• Units legally used in business in France
• How to convert the metric system of weights and measures into their Imperial equivalents and vice versa

In general, weights & measures in France and the Continent are metric.
Credit for originating the metric system is usually given to Gabriel Mouton, a French vicar, somewhere around 1670, but the basis of the system we know today was designed during the French Revolution in the 1790′s, and brought order out of the conflicting and confusing traditional systems of weights and measures then being used in Europe.

Units legally used in business in France

The USA and UK

With the switch of the UK to the metric system (although not completely), only the USA still uses the weights and measures system it inherited from Britain. However, although some American measures have the same name as old English measures, they’re not the same…

• The American pint has 16 fluid ounces whereas the UK pint has 20 fluid ounces  (US=473.176473 ml UK=568.26125 ml)
  Note: this is especially important to note when ordering a beer!
• The American gallon has 8 pints as does the UK but the measure is different
• (US=3.785411784 Litres UK=4.54609 Litres)

People in Britain still commonly refer to the old traditional measurements though.

Here’s how to convert the metric system of weights and measures into their Imperial equivalents and vice versa:

Metric measurements in the UK and US are the same.

Find out French Weights and Measures equivalents in your country: Dictionary of Units

Your dream home in France?

Whether your dream is a farm or cottage in the Dordogne, a South of France villa or a beachfront property in Provence, the question of buying or renting is always the first question to be considered. Taking down the “For Sale” sign is easy, but buying and more importantly, maintaining, property in France is not always so straightforward as the agents may want you to believe. Renting, although you may think it’s throwing money down the drain, not only gives you the potential for flexibility, it also lets you get a real taste for whether the area suits you or not.

You may want to buy an investment property, a second home, or just a somewhere to spend your holidays: you need to be very clear on this before you start. Many people dream of a place in France, but reality can be different. It’s essential to do your research first, or you’ll end up falling for a place and rationalising a purchase that will prove unsuitable in the long run; this can be an expensive lesson.

Having decided what kind of property you want, and an approximate budget, the next job is to zero in on the region of France where you want it to be. Take a holiday (at least a couple of weeks) in each area you’re considering, check out the local amenities, maybe the schools if you’ve children and are intending to move there, and get a feel for the locality. Weather and seasons can be important: don’t forget, the sun doesn’t shine all the time and tourist areas can get very busy (conversely, some places can virtually shut down during some months of the year).

OK, you’ve decided on the region, now you need to property hunt. These days it’s a bit easier, as you can check out properties and estate agents on the internet. Set up as many appointments as you can up front, but if you’re confident you’ll find that once you’re actually there local opportunities can pop up. Agents can be a lot more helpful when they can see your a serious prospect, but never forget that they’re acting for the vendors, not for you! Take all the usual precautions as to title, condition and neighbours that you would buying property anywhere, and remember that renovations are always more difficult if you’re not going to be on the spot all the time.

As a rule of thumb, knock off 20% or so of your budget for your costs, notaire’s fees, taxes etc. and then what you’ve got left must cover the purchase price plus any renovations necessary. Don’t fudge on this, that new bathroom will not miraculously cost nothing! And make sure you have any finance necessary in place before making any offer to buy. French mortgages, for example, can involve substantial red tape.

The initial sales contract is called the Compromis de vente, and the downpayment is usually 10%. It’s up to your notaire to do all the title searches etc., and there should be the usual provision for you to get the deposit back if these checks fail.

After completion, as a French property owner you’ll be liable to pay two taxes, the taxe foncière (land tax) and the taxe d’habitation (local tax). Make sure you check out how much these will be before making an offer, as they can vary quite a lot.

Just in passing, if you’re looking to buy property/land in Deux Sevres/Charente/Vienne departments and need a base, check out Josie and Dave’s large traditional Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast/Chambre d’Hotes. It’s located in the hamlet of La Scie located on the outskirts of a typical small french market town called Sauze Vaussais: http://thefarmhousechambredhotes.com

Finding a French phone number (or "Numéro Téléphone France"), whether for someone’s house or business, is easy if you read French or have the Google tool bar to do the translation, as the major French telephone directories don’t use English.

All French phone numbers are ten digits, starting with a zero if you’re using France Telecom or the number of a provider (e.g. Cegetel uses 7), when dialled from within France, i.e. they include the area phone code. The France country code is 33, and you omit the initial zero or provider’s number when calling from outside the country. "Téléphone portable" (mobile or cell phone to you) numbers will start with 07 from 2010 (they’re currently 06).

Free telephone number search

PAGES BLANCHES

http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pagesblanches/:

It says "Pages Jaunes" at the top but "white pages" on the search box. This is the official white pages of France, including the French overseas territories and departments. You search by names of people, and now it’s only in French, but the Google tool bar translation is fine.

To use it put in the last name in "Nom", and optionally the first name in "Prénom". Then enter some geographic area, such as the city, departement or region (click on the question mark for a list of regions), and press "trouver" to search. For businesses, click on the "les professionels" tab. For reverse search (search by number: http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/trouverunnom/aquiestcenumero.do) click on the "A qui donc il est ce numéro" tab and enter the ten digit number.

PAGES JAUNES
http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/: Official Yellow Pages for France, including overseas dependencies. Now in French only, but translate via the Google tool bar: enter the type of business (in French) or any part of the business name in "Quoi, Qui", and a geographic location (city, region etc) in "Où" and press "trouver" to search.

118 218 LE NUMERO
http://www.118218.fr/: National directory to find businesses and individuals. In French. To find people select "Je echerche un particulier" and businesses: "Je cherche un professionnel". Includes reverse search: (Sur l’annuaire inversé) where you type in as if you were in France, e.g. 04 93 68 93 68.

The good news is that Paris has completed its roll-out of free Wi-Fi hotspots and parks, squares and other public places in all 20 arrondissements are now connected. Yes, you are no longer held ransom to the exorbitant charges that hotels and some cafes have been charging for internet connection.

This opens up a whole lot of possibilities for travellers like doing Google searches for restaurant menus and prices, checking out opening hours of museums and other tourist attractions, booking your entrance tickets, mapping out your travel for the day using Mapquest or Google City Tours.

Yes, savvy travellers can now download photos from their cameras onto their blogs without blowing their travel budget and you can more easily email photos to friends and family during your holiday in Paris.

I only hope people don’t get too hooked on their gadgets and forget to enjoy the beautiful parks and gardens that they find themselves in.

Note:  The parks’ service is usually run during office hours.

List of parks, gardens and squares with free Wi-Fi hotspots

• Festivals
• Public Holidays
• Visas
• Health
• Language
• Time
• Electricity
• Weights & Measures
• Money, Banks etc.
• Emergencies
• Telephone, fax
• Post
• Museums and monuments

Festivals

Festivals, both traditional and modern (eg Avignon Theatre Festival in July) are not so plentiful as in Spain, but worth looking out for:

Festivals search on the French Tourist Office website, not great but…(new window):

French Public Holidays 2012

Visas:

Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Israel do not require visas to visit France as tourists for up to three months. Except for people from a few other European countries, everyone else must have a visa.

Health risks:

Sunburn, foot blisters, insect bites and upset stomachs from overeating and drinking.

Language:

French, and it’s always a big help to know a few phrases in the local lingo…

Bonjour! Learn French online for free!

This is a great site, you choose the phrase you want to hear and listen to the pronunciation.

• Greetings and Courtesies
• Alphabet, Numbers, Days, Months and Seasons
• Question Words, Quantities, Weather, and Time
• Asking for Help, Emergencies
• Banks, Taxis, and Restaurants
• Transportation and Finding Your Way
• Touring, Socializing, and Famous Expressions
• Love and Romance

Time:

GMT/UTC +1

Current French time

Electricity:

220V, 50Hz, 2-pin (round) plug

Weights & measures:

Metric

French Weights and Measures and their equivalents

Clothing and shoe sizes conversion: US, UK, Europe

Money:The Euro (€)

Check out our Euro Guide (with pictures)

• As of January 1, 2002, the euro (€) replaced the national currency of 12 countries within the European Union, including France. You can exchange currency at any bank branch (hours are listed below). Automatic cash machines can be found in most commercial centres.
• Bank Opening Hours Banking hours in Paris are usually  from 10am to 5pm,  Monday to Friday. Throughout the rest of France, banks are usually open from 10am to 1pm, and 3pm to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Banks often close earlier the day before a public holiday.
• Currency exchangeCurrency exchange can be carried out at all bank branches and Post Offices. Bureaux de change can also be found in large department stores, railway stations, airports and near to tourist sites. Please note: although the exchange rate is fixed, commission rates are not. By law these must be clearly displayed.

Check out the current Euro exchange rate with your currency here (close the new window to return): Travel Signposts Currency Converter

Credit Cards

They are accepted in a large number of shops, hotels and restaurants. Shopkeepers often state a minimum amount required to be spent.

If you lose your credit card, immediately contact your credit card emergency hot-line to cancel the card, or call your credit card company’s local office – see numbers below:

Eurocard-Mastercard: 01 45 67 84 84

http://www.eurocardmastercard.tm.

Visa: 01 42 77 45 45

http://www.carte-bleue.com

Diner’s Club: 01 47 62 75 75

http://www.dinersclub.fr

American Express: 01 47 77 72 00

http://www.americanexpress.fr

Emergencies

In case of emergency, dial these numbers

If you have lost

• your documentsReport the matter to the local police station, they will give you a receipt, then contact your consulate.
• your keys, or a personal itemAsk at the police station for the number of the Lost & Found Office(in Paris: 01 55 76 20 00).The RATP (Paris public transport authority) and the SNCF (French National Railways) have their own department.
• Your car Your report will be recorded at the police station or you will be directed to the car pound, if your car has been illegally parked and removed by the police.
• Your credit cardImmediately contact your credit card emergency hot-line to cancel the card, or call your credit card company’s local office – see numbers here – then report the loss to the police.
• Your dog, cat or pet goanna Contact the Société de protection des animaux (French animal protection society). Tel.: 33 (0) 1 43 80 40 66

Telephone & Fax

All telephone numbers in France are have 10 digits.

To telephone France from abroad, dial the international code of your country +  33 and then, the nine digit number of the person you are calling (without the 0 at the beginning of the French telephone number), e.g. +33 1 47 77 72 00

To call somewhere in France when in France, dial the 10 digit number which starting with “0″, e.g. 01 47 77 72 00.

From France to a foreign country: dial 00 + the country number + the number of the person you are calling. You will find all telephone cards (for phone boxes, recharges for mobile phones, pre-paid cards.) available at Post Offices, tobacconists, souvenir shops.

All rates and country numbers are at www.francetelecom.fr/

France has excellent mobile phone coverage by the three French mobile phone operators. Find out from your own operator which French network to choose so that you can use your mobile phone in France.

Post

Mail boxes

In France, Mail boxes are coloured yellow and can be found along street and in every Post Office. Mail collection time are displayed on them.

Stamps

You can buy stamps at any Post Offices and at any tobacconist.

Postage cost varies according to the weight of your mail and its destination. All rates at www.laposte.fr/

Delivery times

The French mail service is efficient: allow 24 to 48 hours for a letter sent in France to a destination in France; from France to abroad, allow 1 to 5 days.

Museums and Monuments

The towns and regions of France have all sorts of museums and monuments for the visitor.

• Museum opening times vary, but please note that municipal museums are closed on Mondays, and national museums are closed on Tuesdays (except the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, which is closed on Mondays).
• Usually they are open from 10.00am to 7.00pm. Some large museums have late-night opening on Wednesdays or Thursdays.
• Find out everything about places to visit from the Regional Tourism Council or Tourist Office. You will find everything you need to know there.
• You can also consult the website of the centre for national monuments to find out about 200 monuments to French heritage: www.monum.fr
• or go to www.rmn.fr to find out about the 33 national museums across France

Our France pages:

Travel to France for a Europe Tour with Joie de Vivre!

Tour Routes in France

When to travel to France: weather and seasons

Food in France: a brief gastronomic tour

Book your sightseeing tours or day-trips in France online

Book your hotel in France online

Paris City Guide

TRAVEL TO FRANCE WITH US: PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS