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English is widely spoken by people working in coastal resorts, tourist offices, hotels, larger restaurants and airports. It is less fluently spoken in urban Marseille and in rural communities, where you will need a grasp of French in order to understand and be understood. Etiquette is highly valued: shake hands on being introduced and use the titles “Monsieur ” and “Madame ” on greeting.

Foreign currency and travellers’ cheques in all major currencies can be changed into euros at exchange offices and banks. French francs ceased to be legal tender in February 2002. Euro notes are issued in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500 and coins in 2-euro, 1-euro, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 euro cents. The euro is legal tender in 12 European countries. Cash and travellers’ cheques can be changed at larger post offices. Banks are usually open 9am– noon and 2–5pm Monday to Friday, but some also open on Saturday. You can also change money at larger hotels.

Cash can be drawn from your bank or credit card account using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in all towns and larger villages. On-screen instructions are in English and French. Credit cards can be used to pay for motorway tolls but smaller shops, restaurants, hotels, camp sites and gîte operators prefer cash.

International and local calls can be made from telephone booths even in the smallest communities, with cards or euro coins. Some phones accept only French telephone debit cards (télécartes ) which can be bought from post offices, newsagents and tabacs (tobacconists) in denominations of 50 and 120 units. You can also call from metered telephone booths at large post offices, or via the pays direct service which allows you to place your call through an operator in your home country and pay by credit card, charge card, or reversing the charges. The code for the UK is 00 44, followed by the local code (omitting the zero) and number. For Canada and the USA the code is 01; Australia, 61; and New Zealand, 64.

Reception is generally good but it may be hard to obtain a signal in deep mountain valleys. Better reception can be obtained by heading for higher ground.

Most post offices open 9am–noon and 2–5pm Monday to Friday and 9am–noon on Saturday. Stamps are sold singly or in books of ten (carnets ) and are also sold in tabacs .

Faxes can be sent or received at any post office. For a small fee you can also use the poste restante service to receive mail at any post office. Letters must be addressed using the five-digit postal code and surname before forename.

There are internet cafés in all main towns, larger villages and most coastal resorts.

A telescreen information system installed in post offices and some hotels. It offers a range of services including railway timetables, telephone numbers and addresses for companies throughout France.

The English-language International Herald Tribune is published daily in Paris and available in resorts and at station newsagents in big cities on day of publication. British daily papers usually arrive in resorts the day after publication.