France
French business behavior emphasizes courtesy, and a certain formality. Appointment schedules and hierarchical titles are to be respected and correspondence, whether by mail or by fax, should be acknowledged promptly. Shaking hands upon greeting and parting is customary. An aggressive handshake is considered impolite. The French handshake is a light grip and a single, quick shake. Professional attire is expected. Generally, the French take great care to dress fashionably, whether they are wearing formal or casual attire, and they feel more at ease with visitors who show the same degree of attention to appearance.
Today, many French executives put less emphasis on long, heavy business lunches for reasons of health and time. Nevertheless, informal business discussions in restaurants where everyone appreciates a good meal are one of the best ways to promote good working relations. Etiquette is important. Both hands remain above the table at all times. A man may rest his wrists, and a woman her forearms, on the table edge. If you do not want your wineglass refilled, leave a little in the bottom.
The working days abutting the French holidays and vacation periods are not "prime time" for business meetings; this could include the month of August and the several vacation periods between Christmas and Easter. Business hours in France are generally 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (banking hours 9:00-4:30) Monday through Friday while stores are generally open 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. To ensure availability, advance appointments are recommended.
While French is the official language in France, many business people speak English. Product literature, correspondence and negotiations in the French language provide a distinct advantage over competitors who use only English. It should be noted that other EU suppliers are accustomed to dealing in the French language.
The American "OK" sign (rounded index finger touching tip of the thumb) means "zero" to the French. The French gesture for "OK" is the "thumbs up" sign. Slapping the open palm over a closed fist is vulgar and should be avoided. Sitting with legs spread apart is impolite. The French are careful about their personal habits, being discreet when sneezing, blowing the nose, etc. They avoid using personal items, such as combs and toothpicks, in public.
Crime
France has a relatively low rate of violent crime. Crimes involving larceny are, however, common. Pickpocketing, theft of unattended baggage and theft from rental cars or vehicles with non-local license plates are daily occurrences. Criminals frequent tourist attractions such as museums, monuments, restaurants, hotels, beaches, trains, train stations, airports and subways. Visitors should be particularly alert to pickpockets in train stations and subways. In general, travelers should carry limited cash and credit cards, leaving extra cash, credit cards, passports and personal documents at home or in a hotel safe.
Particular areas of concern include:
Paris
- Gangs of thieves operate on the rail link from Charles de Gaulle Airport to downtown Paris by preying on jet-lagged, luggage-burdened tourists. Often one thief distracts the tourist with a question about directions while an accomplice takes a momentarily unguarded backpack, briefcase, or purse. Thieves also often time their thefts to coincide with train stops so that they may quickly exit the car.
- The Number One Subway line, which runs by many major tourist attractions (The Grand Arch at La Defense, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Concorde, Louvre, Bastille), is the site of many thefts.
- Many thefts occur at the major department stores (Galleries Lafeyette, Printemps, Samarataine) where tourists often leave wallets, passports, and credit cards on cashier counters during transactions.
- However, crimes involving ATMs (automated teller machines) are increasing. Do not use ATMs in isolated, unlit areas or where loiterers are present. Be especially aware of persons standing close enough to see the PIN (Personal Identification Number) being entered into the machine. Thieves often conduct successful scams by simply observing the PIN as it is entered and then stealing the card from the user in some other location. If the card becomes stuck, immediately report it to the bank where the machine is located.
Large criminal operations in Paris involve the use of ATM machines that “eat” the user’s ATM card. This most often happens during a weekend or at night when the bank is closed. The frustrated traveler often walks away after unsuccessfully trying to retrieve the card, with plans to return the first day the bank is open. In such cases, a criminal gang has modified the machine using an add-on device equipped with a microchip that records the user’s PIN number when it is typed in and also prevents the card from being ejected. The criminal retrieves the card from the device once the visitor departs, downloads the recorded PIN number and then goes to other ATMs and withdraws as much cash as possible. Carry a 24-hour emergency number for any ATM card and bank account, for the immediate prevention of withdrawals from the account if difficulties occur.
Southern France
-Thefts from cars stopped at red lights are commonly reported, particularly in the Nice-Antibes-Cannes area, and in Montpelier and Marseille. The thief is usually a passenger on a motorcycle. Similar incidents have also occurred at tollbooths. Drivers should conceal from view purse, luggage, bags, and other items that may attract thieves. Car doors should be locked at all times during travel and windows closed or left only slightly ajar.
- Thieves often target vehicles with foreign or CD (Diplomatic Corps) license plates, or rental cars, which are easily identified as such by a license plate number ending in "51." Rental car companies are in the process of phasing out these license plates but this may take some time.
- Purse snatching by motorcycle riders is also common in the area. Over the shoulder bags should be avoided when out walking.
Accommodations are readily available in France. Major and international chains have properties in major cities.
Full telephone IDD is available. The country code 33 and the outgoing international code is 19. Card-only telephones are now common, the pre-paid cards being purchased from post offices or Tabacs. International calls are cheaper between 2230-0800 Monday to Friday, and from 1400 Saturday to 0800 Monday. Calls can be received from all phone boxes showing the sign of a blue bell. Fax services are widely available; many hotels have facilities. Post Offices are opened between 0800-1900 Monday to Friday; 0800-1200 Saturday.
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin plugs are widely used; adaptors recommended.
E
With the exception of China, France has a more varied and developed cuisine than any other country. The simple, delicious cooking for which France is famous is found in the old-fashioned bistro and restaurant. There are two distinct styles of eating in France. One is, of course, ‘gastronomy’ (haute cuisine), widely known and honored as a cult with rituals, rules and taboos. It is rarely practiced in daily life, partly because of the cost and the time which must be devoted to it. The other is family-style cooking, often just as delicious as its celebrated counterpart.
Things to know: Almost all restaurants
offer two types of meal: à la carte (extensive choice for each course and more expensive) and le menu (a set meal at a fixed price with dishes selected from the full à la carte menu). At simple restaurants, the same cutlery will be used for all courses. The bill (l’addition) will not be presented until it is asked for, even if clients sit and talk for half an hour after they have finished eating. Many restaurants close for a month during the summer, and one day a week throughout the rest of the year. It is always wise to check that a restaurant is open, particularly on Sunday. Generally speaking, mealtimes in France are strictly observed. Lunch is served from 1200 to 1330, dinner usually from 2000-2130, but the larger the city, the later the dining hour. National specialties:
• Ratatouille niçoise (stew of courgettes, tomatoes and aubergines, braised with garlic in olive oil).
• In the north of France (Nord/Pas de Calais and Picardy), fish and shellfish are the star features in menus – oysters, moules (mussels), coques (cockles) and crevettes (shrimps) are extremely popular.
• In Picardy, duck pâtés and ficelle picarde (ham and mushroom pancake) are popular.
• Alsace and Lorraine are the lands of choucroute (sauerkraut) and kugelhof (a special cake), quiche lorraine and tarte flambée (onion tart).
• Spicy and distinctive sauces are the hallmark of Breton food, and shellfish is a specialty of the region, particularly homard à l’armoricaine (lobster with cream sauce). Brittany is also famous for producing some of the finest butter in the world.
• Lyon, the main city of the Rhône Valley, is the heartland of French cuisine, though the food is often more rich than elaborate. A specialty of this area is quenelles de brochet (pounded pike formed into sausage shapes and usually served with a rich crayfish sauce).
• Aquitaine cuisine (in the south-west of France) is based on goosefat. A reference to ‘Périgord’ will indicate a dish containing truffles.
• In the Pyrénées, especially around Toulouse, visitors will find salmon and cassoulet, a hearty dish with beans and preserved meat.
• Some of the better known cheeses are camembert, brie, roquefort, reblochon and blue cheeses from Auvergne and Bresse.
• Desserts include: soufflé grand-marnier; oeufs à la neige (meringues floating on custard); mille feuilles (layers of flaky pastry and custard cream); Paris-Brest (a large puff-pastry with hazelnut cream); ganache (chocolate cream biscuit); and fruit tarts and flans. National drinks:
• Wine is by far the most popular alcoholic drink in France, and the choice will vary according to region. Cheap wine (vin ordinaire) can either be very palatable or undrinkable, but there is no certain way of establishing which this is likely to be before drinking. Wines are classified into AC (Appellation Contrôlée), VDQS (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure), Vin de Pays and Vin de Table. There are several wine-producing regions in the country; some of the more notable are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Rhône and Champagne. The popular wine Muscadet comes from the extreme southern point of Britanny. Brittanny is also famous for its cider. The waiter will usually be glad to advise an appropriate choice. In expensive restaurants, this will be handled by a sommelier or wine steward. If in doubt, try the house wine; this will usually be less expensive.
• There is also a huge variety of apéritifs available. Typically French apéritifs are Pastis, Ricard or Pernod.
• The region of Nord Pas de Calais and Picardy does not produce wine, but brews beer and cider. Alsace is said to brew the best beer in France but fruity white wines, such as Riesling, Straminer and Sylvaner, and fine fruit liqueurs, such as Kirsch and Framboise (raspberry), are also produced in this area.
• Coffee is always served after the meal, and will always be black, in small cups, unless a café au lait (or café crème) is requested.
• Brandies such as Armagnac and Cognac and liqueurs such as Chartreuse and Genepi (an unusual liqueur made from an aromatic plant) are available. Many of these liqueurs, such as eau de vie and Calvados (apple brandy) are very strong and should be treated with respect, particularly after a few glasses of wine. A good rule of thumb is to look around and see what the locals are drinking. Spirit measures are usually doubles unless a baby is specifically asked for.
Legal drinking age: The legal age for drinking alcohol in a bar/café is 18. Minors are allowed to go into bars if accompanied by an adult but they will not be served alcohol. Hours of opening depend on the proprietor but, generally, bars in major towns and resorts are open throughout the day; some may still be open at 0200. Smaller towns tend to shut earlier. There are also all-night bars and cafes in larger towns. Tipping:
A 12 to 15 per cent service charge is normally added to the bill in hotels, restaurants and bars, but it is customary to leave small change with the payment; more if the service has been exceptional. Other services such as washroom attendants, beauticians, hairdressers and cinema ushers expect tips. Taxi drivers expect 10 to 15 per cent of the meter fare.Nightlife
In major cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, there are lively nightclubs that sometimes charge no entry fee, although drinks are likely to be more expensive. Alternatively, the entrance price sometimes includes a consommation of one drink. Nightclubs are everywhere and in even the remotest corners of France. Their style and music vary widely from one place to another. Nightclubs have a fixed closing time of 0500. As an alternative to a nightclub, there are many late-night bars and cafes. In Paris and the regions, theaters offer a wide variety of shows from great classics to light comedy, from one-man shows to cabaret. Tourist offices publish an annual and monthly diary of events available free of charge. Several guides are also available which give information about entertainment and sightseeing in the capital. Guides for events in Paris are sold at newspaper kiosks (Pariscope, L'official des Spectacles and Zurban). They list all cinema programs, museums, exhibitions and all other types of shows. Kiosks on the forecourt of the Montparnasse railway station and at Place de la Madeleine offer same day theater tickets at reduced rates. Travelers can also buy tickets for concerts from FNAC and Virgin sales outlets or from the venue themselves. In the provinces, the French generally spend the night eating and drinking, although in the more popular tourist areas, there will be discos and dances. All weekend festivals in summer in the rural areas are a good form of evening entertainment. There are over 130 public casinos in the country.
