TRAVEL AND LODGING INFORMATION

• The Luberon: An Overview
• Advice on Lodging
• The Visible History of the Luberon
• Getting There
• Getting By
• Lodgings Elsewhere in France

  ---

Getting By: Some Practical Advice

Here are some tips to help first-time American travelers in France avoid awkward situations.

• Shops close for two to three hours in midday. Non food establishments usually close at noon, grocery stores and bakeries at 12:30 or 1:00.
  
  
• Some outdoor cafes turn into restaurants during the lunch hours. Tables with tablecloths are for diners only; those without tablecloths are still available for those who want to drink coffee and hang out.
  
  
• Restaurants generally don’t open for dinner until 7:30 or 8:00 pm. Before that you can get light fare at cafes and bars, but serious dining begins late. On a warm summer night, it’s not unusual to see folks finishing up their dessert at 11:30.
  
  
• In cafes and restaurants you won’t get your bill until you ask for it ("l’addition, s’il vous plait").
  
  
• You tip much less in French restaurants, cafes, and bars than you do in the U.S. Generally a menu will say "servis compris"--service included. So your tip is truly a gratuity. A few francs will suffice.
  
  
• Don’t be surprised to see dogs in restaurants. It’s customary.
  
  
• As you pass French people on the street or in a country lane, don’t expect them to flash you a smile or give you a hearty greeting, American style. More typical responses are a slight nod, a muttered "monsieur" or "madame," or nothing; this is custom, not rudeness.
  
  
• Most major freeways or autoroutes are toll roads (payage). Carry money, preferably change, and be prepared to stop at toll booths periodically. Better yet, avoid the autoroutes and enjoy your drive on two-lane roads that wind through the countryside.
  
  
• In city parking lots, you pay before you get into your car to leave. You go to a machine (caisse), insert the parking ticket you got when you entered, and pay the amount shown in the digital window. This erases the deficit on your card, which you insert into another machine as you are driving out. If you arrive at the exit gate without having prepaid your card, you are in an awkward situation.
  
  
• The best way to get cash in France is at an automatic teller, using your VISA, Mastercard, or ATM card. These machines are widely available, operate at all hours of the day and night, and give you the best exchange rate.

To continue in Travel and Lodging Information: