis
Societe Generale
CIC
LCL

5. Look for the Plus, Star, Cirrus to avoid extra fees

and off you go, money in hand!

french language made easy

Need a French refresher?

Here's a couple of helpful short videos 

parlez vous franglish?

Franglish is an English/French language exchange event taking place every week in some of the best venues across Paris, the best way to learn French.

Over 30 people attend each event and it's a good mix of ages, and your French doesn't have to be perfect. A lot of people come who speak very little French.

Franglish is a mixer followed by a series of 14 minute 1-to-1 conversations (7 in French, 7 in English) that give you the chance to practice your conversation skills with multiple French/English speakers. But Franglish doesn?t just stop there. Ask around ? you?ll find that many people find their friends at Franglish. It?s a great place to meet not just locals, but people from all over the world.

Find out why! Come to our next event.

Sign up at http://www.franglish.eu

Sundays at L'Autre Café, 62 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris, 6:00pm-8:00pm. (Parmentier metro station)

Tuesdays at the Lizard Lounge, 18 rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004 Paris, 7:00pm-9:00pm. (Parmentier metro station)

Thursdays at the Kitty O'Sheas, 10 rue des Capucines, 75002 Paris, 7:00pm-9:00pm. (Opéra metro station)

NEW: The French/Spanish language exchange event, every week from September!

And Franglish also exists in NICE (French Riviera).

Contact info@franglish.eu or 07 60 47 30 20


Source: Franglish


Anything else you want to know? Here's a great website for resources: AngloInfo

paris cracking down on short term rentals - Update

PARIS — Paris, one of the world's most-visited cities, is cracking down on short-term apartment rentals, dealing a blow to tourists looking for a bargain and entrepreneurial landlords hoping to recoup soaring property costs.

The allure of living in a Paris pied-à-terre for a week or month, and paying much less than for a hotel room, has created strong demand for short-term lodging, but its growing popularity has raised the ire of hotels and residential property owners.

Story: Renting houseboats, flats makes it easy to live like locals

"Residents complain about the noise, about the comings and goings, about the entrance of their building being turned into a hotel lobby," said Christian Nicol, head of the city's housing department.

Yet fighting the trend will be a challenge given many foreign owners rent out apartments as a full-time business.

Source Reuters: read the story

les chiens de paris

The Dogs Of Paris

Parisians own about 200,000 dogs. What I discovered is that dogs in Paris are an integral part of the fiber of daily life. They accompany their owners to restaurants, up-scale hair salons, the Metro, and absolutely everywhere in the streets.

It’s said that dogs often look like their owners. Well, we know that Parisian women have long held the title of "queens of fashion and style" and their furry canine companions don't fall too far behind. Sometimes they're on leash, and if tired, they may be carried in their owner's arms or put in a baby buggy. But more often than not, they're free-wheeling through the streets, leashless, impeccably behaved, and always in the company of their owners. 

The thought of dogs going leashless, especially in a big city, is totally foreign to the way we Americans live with our dogs. We feel it is pretty much a social obligation to make sure our dogs are "under control,"-- a physical, externally imposed control. In Paris, on the other hand, dogs are much more under control than in the U.S., but it seems to be a control that is internalized within the dog, who has been so extensively socialized that the dog is not in need of a constraining leash. My 2 Yorkies certainly would not fit into this category.

Dogs meeting in the street in Paris don't snarl, snap, or even bark. They interact in a casually friendly fashion, or they may just ignore each other. It's as if the dogs are being allowed to achieve their full, "dogly potential".

Dogs are a regular part of the restaurant scene too. I have seen this for myself. If they belong to a customer, they lie quietly under the table or in their owner's lap until the ever-so-long meal is over. If there's an extra chair, no one minds if the dog sits at the table. Everyone admires him, and he is openly offered tidbits. No one, as far as could be found, has ever even become ill in Paris due to this terrible infraction of public health. If the dog belongs to the owner of the restaurant, he usually has a world-weary air and ignores most everyone.

Dogs are accepted just about everywhere in France. And where they're not accepted, this is announced as often as not with the phraseology: "We are very sorry that our friends the dogs are not allowed for...(particular reasons stated). Even where "not allowed," Parisians--who are insouciant about expressed rules but absolutely respectful of unexpressed rules--will typically take their dogs in anyway. And because social interaction and relationship is so important to French commerce, the owner of the establishment is not about to ask the customer to leave his friend outside (unwritten rule). What are rules made for, anyway, if not to be broken?

Source: Information was compiled from various websites.

You might also like to read: Bringing your pets to Paris

how to tip in france

Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But when the check comes you might ask yourself the question: should I tip, and how much?

Well, I was pleased to learn that the check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

Of course, a small extra-tip will be well received. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter's pocket. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice "Thank You" is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

So, in Paris you can spend your time leisurely sitting at the sidewalk cafe people watching for as long as you'd like. No rush and no tip!

Easy breezy!

How did you find the tipping situation when you were in France?

Repost from I'm Just Sayin 5/21/10

Wanna get away? possible tax haven in annecy france

News is spreading fast about President Sarkozy's new Tax overhaul in France. The new tax reform law will increase the limit of the wealth tax from €800,000 to €1.3 million, thereby making France a new option as a tax haven for the rich. This is creating aggressive interest among luxury real estate developers who are targeting wealthy expatriates and foreign investors.

One such developer, MGM French Properties, is already building new luxury apartments in Annecy, (a little known historic Old World villa at the foothills of the French Alps).

MGM's current project is nearing completion. The project (La Reserve) boasts an enviable address and is set in a prestigious residential area (dubbed "the Champs Elysees of Annecy).

All the apartments, which have panoramic lake views, come with under-floor heating and an underground private garage. A communal pool is also available to owners.

Prices of the apartments start at €459,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

They have two others projects planned.

Even if you don't plan to purchase property, Annecy is a beautiful place to visit.

Take a tour of Annecy

apartment hunting in paris - saint-germain-des-pres part 3/3

hope these videos have been helpful. happy hunting!

stuck at the paris airport?check out the patio lounge

In April, when we last departed Paris, my friend was dropped off at Charles de Gaulle airport several hours before her flight was to leave. With so much time on her hands, she had nothing else to do but sit and read a book and sit and sit some more.

Has this ever happened to you? What can you do when you have time on your hands at the airport or a short layover?

I just heard about the airport lounges available if you’re travelling through Orly or CDG (Charles de Gaulle Airport). If you are stuck at CDG  consider booking into the comfortable airport lounge called The Patio. There you can hang out and relax for about €30. They have free WiFi, computer terminals, television, international newspapers, free beverages and snacks. The CDG  Air France lounge even offers breakfast and showers!

and....You’re always close to screens showing flight information.

Lounges are open 7am-9pm.  Try to reserve in advance on the Aeroports de Paris website. You can also buy a one-time pass to the Red Carpet Club (at CDG only), which is open 8am-midnight. You can purchase passes in advance online for US$39 or at the door for US$50.

new french tax on foreigners - UPDATE!!

This is from the Parler Reader newsletter which I receive from Adrian Leeds

Dear Parler Paris Reader 

I was very happy to be informed by one of our readers of an article in the Huffington Post from this past week (as reported by Bloomberg News) about the opposition to the Capital Controls Act. The headline: "While Prosecutors Nail Banks Over Offshore Tax Abuses, Lobbyists Push To Delay New IRS Rules."

This comes after the seminar we held this past May when U.S. attorney Joel Nagel and Belize bank president Peter Zipper spoke about the Act that had been voted on in March of 2010 as part of the HIRE Act that could seriously affect overseas investors and residents. The Act requires receiving banks to withhold 30% of transfers of over $50,000 from U.S. bank sources until proven that the money has complied with U.S. taxation as of January 1, 2013.

We all know that the goal is to reduce tax evasion and save the U.S. government $100 billion of lost revenues, but lobbyists are giving the decision to begin the enforcement of the law a run for its money. Thanks to the opposition, the IRS is delaying the reporting rule to January 1, 2014, as bank officials warn that the requirement "would turn U.S. citizens into 'pariahs.'"

We've already seen evidence of this here in France now that BNP Paribas is no longer giving mortgages to U.S. citizens. We fear this to be a result of the new inflated costs to manage a U.S. customer, and luckily other lenders have not yet given up on us. The article goes on to say that the longer it gets delayed, the more likely it is to weaken.

When you're living outside the U.S., life takes on a different perspective. It's easy for those who haven't left U.S. soil to point their fingers at those of us living here as "traitors," not simply as "expats" or "expatriates."

What comes to mind is that old expression: "Love it or leave it." Some people have even asked me if I've given up my U.S. citizenship -- as if I might want to or would have to. Little do they know that most Americans are pretty proud of their national roots and duel citizenship is very much accepted.

"According to the U.S. Department of State, there was a substantial rise in the number of American-born expatriates since 1990, from about 1.5 million to 4.5 million in 2005, to eventually grow to about 6 to 8 million by 2009. Most of the expatriates are retired and live on social security benefits, others are employed in international business, and some have strong unfavorable political views on American government." (Wikipedia.org)

So why is that? Does this mean that many leave for a higher standard of living on a meager social security income? Or that there's a real advantage to doing business internationally? Or that they just wanted more social benefits than the Bush (or other) administration wasn't willing to give (like healthcare, quality education, job security, etc.)?

Here in France, there are certainly many expats who fit these descriptions, but there are so many other reasons for being 'here' rather than 'there'...most of which have nothing to do with what's right or wrong with 'there.'

From the expats I have come to know over the years, and even for myself, it wasn't about 'leaving' the good ol' U.S. of A. -- it was about 'coming' to something new, different and discovering a broader lifestyle. For so many of us, it was just the lure and addiction to Paris. So, there's no reason to want to denounce our American heritage and even more reason to hold onto it.

While we celebrated France's Revolution on July 14th, we also celebrated our own independence from Great Britain on July 4th, 1776. With it we celebrated our own personal independence from where we choose to live...and that should include our right to choose where we house our assets -- our properties, our money and even our friends. Most importantly, we should have the right to freedom of thought.

It is to that, freedom of thought, I celebrate most.

To read the article in it's entirety, click here.

Adrian Leeds

Editor, Parler Paris

click here to sign up for Adrian's newsletter 

apartment hunting in paris - saint-germain-des-pres - part 2/3

Come back by for part 3

Same Sex Marriage in France - Le Mariage Gay Wedding Blessing Video

Same-sex marriage cannot legally be performed in France, though some foreign same-sex marriages are recognized and the PACS, which confers some of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage, is available to same-sex couples.

Same-sex marriage was an issue in the 2007 presidential election, with the Conservative UMP opposing it and the Socialist Party supporting it, though both candidates support PACS. 

On June 14, 2011, the National Assembly of France voted 293-222 against legalizing same-sex marriage. Deputies of the majority party Union for a Popular Movement voted mostly against the measure, while deputies of the Socialist Party mostly voted in favor. Members of the Socialist Party stated that legalization of same-sex marriage would become a priority should they gain a majority in the French legislative election, 2012.

apartment hunting in paris - saint-germain-des-pres - part t1/3

Here is part one of New York Habitat's informative video about living in Saint-Germain-des-Pres. This  just happens to be my favorite part of Paris! I would absolutely love to find the perfect little apartment there.

Looks like New York Habitat has more interesting videos featuring various areas of the city. I will post then here from time to time. Be sure to stop back by to find your favorite part of Paris!

For now, check out my favorite arrondissement 

Click here for New York Habitat's link to apartments in Paris

how to rent a paris apartment - conclusion

The market for renting apartments and houses in Paris is complex, extremely competitive and often frustrating.

You'll find that most of the rentals are contracted for a term of three years. French landlords are extra careful to make sure the rent is paid.   The rental agreement basically protects the tenant from changes in ownership or the owner’s own desire to re-occupy the property within the contract time. The agreement is called a bail, which is renewable at the end of the contract. The three-year contract is known as un bail de trois ans. Be careful if the owner offers you a bail of less than three years.

Apartments and houses are described by the total number of rooms (or pièces), minus the kitchen and bathroom. Most rental apartments are between two and four rooms. These listings would read: deux-pièces and quatre-pièces. Make sure to inquire about the apartment’s exact square meters (mètres carrés), as the number of rooms listed can often be misleading. Also often no kitchen appliances are included and sometimes no cabinets as well.

There are complicated rules and regulations regarding eviction (the majority of the regulations will be in your favor as the tenant). The tenant’s stay cannot be terminated unless the tenant chooses to leave in which case you will be able to get out of the lease with 3 months notice (or one month in certain circumstances) The landlord cannot evict you during the winter months and there is a very complicated eviction procedure that includes your right to appeal.

Don't be surprised if you find yourself drowning in a sea  of paperwork!

What you need to rent:

• Bring pay slips from at least the previous three months--a monthly income of at least three times the month’s rent is required; it can be as much as four.
• Proof of employment
• For the self-employed: provide the previous year’s tax payments
• A letter from one or two people who will guarantee the sum of the rent if you fail to pay it. These persons will also have to show a pay-slip demonstrating a monthly income that’s three times the monthly rent.
• Proof of identity, a residence permit (perhaps a passport)
• Proof of your current address in the form of a telephone or electricity bill. It’s highly unlikely that this will work if you’ve just moved to France—you probably won’t have bill of this sort. In this case you may be saved if you can provide a bank guarantee.
• Proof of a home insurance policy
• A check to the owner, which will likely be for two or three times the rent--basically a security deposit, known as un chèque de caution. You’ll receive the exact amount of this sum at the end of your stay, providing there is no damage done to the property--so make sure to document any imperfections that are present on your arrival. Fill out an état des lieu, a document that both the tenant and the owner sign. It is an evaluation of the property in its condition upon the new tenant’s arrival. Bring your camera!

Where to go for help:

some suggestions from the France Expat Forum:

For an anglophone, the best source to start looking for a Paris rental is the FUSAC site FUSAC - Petites annonces pour anglophones de Paris
FUSAC is a free want-ad magazine that is available at most expat hangouts in and around Paris.

www.parisattitude.com

Enlist the aid of a French speaking friend. Leases and most other legalities in France have to be in French by law, and translations are expensive.

The paper carries both agency ads and individual ads - check the "small ads" section of the website for those that may avoid the agency fee. 

bringing your pets to paris

Passports for pets

You may bring up to 3 dogs or cats - but only one puppy or kitten from 3-6 months old - into France. Larger animals, such as horses, are subject to special regulations. There may be no quarantine but the required documents are:

1)Rabies vaccination certificate (dating between one month and one year)

2)Medical certificate (in English and French) of good health, from a nationally licensed veterinarian of your home country, dated no more than five days before entry to France.

Regulations vary from country to country and are subject to change. For exact details on regulations for bringing pets you should contact your French Embassy.

Dogs in the City

The signs stating ‘J’aime mon quartier, je remasse’ are more than a suggestion that you should clear up after your dog. If you get caught not doing your duty, you can be fined about 150 euros. Some arrondissments provide plastic bags.

useful websites:

www.veterinaire.com

www.chien.com

www.animal-services.com

www.wanimo.com

based on information from Lost in France

paris job hunting tips

Here's some very good information I located on one of my favorite sites, expatica.com. Expatica is a site for english speaking expatriates or anyone interested in living or moving to their country of choice.

Looking for work in France? Expatica France covers everything you need to know about expat employment in your new country of residence, from work permits and European employment and immigration regulations to job applications and local labour law. They even have a checklist to make sure you're on the right track for employment.

Detailed articles such as A guide to job-hunting in France and Finding work in Paris take you through the rules regarding expat employment, including work permits, who does or doesn’t need one, whether partners can work or not, information about a special European employment programme for highly skilled migrants, expatriate work for students, conditions applied to entrepreneurs and working holiday schemes for expats from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Teaching English as a foreign language - (this is what I've heard that many, many people moving to France end up doing to make a living)

Teaching English, which for some working expats is a way of making ends meet when they first arrive abroad, can turn into a full-time occupation. Read articles A passport to expat life and English pensioners in France offer immersion classes at home to be inspired. (these are interesting accounts of income meeting inspiration)